HIGH-flying Irvine Vics earned praise from manager Stevie Wilson after this hard-fought draw took them into the quarter-finals.

The Westenders came from behind to hold group winners Hurlford and deny bitter rivals Irvine Meadow a last-eight slot.

'Ford had a lot of pressure in the first half but Victoria's young goalkeeper Ryan McCann made some fine saves to keep them at bay.

The hosts went ahead on the hour with a well-worked goal.

However six minutes later summer signing David "Harpo" Smith sent in a great cross and Davie Adams nipped in to roll the ball home from inside the box.

The visitors held on to win and are now at Abbey Park to face Kilwinning Rangers in the quarter-finals next Wednesday.

Wilson said: "It was a really great effort from the players against a top team. We finish unbeaten in the section and have scored 14 goals and conceded just five. That's a good start to the season and it's great to be i the quarter-finals, it must be seven or eight years since we last got there.

We will now focus on the Winton match and look to take three points and can then look forward to the Buffs game next Wednesday night."