Bellshill Athletic will pull off something exceptional tonight if they can deliver a victory against Shettleston and qualify for the Euroscot Eng Cup quarter-finals.

The Lanarkshire outfit racked up a 3-2 victory over Petershill last week.

Robert Downs' young side built on this impressive start with a 4-1 weekend victory over St Rochs. But a 1-0 defeat by Thorniewood United - for whom Aiden Malone was the matchwinner on Monday - means only an improbable sequence of results will secure Bellshill a Fullarton Park last eight date against Vale of Clyde or Cambuslang Rangers.

If Thorniewood avoid defeat away to Petershill, then Kieron McGuinness's men will top the pile. A Peasy win, however, opens the door for Bellshill to get through on the rails with a big victory over Shettleston.

Downs is vowing to go for it. He said: "Two wins from our opening three games hardly does justice to the workrate and commitment shown by the players.

"Now our destiny is out of our own hands and we have to hope other results can go our way while we try to rack up a big score against Shettleston.

"That won't be easy as they have players who are good on the ball and have given us problems in the past however we have to go for it and see what happens.

Downs is delighted with his side's Euroscot Eng Cup showings to date but is refusing to get carried away.

He said: "The players' efforts have brought the spotlight on them but it's important they keep their feet firmly on the ground.

"Getting too far ahead of ourselves would be a big mistake and we won't be giving this weekend's league opener against my former club Neilston a second thought until after the final whistle against Shettleston."

Downs reckons he has unearthed a striking gem in former Dundee United signing Jordan Love, who has formed a decent partnership alongside the more seasoned Chris Dolan.

The team boss said: "The two boys up front have looked the part but we have made strengthening moves throughout the team, with Darren Ferguson coming in from Shotts Bon Accord and using his great experience to stop us leaking goals."

A number of other key cup contests are taking place tonight, including a tense Section 6 decider at Somervell Park where Vale of Clyde play Cambuslang Rangers.

Gers front pairing Thomas Kilmartin and Steven McLung are in goalscoring mood and will pose a threat but Tin Pail boss Iain Currie puts great store in his forward line duo Scott McManus and Derek Hepburn.

The only definite quarter-final contest is the all-Super Premier Division clash between Rob Roy and Pollok. Clydebank are the only other team assured of qualification.