HURLFORD United secured a place in the Ayrshire Cup semi-finals with a 4-2 penalty shoot-out win over Kilwinning Rangers at Blair Park last night.

The outcome was cruel on the Buffs who had looked dead and buried after going behind 2-0 down inside the opening 12 minutes.

Ryan Donnelly fired home a Paul McKenzie cross, then top scorer Stewart Kean headed home after clever wing play by Calum Watt.

However, a Bryan Boylan header early in the second half reduced the deficit, and they were back on level terms when Ben Lewis got on the end of a Dean Agnew cross to net from inside the penalty area.

But it was Darren Henderson's side - beaten finalists in this tournament last season - who held their nerve to clinch a place in the last four.

Gutted Buffs boss Chris Strain admitted: "We froze at the start of the game and handed the initiative to Hurlford, who took full advantage and left ourselves with an uphill battle.

"However, I will take a lot of positives from the manner in which we got ourselves back into the game.

"Penalty kicks are always a lottery and luck was not on our side."

TOMORROW 7.15pm kick-offs

Euroscot Eng Central League Cup quarter-final: Thorniewood Utd v St Roch's.

Third round: Royal Albert v Dunipace, Cumbernauld Utd v Petershill.

Stagecoach Central First Division: Benburb v Blantyre Vics.

SATURDAY 2.00 pm kick-offs

New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup quarter-finals: Irvine Meadow v Arthurlie, Wishaw v Kilwinning Rangers.

Euroscot Eng Central League Cup third round: Carluke Rovers v Greenock.

Stagecoach Super Premier Division: Auchinleck Talbot v Hurlford Utd.

Super First Division: Rob Roy v Maybole, Shettleston v Yoker, Thorniewood Utd v Largs Thistle.

Central First Division: Bellshill Athletic v Benburb, Larkhall Thistle v Dunipace, Renfrew v Lesmahagow.