Pollok’s 1-0 victory over Kilbirnie Ladeside in their ETHXenergy Scottish Junior Cup quarter-final clash on Saturday was overshadowed by crowd trouble erupting among a minority of visiting supporters.

Tjhe disruption came in the wake of the southside club’s winning goal scored in the game’s dying stages from the penalty spot by David Winters.

This dramatic finale and the sight of Pollok’s backroom team celebrating out on the trackside proved too much for a small faction of Ayrshire fans packed underneath Newlandsfield’s covered enclosure.

And a shower of coins and missiles rained down on Lok gaffer Tony McInally and co causing whistler Scott Lambie to hold up the restart.

Some minor skirmishes between rival fans were of little consequence and the sight of order being restored saw referee Lambie get the pitch action underway again for seven absorbing injury-time minutes.

In that time he turned down hopeful Kilbirnie spot kick claims after Matty Bennet was sent tumbling before Ladeside defensive cornerstone Mark Staunton capped a personal nightmare closing spell - his tackle on Winters had resulted in Pollok’s penalty kick award - by getting his marching orders for a second yellow card offence.

The final whistle sounding brought the usual mix of delight and dejection among the playing combatants, however Lok boss Macca was still incensed over the hostile terracing scenes.

He said: "What is the game coming to when a manager cannot raise his hands after his team has scored a goal without a near riot breaking out?

“Being assailed with coins and stones is not a pleasant experience and it spoils what otherwise was a great day for everyone connected with this club now that we have a first semi-final appearance in eight years looming on the horizon.”

The match itself proved to be a personal triumph for Pollok goalkeeper Jordan Longmuir who made light of a few sleepless nights after he and partner Fiona celebrated the birth of their first baby Elliot on Tuesday..

The keeper was inspirational form as he put up the shutters with a string of fabulous saves.

The 28-year-old initially enjoyed a stroke of luck when Ladeside striker Stevie Meechan’s shot looked netbound until Martin Grehan’s helping on head flick saw the ball bounce on top of the crossbar and over.

But he then conjured up great stops to deny Meechan and Caolan McAleer prior to his superb pièce de résistance - a wonderful double save to keep out a close-range Grehan header and follow-up volley from Mick O’Brien.

The unassuming No.1, said: "Keeping out the header was down to reflexes and thankfully I was able to get back up to throw my body in the way of the next shot.

“It’s really all you can do in these circumstances and I’m just glad my luck was in because Kilbirnie were putting us through the wringer at that point.”

Glengarnock residents among the 1300 plus attendance must have felt lady luck was not smiling in their direction as the teams trooped indoors level following an opening 45 minutes dominated by Kilbirnie.

But fortune was undoubtedly on their side shortly after the restart when Lok full back Tam Hanlon crashed a 25 yard free kick against the crossbar with goalkeeper Kieron Hughes beaten all ends up.

The home side’s continuing to press forward led to them winning a succession of free kicks and one flighted effort found Alan McKenzie steaming in at the far post and he should have done better than header high over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.

Longmuir’s reflexes were again called upon to brilliantly deny McAleer before foiling substitute Adam Forde shortly, a save that set up the 90th minute penalty kick drama.

Staunton’s challenge caught Winters a painful blow and caused the nearby ref to point unerringly to the spot from where Pollok's top goalscorer coolly despatched a low shot into the corner of the net for 1-0.

The former Dundee United hitman’s finishing aplomb was praised by gaffer Macca who said: "Jordan was magnificent today and deserves all the plaudits coming his way.

"But I also believe David deserves recognition for showing the bottle to tuck away the penalty kick in such pressure packed circumstances.

“Today wasn’t one of our better performances even though we improved territorially in the second half but getting through to the semi-finals was our only aim today…and we’re there.”

Losing gaffer Stevie Swift cut an understandably dejected figure at the final whistle and would only say: "I’m devastated and cannot comprehend how we have managed to lose that game.

“It’s all the tougher to take when you think Pollok’s goalkeeper has come to their rescue on five or six occasions yet our goalkeeper has not had a single save of note."

Joining Pollok in the ETHX last four are Ayrshire duo Beith and Hurlford United, however it remains to be seen whether Kilwinning Rangers can join them in the hat after a 3-3 Abbey park draw with Camelon.

Star frontman Kenny McLean was the hat-trick hero of Beith’s 3-1 success against Arthurlie whose counter from Gary Carroll had briefly made the scoreline read 2-1 while Hurlford’s top marksman Stewart Kean netted an early brace of goals, one from the penalty spot, that saw the Blair Park outfit deservedly run out 2-0 winners over reigning champions Auchinleck Talbot.

Kilwinning’s fighting spirit was to the fore in earning Chris Strain’s men a second bite of the cherry next weekend after the Buffs three times came from behind to eke out a pulsating 3-3 draw against their East Region adversaries for whom David Grant (2) and Frannie Kelly on target with Isaac Kerr, Joe Coleman and veteran substitute Ian Cashmore responding for the home side.