Simpson puts Shire through to last eight

Published on Wednesday 5 September 2007 00:06

EAST Stirlingshire produced yet another shock last night as they clinched a place in the quarter-final of the Challenge cup with a 1-0 win over Second Division Queen's Park.

The little Firs Park club, who have finished bottom of the Third Division for the past five seasons, are delighting their support with their best start of the season for almost 20 years.

It was newly-signed striker Sean Simpson who yet again produced the goal thrust when he drove in the winner after just 33 minutes. Now Shire will wait for their next opponents when the draw takes place at Hampden Park tomorrow.

Airdrie United striker Alan Russell led the way as he crashed in four goals in the 5-1 win over Arbroath, who finished with ten men with Steven Rennie sent off in the final minute.

Russell opened the scoring in 15 minutes and Kevin McDonald quickly added a second. Although Paul Tosh pulled one back for the Gayfield side before the interval, there was no stopping Russell in the second period as he added a third just after the hour mark. And in the final five minutes he scored two more, one from the penalty spot.

Two goals in the final eight minutes earned Partick Thistle a 3-1 win over a fighting Berwick Rangers. After Gary Harkins gave Thistle a 26th minute lead, Berwick refused to lie back and, 12 minutes from time, Iain Thomson equalised to threaten to take the tie into extra time. But then on loan Paul Di Giacomo restored the Thistle lead eight minutes from time and, in the final minute, Paul Keegan completed the scoring.

First Division Morton eased past Peterhead thanks to a Jim McAlister strike after 18 minutes in a hard-fought contest.

And Ayr United continued their recent good form with Alex Williams, in 32 minutes, and Ryan Stevenson, just before the hour mark earning them a 2-0 win at Forfar who were left with ten men with Kevin Fotheringham sent off four minutes from time.

The local derby clash between Montrose and Brechin City went into extra time after the sides were goal-less in the regulation 90 minutes. The deadlock was finally broken when Montrose went ahead in the 103rd minute through Jay Stein, only for Brechin to equalise 60 seconds later with a Martin Johnson strike. Adam Nelson put Brechin ahead in the 111th minute.