Rob Roy made heavy weather of overcoming 10-man Renfrew 3-2 in their Euroscot Eng Central League Cup clash last night.

A last-eight date against Lesmahagow beckoned for the winners and the Rabs looked to be on their way when whistler Colin Pearson adjudged Frew veteran Gus Gault to be guilty of a last-man challenge on Kirkintilloch winger Owen Ronald inside the box just minutes before half-time.

Gault was still making his way into the Adamslie Park pavilion when Willie Sawyers netted from the penalty spot.

Home supporters, thinking the second period would be a formality against 10 men, were given a rude awakening when Graham Mort levelled matters with a powerful header.

Rob Roy regained their lead minutes later when an Alan Urquhart pass picked out the run of substitute Kris Mitchell, who slotted the ball home for a 2-1 advantage.

Back again came the defiant Frew to equalise from the spot through Daryl Boyd but the Rabs went striaght upfield for Mitchell to fire home his second goal of the game and secure a 3-2 victory.

Frew gaffer Colin Clark could not mask his disappointment and said: "The referee has killed us off with his decision before the interval.

"No arguments about the penalty award but sending Gus off is a bit of a travesty giving their player was not heading for goal. Ten men playing their third game in five days against opponents who had rested up during the same period proved a bridge too far and tiredness largely contributed to our downfall after the break."

Stewart Maxwell, the Rabs boss, felt the inactivity of his players had them lacking a killer touch in front of goal.

He said: "We dominated but were nowhere near sharp enough and I warned the players at half-time they needed to up the tempo and kill the game dead or else Renfrew might bite back.

"They gave us a fright but the guys had enough in the locker to see the job through."

Clydebank are the only other Super Premier side in the quarter-finals after Budgie McGhie's men scraped through 5-4 on penalty kicks against Neilston after a 0-0 draw to clinch a next-up contest against one of his former clubs - Shettleston.

Shettleston were 3-2 winners in the Glasgow east end derby against Vale of Clyde, thanks to two goals from Scott Anson and one from Kyle Robertson. Anton Franchetti and Derek Hepburn netted for the Vale who had led 2-1.

Rutherglen Glencairn were penalty shoot-out winners over Vale of Leven following a 4-4 draw and will now host Cumbernauld United, who had Dominic O'Halloran and Jake Fitzgerald on the mark to beat Dunipace 3-2.

Thorniewood United are another qualifier after Darren Murphy and Darren O'Donnell goals clinched a 2-0 defeat of St Anthony's.