Ladeside put in a good performance along with some excellent goals to see them beat Cumnock 3-1 to progress to the semi finals of the Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup where they will meet Largs Thistle at Valefield Park. It was the hosts who had the first opportunity just a minute into the game when Anson was fouled 23 yards out by O'Byrne. The striker took the resultant free kick himself but his low drive went wide of the target. Kilbirnie then got into the game and Finlay fired wide before a Scullion free kick from 30 yards out was gathered by Semple at the second attempt. Ladeside had two good chances within two minutes when firstly Finlay was through on goal after good play by Anderson and a terrific reverse pass by Scullion but Semple saved his effort and then a Scullion corner fell to McLaren 10 yards out but again Semple managed to get a block on the shot.

Good link up play between Anderson and Scullion set up Burbidge inside the box but again Semple made another good save. Ladeside eventually made the breakthrough on 25 mins with another stunning free kick from Scullion. After kilbirnie were awarded a soft free kick 25 yards out right of centre Scullion fired the ball over the wall and the head of Semple into the far top right corner giving the keeper no chance. Cumnock thought they had an equaliser a minute later when a cross into the middle found Anson and his header went in off the post but the referee had already blown for an infringement. Cumnock had a couple of good chances late in the half when Martin was through on goal but keeper Hughes denied him with a brave save on the edge of the box before Martin again was in annd after another good stop by Hughes the ball fell to Esplin but defender Cory Hughes headed off the line.

Anson had a chance at the start of the second half when Muir played him in but from a tight angle he fired into the side net. Anderson and Scullion then set up MacKinnon wide on the left and his low cross was met by Mitchell 6 yards out but he couldn't make enough contact to force the ball home. Cumnock pulled level on 63 mins with a quick counter attack when Scullion was caught in possession and a long ball in behind the Ladeside defence found substitute Hilton looking in an offside position but the assistants flag stayed down and he ran in before slotting the ball past Hughes into the net. Kilbirnie then missed two good chances from corners when firstly O'Byrne headed over and then McKinnon saw his header cleared off the line.

Kilbirnie went in front on 68 mins when Mitchell picked the ball up just inside the Cumnock half and he was allowed space to run at the Cumnock defence before firing a shot from 30 yards which flew over Semple and into the net. Cumnock's task got harder on 81 mins when Esplin was shown a second yellow card of the match after another poor challenge and sent off by referee Craig King. Ladeside looked to take advantage of the extra man and Roberts and Juskowiak did well to set up Sweeney but his effort went well over the bar. The away side sealed their place in the semis on 86 mins when a quick free kick by O'Byrne found Juskowiak and he laid the ball off to Roberts who cut inside before curling an effort beyond Semple into the far bottom corner. Further chances then fell to Roberts after some good play by Anderson but his deflected shot came off the top of the crossbar and then Juskowiak set up McGill but his effort was blocked on the line by Montgomerie.

MOTM for Ladeside was Gavin Mitchell (pictured)

Match details

Match date

Wed 16 May 2018

Kickoff

19:15

Team overview