Amateur football: Hard-fought wins for Harestanes and Minerva

Hares edged home 4-3 against Uddingston in a thrilling West of Scotland Cup tie while Minerva maintained their unbeaten Foster’s Central Scottish AFL Premier Division record with a 1-0 win at Dunblane Thistle.

Harestanes 4 Uddingston 3 (aet)

Harestanes had a real fight on their hands to win through to the sixth round of the West of Scotland Cup against Uddingston.

The Kirkintilloch side eventually won 4-3 after extra-time in a game which had a little bit of everything in it.

The match started off at a quick pace as both sought to gain the advantage and by the 20th minute Harestanes had struck.

Andy Ward headed forward, Johnny Black found Malcolm McLean wide right and he sent over a telling cross to allow Jamie Barclay to find the net.

Uddingston replied with a low shot which was a couple of feet wide before Johnny Black set Aidan Quinn up with a chance which the Uddingston keeper managed to turn wide.

Uddingston came close with a rasping curler that resounded off the right hand post before the visitors were then awarded a hotly disputed penalty.

However justice appeared to be done as Conor O’Boyle dived to save.

Uddingston did equalise in the 30th minute with a low shot from the right which found the left corner, but Johnny Black put Harestanes back in the lead when he collected a pass from Blair Munn and cleverly steered home.

Four minutes into the second period Uddingston came close to another equaliser with a powerful shot which cracked off the bar.

Johnny Black then extended the lead when he netted with his usual panache after McLean found him in the box.

Harestanes seemed to be cruising until Uddingston pulled one back. O’Boyle saved the first attempt but could only palm out for the player to nip in and score.

And in the 88th minute Uddingston equalised with a header which took the game into extra time.

Harestanes were denied a penalty when Jamie McKinney appeared to be chopped down, but Hares again took the lead in the second half of extra-time when Broadfoot crossed to the back post and McKinney rose to bullet in a header which proved to be the winner.

Harestanes Tote: no winner - £250 rollover.

Dunblane Thistle 0 Campsie Minerva 1

Campsie Minerva got back to winning ways in the league on Saturday with a 1-0 victory away to Premier League newcomers Dunblane Thistle.

The Lennoxtown team, still unbeaten, made the trip over the Campsie Fells to Callander looking to improve on their third position in the league.

Three minutes in Callum Hendrie tried his luck from 20 yards out but Gary Griffiths in goal made a good stop for the home side.

But two minutes later Mickey Boyle was taken out inside the box and Hendrie made no mistake from the penalty spot.

But Dunblane were no pushovers and, despite their current lowly league position, were a big threat going forward.

Brendan Shaw has had a solid season so far and had to look sharp with a smart save from Dunblane forward Momo Sadique.

At the other end Griffiths would also have an excellent game. On the half hour good work down the left by Minerva captain Kyle McCauley and the in-form Johnny McWilliams saw the latter feed Hendrie in the box but his shot was stopped well by Griffiths.

Blair Findlay was next to try his luck from 15 yards out but he also found Dunblane keeper in inspired form.

Hendrie and McWilliams were making a nuisance of themselves with their ostentatious runs in the early part of the second half and in the first 15 minutes it was all Minerva. But the Campsie side could not increase their lead.

With 25 minutes to go Zander Ryan had a 20-yard effort saved well by Shaw and the rebound was fired just wide by Rab O’Shea.

Five minutes later Hendrie had a 25-yard free-kick saved well by Griffiths and a McCauley shot from 15 yards then thundered back off the woodwork.

Minerva continued to push right to the end but found the Dunblane keeper in a mean mood, determined not to give anything else away, and there was no further scoring.

This week’s 200 club winners were Lorraine McDonald, Jamie Pollock and Mickey Boyle.