South Vics keep local flag flying in Cup after draw at Rosneath

In the competition's fifth round, Redhall Star will travel to Inverclyde, the setting for the elimination of reigning Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur FA champions Uphall Station at the weekend, while Livingston AFC face a fourth-round replay at Alyth.

Vics made light of the two-hour journey to Rosneath Peninsula by running into a two-goal lead by half time, but the crack Capital side were pegged back almost immediately after the restart and clung on towards the end to force a replay to be contested this Saturday at Saughton 3G.

The South Edinburgh side's goal machine Scott Sutherland converted a cross from the left to open the scoring, and LEAFA player of the year Ryan Moore centred from the right to allow Peter Conaghan to head a second. Conaghan was then denied by the Rosneath goalkeeper at a one-on-one shortly before the interval - an opportunity that had it been taken, suggested Vics coach Johnny Love, would have secured victory for the visitors. "Our two goals were well worked, but we could have sewn the game up in the first half if the goalie hadn't saved Peter's second chance," said Love.

Vics were buoyed by the sterling display of ex-Inch Colts under-21 midfielder Josh Hall, making his debut, but lost the influential Mikey Kennedy from the middle of the park at half time through injury. "We lost our shape after that," added Love.

Rosneath equalised soon after the restart, and levelled matters on 55 minutes. "They bombarded us, hit the bar then the post on separate occasions, and we were glad to hear the final whistle," says the Vics coach. "We had a couple of chances ourselves late on, and we had a stonewall penalty turned down where the ref booked their guy later on for his foul and said he had played advantage."

If the football Gods - or the referee - seemed to be conspiring against his team, Love reckons Vics, at home in the replay on their dependable artificial surface, will provide a tougher test for their opponents this weekend.

"Rosneath are definitely beatable," he says. "They were a big side, quite physical, but we matched them. We allowed them to bully us in the second half, but the guys will certainly be up for it next week."

With the exception of Vics' commendable result, the West of Scotland proved an unhappy hunting ground for LEAFA teams gunning for a place in the latter stages of the national tourney. Uphall Station, for whom Paul McHugh struck a late equaliser to force a replay against Inverclyde a week earlier, were defeated 2-0, while Tollcross Thistle's valiant cup run ended with a 4-2 loss at Ayrshire side Harestanes.

Whitson Star found their trip to Tayside no more rewarding, emerging from a tie against Riverside on the wrong end of a 3-0 scoreline. The hosts scored late in the first half to take the lead, and added a brace of strikes in the dying minutes to seal victory. Whitson official George Thomson reckons his side will take solace from defeat by the fact they remain top of the Premier Division 1 table. "It was a downer with the way we played - we weren't in it, and didn't really threaten. I'm hopeful we can do something in the league and the cups."

Capital side Broughton joined Star in exiting the competition after a 4-0 defeat at last season's Scottish Cup semi-finalists Kennoway.

Broughton coach Jason McCrindle says his team, gunning for a top-tier place alongside Edinburgh South Vics in Premier Division 2, will continue to focus on winning promotion. "We're doing really well this season and are still in a couple of cups," said McCrindle.

"We signed about ten new players at the start of the season, so it's almost like a new team. They've come together really well, and there are a couple who could make the step up to East of Scotland or junior level.

"They're at Broughton for enjoyment. The training's good and we have good facilities. They just want to go out on a Saturday and win."

"When we got promoted last season, we were talking about working to stay in this league, but there's no reason we can't push for promotion now.

"Every time you look at the Scottish Cup, it's about teams in the top leagues, but credit to Tollcross, Edinburgh South Vics and Broughton for getting as far as they have done."