MARTIN LAUCHLAN didn't know whether to laugh or cry following his Rossvale side's 5-3 Scottish Junior Cup elimination by Musselburgh Athletic on Saturday.

He was left gutted at being dealt a knockout blow yet at the same time was bursting with pride over how his players hauled themselves off the canvas to give the East Region Super League outfit a real game.

The team boss said: "I'm both proud of the guys and bitterly disappointed for them after their magnificent heroics out there today.

"Yes we were found wanting in some passages of play, but nobody could fault the fighting spirit as well as the individual skills and ability that kept us alive in the tie right up until the final minute.

"In fact, I'm probably feeling flat right now because we have come ever so close to taking a huge scalp and putting the name of Rossvale on the Junior football map."

A towering Musselburgh - they boasted at least seven players over six-feet - roared out of their corner and landed a hefty punch in just four minutes with a well-taken goal from Stevie Thomson earning a 1-0 lead.

At this stage, the men from the East had Darren Smith, Ewan Ratton and John Myles dominating possession on top of striker Jordyn Sheerin proving a real handful for a hard pressed home rearguard so terracing opinion reckoned they would coast into the 5th Round with goals to spare.

But gradually a battling Rossvale clawed themselves back into the fray and following a hat-trick of near things Lauchlan's men got back on level terms with a Tony McDermott header at a corner kick melee.

The old adage that a team is never more vulnerable than when they have just scored came to mind as the visitors duly went upfield to win a short corner kick and Sheerin bore in from the left flank to score with a near post shot.

Rossvale's defence and goalkeeper Jordan Bowskill in particular did not take this lesson to heed because approaching half-time Musselburgh's Thomson was criminally allowed to work his way in from wide on the right and fire home - again at the near post - for what seemed to be a decisive 3-1 interval advantage.

Those thoughts were wiped from the mind as Rossvale made a whirlwind restart and stunningly levelled the scores at 3-3 inside four minutes with a Robbie Winters (penalty) and sublime Fraser Team effort only to be again caught napping as Sheerin scampered clear and enjoyed good fortune after he lost control rounding Bowskill only for the ball to strike an upright and find the net.

The pace of Team and substitute Alex Cassells continued to pose problems and visiting No.1 Richard Lee was the busier of the two goalkeepers however Rossvale could not get back on level terms and dangerman Sheerin wrapped matters up from the penalty spot in the 90th minute to clinch a 5-3 victory.

Musselburgh's ex-Stirling Albion midfielder Smith , a former team mate of Lauchan's sighed with relief and admitted ,

"Rossvale are one of the best teams we have faced this season and we can count ourselves lucky to be through."

Making it a hat trick of East Region hopefuls in the last 16 are Bonnyrigg Rose and Fauldhouse Unted following victories over Bellshill Athletic and Kilwinning Rangers respectively.

Veteran player/coach Stevie Hislop netted a brace of goals as the Rose ran out 4-1 winners at New Dundas Park while Fauldhouse recovered from falling behind to an early Dean Agnew goal down in Ayrshire to score three times through Kevin Ross , Rees Smith and Jamie Robertson before Buffs stopper Chris McGowan counter put a better reflection on the scorline with a late counter.

Ten-times trophy winners Auchinleck Talbot qualified with consummate ease away to Port Glasgow where the tie was as good as over inside the opening five minutes with Mark Campbell and Colin Spence both on the mark

Back-in-favour striker David Gormley fired the Ayrshiremen 3-0 ahead after six minutes and he then set up a second half goal for Mark Shankland that rounded off the scoring.

And also flying the flag for West Region clubs are Kilbirnie Ladeside after Richie Barr, Chris Wilson, Chris Craig and Ryan Borris were on target in a 4-2 triumph at home to plucky Kilsyth Rangers for whom Joe Barclay bagged both their goals.

A mere six Stagecoach league fixtures passed muster and arguably the most notable result came at Keppoch Park where Mark Begg, Mark Tait and JP Craig goals secured a 3-1 success for Glasgow Perthshire against Newmains United that enabled the Shire to move into second top spot in the standings, a point ahead of Cambuslang Rangers albeit from having played two games more.

Doubles from Martin Orr (two penalties) and Kenny Munro helped Greenock overcome Rutherglen Glencairn 4-3 to climb to fifth place in the Super First Division where Neilston salvaged a point in a 2-2 draw away to Ardeer Thistle with second half goals from Stephen Docherty and Derek Kennedy.

And off the bottom rung are Thorniewood United after Brian Johnston and Stefan Law scores helped Andy Frame's men rack up a 2-1 win away to Irvine Vics.