KIRKINTILLOCH Rob Roy progressed to the quarter-finals of the Scottish Junior Cup on Saturday with a 3-1 victory over Johnstone Burgh that has been four years in the making.

“If only” recollections of his club’s shock last eight demise at the hands of rank underdogs Wishaw in 2018 are embedded in the mind of team boss Stewart Maxwell so his delight at securing passage to the same latter stage again …the Rabs now play host to Arthurlie in early March 2022 …was clearly evident when the final whistle sounded at Keanie Park .

A not altogether surprising reaction seeing as the maturity and intelligence of his youthful side’s display (skipper Scott Walker is the only playing survivor from that 2-0 Wishaw defeat )made  light of what could have been an extremely testing Cup tie.

Indeed, heads could easily have gone down when the Burgh fortuitously levelled the scores at 1-1 in the 35th minute but the Rabs responded with two further scores before half time that all but put the game to bed .

The suitably buoyed visitors  went on to totally dominate the second period, even affording themselves the luxury of missing not one but two penalty kicks , before running out deserved winners .

Maxi gushed, “I thought the guys were excellent in the way they went about their business despite a quite horrendous playing surface that did not lend itself to playing the passing football we like.

“ In particular I would like to give special mention to our midfield trio of Chris O’Kane , Dean Cairns and Ciaran McPherson whose energy and willingness to hunt their opponents down prevented  the Burgh from mounting any viable attacking threat throughout the entire 90 minutes.

“Even the goal they did score was arguably the result of a foul on our goalkeeper Matty Kerr and I felt we were comfortable winners by a scoreline that totally flattered Johnstone Burgh and not just because we failed to score from two stonewall penalty kick awards.”

A teeth bared home team were on the ascendancy during the opening exchanges and Kerr , drafted in as a last minute replacement after Reece Murdoch  was injured in the warm-up, had to look lively to parry away a well struck shot from Burgh striker Cammy McNeil.

Accustoming to heavy underfoot going and a bobbling ball was taking time for the visiting Rabs but an anything but unlucky 13th minute brought a welcome boost (or should that be gift) as a defensive fankle led to a  John Cummings  headed passback attempt eluding his advancing goalkeeper Stuart Collins but not Rob Roy winger Fraser Scott , able to then run the ball over the line for 1-0.

Johnstone Burgh’s equaliser arrived from an inswinging free kick that Kerr was blocked from reaching by an untidy melee of players in front of him  , one of whom , home team centreback Danny McBeth sclaffed a close range header into the net.

Burgh fans’ goal celebrations were all too short lived as Rob Roy duly regained the lead just one minute later after a Scott corner kick was only partially cleared, enabling Dean Cairns to swivel and  send a controlled sidefoot volley past Collins from 12 yards range.

Less than three minutes later and events took a further turn for the  worse for the home side as they yet again failed to deal with a Scott corner kick ,flicked  on by the tall Cairns to the back post area , where striking team mate  Gary Arbuckle was waiting to blast the ball home for a 3-1 scoreline.

Their lead ensured a now brimming with confidence Rob Roy exerted a near total dominance throughout a second half which saw goalkeeper Kerr kept in isolation (and not through Covid) as his team mates camped themselves in and around the Burgh penalty box..

Their No 1 Collins by comparison pulled off a string of saves ,not least of all a full length dive to beat away a well struck 81st minute  spot kick by Rabs substitute Kerr McCormick who had only  assumed the ;penalty kick duties after team captain Walker had made a  high, wide and not very handsome  hash of a 75th minute award .

Losing gaffer Jamie McKim was forthright as always in his summing up afterwards,

He reasoned, “ No complaints about the result and the better team on the day has deservedly gone through so best wishes to Maxi and his players in the next round.

“From our point of view, the manner of the goals conceded is disappointing however I am immensely proud of our players in going toe to toe with a top side like Rob Roy and for long spells holding our own.

He added, “ It’s pleasing to think we finished the game with half a team of under- age Development players on the pitch because rearing our own talent and giving them the chance to shine on the big stage  is definitely the way forward for this club.”

