New boy Schon shines at both ends as Sinky's Jags sink slow starters Gow

Thistle boss Sinky looked on with satisfaction as his close-season signing became a defensive colossus as well as weighing in with one of the Jags goals in an emphatic 3-0 defeat of Lesmahagow.

Both these Central First Division outfits had been heavily talked up before this Gasworks Park showdown after impressive starts to the season.

But the evidence of Saturday's match-up points to Larkhall being better prepared than their near neighbours for the coming campaign.

The teams boasted identical points and goals differentials at kick-off time, but 15 minutes later there was a 2-0 gulf between them after a blistering start from the home side.

In only six minutes, Niall Reynolds fired an arcing pass forward that the totally unmarked Graham Gracie pounced on to fire low past Derek Barnes.

That lead was doubled in spectacular fashion at a corner-kick when Schoneville acrobatically powered in a shot that found the net via the far upright.

Sinky said: "Our getting away to such a great start asked questions of Lesmahagow and they resorted to firing a lot of balls forward in the direction of their two big front men. But Neil was simply dominant in just about every aerial exchange and dealt comfortably with everything thrown at him.

"Knowing we were solid at the back allowed our offensive players to get on the ball and I felt we played some really decent stuff going forward with Matty Clarke in particular catching the eye.

"My one criticism is the lack of goals because we could and should have scored several more. That said, I find it hard not be pleased for the guys and everyone connected with the club given this is the first time we have made it into the League Cup quarter-finals for a number of years."

There were angry second-half dust-ups, but young whistler Robert Thomson flashed enough yellow cards to keep order.

Willing Jags runner Mark Canning was rewarded for one of his many supporting bursts forward from midfield with his side's third goal.

Gow gaffer Robert Irving conceded: "We got what we deserved for being all over the place defensively in that first 20 minutes and Larkhall punished us...the better team won."

The remaining quarter-final place went the way of Port Glasgow after they took the Section Seven honours with a 2-2 draw against Greenock who ended a fierce Keanie Park contest with nine men.

Craig Bruno's young side looked to be home and dry when prolific marksman Scott Nugent and ex-Greenock stopper Ross Kearns fired them into a 2-0 lead, but the depleted Greenock's refusal to accept defeat was reward with a stunning Martin Orr free-kick goal and a David McGarrigle volley three minutes from time.

Wishaw had already secured their place as Section Two kingpins, but finished the campaign in style with a 5-0 hammering of Newmains United.

The only other last eight qualifier in action, Thorniewood United, went down 2-1 against St Riochs for whom Jordan Logan and Darren Simpson were on target.

Wednesday night's last-eight Euroscot Eng Cup pairings are Arthurlie v Blantyre Vics, Larkhall Thistle v Cumbernauld United, Thorniewood United v Port Glasgow and Wishaw v Clydebank.

Petershill were 5-2 winners away to Shettleston, with new striker Scott Sally getting three and Stephen McGladrigan two while Mark Tait helped himself to four goals Glasgow Perthshire overcame Maryhill 5-3.

But nothing beat the goals avalanche in the Ardagh Glass Cup, where Cumnock humiliated Muirkirk 16-0 with striker Paul Quinn getting four.

Tony Balfour got a double and Michael O'Connor and Jim Wilson netted as Whitletts Vics overcame previously unbeaten Maybole 4-0 to set up a last-eight clash with ¬Glenafton, whose outstanding -midfielder Cameron Marlowe bagged a hat-trick as the Glens clinched qualification with a 6-0 rout of Lugar Boswell.

Maybole's defeat means they now face a last-eight trip to meet Auchinleck Talbot.

Kilbirnie Ladeside's 5-0 hammering of Ardrossan Winton Rovers ensured they have home advantage against whoever comes off second-best in the Section Two tussle between Irvine Meadow and Hurlford United. The winners of that will host Largs Thistle after their 5-0 defeat of Dalry Thistle, a win crucial to overtaking Beith after they drew 3-3 with Kilwinning Rangers .

And hats off too for Hurlford United flying the Junior flag to good effect in a 5-0 William Hill Scottish Cup replay win over Edinburgh University, with top scorer Stewart Kean bagging a hat-trick.