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.
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