Ardagh Group West of Scotland Cup First Round

KILBIRNIE LADESIDE 2

PETERSHILL 1

By Stephen Coutts

BLASTIES goal hero Jon Scullion praised gloveman Joe Wilton after his late penalty stop kept their West of Scotland Cup dreams alive for another round.

With the hosts cruising at 2-0 after goals from Scullion and Cameron Elliott, Mick O'Byrne brought down Scott Cameron for the spot kick, but with time running out the Peasy man was second guessed by Wilton to deny him.

Then deep into stoppage time, James McLennan halved the deficit for a late lifeline but it was too little, too late as Kilbirnie eventually held out.

Scullion said: "As a striker it's always great to get a goal and good to get an assist, but to be honest the win is the most important thing for the team.

"I couldn't see if it was a penalty from where I was but I travel with Joe and he's made a cracking save as sometimes we've not had that luck this season and it seems like we give away a penalty nearly every week.

"It's nice to save one eventually and we're happy to get the win and be in the next round and we'll take it from there."

Both sides tried to dominate and David Crerand should have put Peasy ahead when he outjumped O'Byrne to nod Cameron's cross from the left agonisingly wide.

Right before the break, Scullion released James Finlay who broke free and flashed an effort across the face of the goal with David Dey having to palm it away.

It was a different story in 51 minutes - with Scullion 25 yards out, he cut inside to rifle beyond Dey into the bottom corner to put the Blasties ahead.

The scorer became provider with a corner that Cameron Elliott rose highest to bullet downwards and into the net to a roar of approval from the home fans in 57 minutes.

Kilbirnie were cruising but in 86 minutes it all changed after O'Byrne was guilty of bringing down Cameron, who was collecting a Luke Crerand pass to tee him up. Whistler Gary Logan pointed to the spot and Cameron dusted himself off to try and haul Peasy back into the match but Wilton guessed correctly to keep the net intact.

But deep into injury-time Peasy bit back with McLennan netting to give them hope but it must've been bittersweet after Cameron’s spot miss moments earlier.

The Blasties new boss Liam McGuinness officially took over on Monday due to being in Dubai on a family holiday but no doubt the result would have reached him.

KILBIRNIE LADESIDE: Hay; Williamson, Juskowiak, Hughes, O'Byrne, Anderson Jnr, Ramsay, McVey, Finlay, Scullion, Elliott.