Neilston secure Scottish Junior Cup victory over Rutherglen Glencairn

Andy Whiteford’s young side ripped up a script that had plotted for the higher league Ru’glonians to prevail in this Second Round clash however it might be argued their running out 2-0 winners owed as much to the inertia of the visitors as to their own efforts.

The Glens were dogged defensively and never less than hard working throughout but they appeared disjointed at times not least of all in the forward going areas where they exhibited a chronic lack of creativity and goalscoring threat other than when Sean McGuire was in possession.

Visiting supporters had occasion to groan time and time again as poor deliveries in the final third brought an end to promising moves and this wastefulness disease spread to the penalty box when missing a gilt-edged opportunity to crucially get their noses in front midway through the first half with the scores tied at 0-0.

A fairly frenetic opening period had resulted in few goalmouth incidents of any note (ironically as it turned out) because of the domination exerted by respective ball-winning centrebacks Martin McInnes and Andy Neil.

But with 24 minutes played, Glens full back Tony Fraser played a free kick into new striker signing Simone Sorrentino whose falling to the ground when feeling the close marking McInnes’s hand on his shoulder led to whistler Ross Hardie pointing to the spot despite the Neilston stopper’s protestations.

The experienced Fraser stepped forward but pulled his shot inches wide of the post and the delight of the Neilston players was marked by a still unhappy McInness picking up a yellow card for a few choice remarks towards Mr Hardie.

The importance of that spot kick miss was brought home to roost approaching half time when suspiciously offside looking Neilston striker Robbie Cameron was allowed to run through onto an Alan Diack free kick to despatch a low shot into the net for 1-0.

And only a couple of closer range stops from Glens goalkeeper JC Hutchison prevented Cameron and Stewart Brodie extending the home side’s lead before half time.

The second period followed much the same pattern as before with Glencairn dominant territorially but unable to penetrate a well organised Neilston backline and the ineptitude of his forward line sparked team boss Willie Harvey’ to introduce substitute Tadeo Sorrentino as a replacement for his Uncle Simone just short of the hour mark (Surely a first even in Junior football circles?).

The Italian teenager had yet to touch the ball when McInnes blotted his otherwise impressive copybook by audaciously dribbling out of defence and losing control of the ball which his attempting to win back with a “studs showing” tackle on McGuire left Mr Hardie with no option other than to brandish a red card.

The influential Neilston skipper admitted later said: "I had a rush of blood to the head but realised immediately that my challenge was going to be wrong and made sure no contact was made with their player however the intent was enough for the referee to send me off.”

Team-mate Cameron could have made light of this red card blow when sent scampering through on goal but his attempts to round the advancing Hutchison saw the keeper rob him off the ball and the chance was lost

But any hopes of Glencairn capitalising on their numerical advantage lasted all of eight minutes before their own commanding centreback Neil picked up the second of two yellow cards and was despatched inside, protesting his innocence.

The closing stages saw Glencairn go for broke in searching for an equaliser but Brodie and makeshift centreback Adam Diack repelled all attacks and allowed Neilston to hit on the break , most notably when substitute Derek Kennedy fired in an angular shot that Hutchison deflected onto his upright before smothering at the second attempt.

There was to be no lucky escape for the defiant No1 deep into injury time when Kennedy superbly worked an opening to clip home a well struck shot and seal a 2-0 triumph.

Clearly delighted Neilston gaffer Whiteford said afterwards: "It was backs to the wall stuff at times out there but we were rock solid defensively with Stewart Brodie and Craig O’Brien as well as Mathew Stevenston in front of them particularly impressive.

“That said, I felt today was an overall great team performance with every single player doing the job we asked of them to get past a higher league team.

“The spirit among the guys in the dressing room is sky-high and everyone is now excited about the prospect of who we might come out against in the Third Round Draw on Tuesday.”

Reigning trophy holders Auchinleck Talbot will be among the names in the hat after Gordon Pope (pen) and Bryan Young goals secured a 2-0 success away to Tranent and Bot’s great rivals Cumnock are also through thanks to a hard fought 3-2 victory over Kello Rovers thanks to goals from Paul Burns and Aiden Malone (2).

Ardrossan Winton Rovers captain Ryan Caddis led from the front with a hat trick in his side’s 7-3 rout of Deveronside and returning Rossvale striker Yami Misanjo was one of the Bishopbriggs club’s scorers, along with Steven McQuade in a 2-0 defeat of Pumpherston but going down to nine men saw Blantyre Vics suffer a surprise 5-1 reverse at home to Rosyth Juniors.

In replay encounters, a brace of Darren Miller goals saw the Blasties get the better of Shettleston by a 2-0 scoreline and Hurlford United marksman Stewart Kean netted the only goal of the game against Fauldhouse United.

And a battling Petershill came good via an epic 9-8 penalty kicks shoot out showdown through East against Newtongrange Star following a 2-2 regulation time draw in which Matty King netted a late Star leveller after Scott Davidson and Mark Daly scores had the Peasy 2-1 ahead in the latter stages.