Golf: Shock cup victory dishes up sweet revenge for Kilspindie

It looked to be a tough task for Gordon Lynch’s side, especially after they had lost heavily at home to the same opponents in the East Lothian Winter League in their previous outing.

But the visitors dug out a superb 3-2 win to join Gullane, Haddington, Musselburgh, Royal Musselburgh, Thorntree and Whitekirk in the next round.

Haddington pipped league leaders Tantallon in the pick of the ties thanks to a dramatic win from their anchor pairing of Daryll Souness and Steven Smail.

Up against Neil Henderson, who is back home from college in Virginia for Christmas, and Shaun Gordon, they were three up after six yet needed a four-footer from Souness to draw level at the 17th.

After both the last and 19th holes were halved in pars, Haddington clinched the win at the 20th as Smail holed from ten feet. Extra holes were also required at Musselburgh Old, where Dave Jeffrey and David Smith eventually prevailed at the 21st to take Whitekirk through.

And there was more drama just up the road at Royal Musselburgh, where the hosts needed extra-time as well to see off the challenge from last season’s league champions Glen.

In the second match of a double-header at Prestongrange, Thorntree shrugged off their lowly league position to also make home advantage count against Castle Park.

Gullane were too strong for Longniddry, a convincing win going some way to avenging the hammering they were dealt out in the league last month, while Musselburgh were never troubled at home to Craigielaw.

In the only fixture casualty, a heavy overnight frost put paid to the scheduled match up at Gifford, where North Berwick were due to be the visitors, and that match will now take place in January.