Beith Juniors FC: Match Reports: West of Scotland Cup Qtr Final: Glenafton Athletic 0 Beith Juniors 0 (5-4 on pens): Report by R Sanderson

Glenafton Athletic 0 Beith Juniors 0
 (Glenafton win5-4 on penalties)
 

Glenafton: Semple, Menzies, McKilian, McChesney, Henderson, Potter, McKenzie, Murphy, Cashmore, Dempster, Cochrane. Subs: Boyle, McEwan, Armstrong, Dunsmuir (gk)

Beith: Greenwood, Dunlop, McMenamin, Staunton, Sheridan, O'Keane, Hardie, Callaghan, Reid, McLean, Fraser. Subs: Hughes, Holmes, Kisuka, Wilson
 

Beith's season effectively ended with a spot kick defeat following a dreadful no score bore of a contest where almost all the shots at goal came in the penalty shoot out. Travelling supporters had hoped the attraction of a major semi-final would spur their lacklustre side on but alas not and a slightly more eager home side just about deserved their victory.

Beith planned to field the same side that managed a respectable draw at Auchinleck the previous Saturday but were forced to make late change when goalkeeper Peat injured himself in the warm up - fortunately Neil Greenwood was on hand to replace him between the sticks.

Beith enjoyed some decent early possession but pressure from Callaghan free kick petered out when Hardie's header across goal found no takers. Glens had an opportunity when burly striker Cashmore managed to burst clear but he shot straight at Greenwood.

Kenny McLean as usual provided Beith's main threat but he was closely marked throughout as he plugged away up front with scant supply. Glens also had few chances but Murphy tried an ambitious volley from a corner that went a few yards wide of the target. Home keeper Semple looked confident when very occasionally called upon and he ended an instantly forgettable half punching away a dangerous Callaghan free kick to safety.

Boss Stevie Easton tried to up his attack by replacing defender McMenamin with forward Chris Kisuka and they applied some early pressure forcing Glen's defender Menzies into a hurried clearance that made keeper Semple save as the ball spun over his head.

Callaghan scorned a decent chance when he got on the end of a Dunlop cross as he chose to try to take the ball on his chest when a header seemed a better option. Glens were working hard with McKenzie causing Beith some problems. McKenzie and Dempster had efforts at goal for Glens but both failed to test Greenwood. Beith again tried to gee up their side replacing ineffective midfielder O'Keane with Ryan Holmes but this made little change. Kenny McLean continued to be tightly marked and he was subject to some hefty challenges from defenders McChesney and Henderson. Beith's best move of the match involving Dunlop and Reid produced an opening for McLean in the box but his shot from a tight angle was well saved by Semple. As time wore on it was the home side, if any, who looked more capable of breaking the stalemate but the game somewhat inevitably proceeded to a penalty shoot out.

The underworked keepers were called into action with Glen's getting their noses in front with Semple saving Reid's poor effort for Beith after Cochrane had converted the home side's first. Murphy, Dempster scored for Glens while Callaghan, McLean hit the net for Beith before Greenwood brought Beith back into it stopping McKilan's effort. Hardie and Fraser for Beith and sub Sub Armstrong for Glens scored to make the score 4-4. Into sudden death and McKenzie converted for Glens before Semple stopped Kisuka's weak effort to put the jubilant home side through.