RYAN FREW will probably never score a more important goal as that which clinched a 1-0 victory over Lesmahagow to book Yoker Athletic's Scottish Cup quarter-final spot.

His 35th-minute strike that flew low into the net from all of 22 yards - his first goal of the season - was greeted with a mixture of acclaim and relief by the Whe Ho supporters as it came totally against the run of play in a first half largely dominated by opponents whose pressing game had given the Yoker backline several anxious moments.

The 30-year-old midfield grafter's well-struck effort proved to be a game-changer, and he revealed: "We were devoid of any rhythm going forward and were struggling to say the least, with the game appearing reminiscent of our fifth-round clash against Whitletts Vics last year.

"Back then I opened the scoring to give us a half-time lead only for Whitletts to dish out a 4-1 hammering, so I didn't really feel it was a cause for great celebration when my goal put us 1-0 up against the Gow, and I was stressing that to the other guys at the interval.

"But, thankfully, our defence held firm to ensure there was no second-half collapse this time round and, if truth be told, we created enough chances to add one or two goals that would have seen us win the game more comfortably.

"But one will do if it's enough to get Yoker into the last eight, and an opportunity to go up against one of the game's big guns. No doubt everyone will want us when the draw is made, but we'll gladly take our chances with a home tie against any of the remaining sides."

Their slender advantage settled Yoker nerves and they were more of an attacking threat after the break, with the normally deadly Gary Arbuckle passing up a couple of scoring chances that would have resulted in goals on another day, while Davie Crerand flashed a header over the crossbar when it looked easier to score.

The visiting Gow, with busy forwards in Johnny Logan and James Coffey, kept plugging away in search of an equaliser, but all their best work was being done outside the penalty area, albeit towering Yoker goalkeeper Craig Winslow saved net-bound efforts with his feet on three occasions.

His side's lack of a cutting edge was not lost on dejected Gow gaffer Robert Irving. He said: "I'm disappointed to be going out considering we had so much of the game and never at any time looked second best to our higher-league opponents.

"The players gave us everything, but when you aspire to get into the last eight then you need a bit of extra quality, particularly in the final third and we just didn't have enough of that on Saturday. It's not our year, but we wish good luck to Yoker for the rest of their cup run."

Ominously, 10-times record cup winners Auchinleck Talbot are also through to the quarters after coming from 1-0 down at Bonnyrigg Rose with Gordon Pope and Bryan Young goals, while a Ross Robertson brace saw holders Hurlford United ease past Super Premier rivals Kilbirnie Ladeside, whose dreams were all but ended by the first-half red-carding of striker Richie Barr.

And the much-vaunted Ayrshire duo are joined by Pollok, for whom David Winters, Tam Hanlon, Findlay Frye and Jamie Barclay were on target in a 4-0 cruise up in Fife against St Andrews United.

In fourth-round replays, injury-ravaged Troon came a cropper in losing 2-1 at home to Camelon, and the same scoreline ensued as Blantyre Vics tumbled out at Castle Park against Newtongrange Star.

Away from the cup, table-topping Irvine Meadow's hopes of Super Premier Division title glory were dealt a hammer blow by a 2-1 defeat at home to bottom markers Clydeban,k for whom Scott Davidson and Derek Carcary (penalty) were first-half scorers, with Chris Hall netting a goal on the hour mark for a Medda side reduced to ten men after Mark Staunton walked for two yellow-card offences.

Glenafton and Beith stayed mid-table following a 2-2 stalemate, but up into third top spot are Petershill, who had Keiron Daw (2), a Kieron Woods own goal and a Mark Lamont solo effort to thank for a 4-2 victory over Cumnock, whose counters came from Robert Love and Ray Montgomerie.

And hats off to relative new boys Rossvale, whose promotion from the Central Second Division was assured with a 3-0 defeat of Newmains United through goals from Robbie Winters, Ross Hepburn and Yami Misango.