Rob Roy’s next up Cup opponents Arthurlie deservedly made their way into the Quarter Finals e after a hat trick from former Kirkintilloch fans favourite Gary Carroll added to a  Darren Ramsay counter clinched a resounding 4-1 defeat of Gartcairn  for whom Owen Ronald netted.

Second half scores from  defenders Jordan Scott and Ross McCabe did the damage as Petershill recovered from falling behind to a 7th minute George Johnston goal for Lochee United to  knock out the Tayside hopefuls but there was no time for a comeback to be mounted by Muirkirk in losing out to an 89th minute winner by Craig Mackie for Dyce.

And a  solitary strike by Blair McIntyre did the trick for Largs Thistle at home to Dundee North End while also through are Yoker Athletic for whom Jamie Waddell. Gregor Cree and Conor McDonald were on the mark in running out 3-1 winners over Ashfield.

The revised Quarter Final draw now reads

Rob Roy v Arthurlie

Dyce v Yoker Athletic

Largs Thistle v Petershill

Shotts Bon Accord or Rossvale v Craigmark or Auchinleck Talbo or Irvine Meadow.

Celebrations are  also in order for leading WoSFL  pair Auchinleck Talbot and Clydebank after chalking up magnificent William Hill Scottish Cup wins over Hamilton Accies and Clyde respectively.

Graham Wilson’s second half volleyed strike proved the only goal of the game in Talbot’s triumph over an Accies side that were in the Scottish Premiership last season while Clydebank had Jamie Darroch and feted hitman Nikky Little to thank for inflicting a 2-0 defeat on Scottish League One opponents Clyde.

Talbot and the Bankies will now proudly fly the flag for clubs at this level when the names, including those of Celtic and Rangers ,go into the hat for the 4th Round draw .

And hoping to make it a trio of representatives are Darvel ,on the receiving end of  well-wishes from all WoSFL supporters as Mick Kennedy’s men prepare to take on Brechin City tonight in a Glebe Park head to head being televised live on B.B.C.Scotland (Kick Off 7.45PM).

Elsewhere , Rutherglen Glencairn’s 5-4 penalty kicks shoot out win over Neilston (after a 1-1 regulation time draw ) means Willie Harvey’s men are the only Premier  League team into the semi-finals of the Strathclyde Demolition Cup .

St Cadocs made it through  with a 4-3 defeat of Harmony Row as are Drumchapel United , 3-1 winners against Bellshill Athletic while the last place will be taken up by either Royal Albert or Vale of Clyde when their last eight clash is played in February next year.

RESULTS: William Hill Scottish Cup 3rd Round Clydebank 2 Clyde 0, Auchinleck Talbot 1 Hamilton Accies 0 Macron Scottish Junior Cup 3rd Round Petershill 2 Lochee Utd 1, Gartcairn 1 Arthurlie 4, Largs Thistle 1 Dundee North End 0, Muirkirk 0 Dyce 1, Yoker Athletic 3 Ashfield 1, Johnstone Burgh 1 Rob Roy 3.PDM Buildbase Premier League. Bonnyton Thistle 2 Cumbernauld Utd 2, Hurlford Utd 1 Irvine Meadow 1,Troon 2 Kilwinning Rangers 2, Benburb 1 Cumnock 2.PDM Buildbase Conference League A.Lugar Boswell 0 Girvan 5, Forth Wanderers  2  Glasgow University 0,Whitletts Vics 4 Lesmahagow 2,Irvine Vics 1 Maryhill 4, Saltcoats Vics 0 Maybole 3. PDM Buildbase Conference League B. Ardeer Thistle 4 Carluke Rovers 1, Port Glasgow 4 Newmains Utd 2, Thorniewood Utd 4 Kello Rovers 1, Renfrew 2 Glasgow Utd 1, Greenock 4 Royal Albert 1,Dalry Thistle 0  Cambuslang Rangers 2.PDM Buildbase Conference League C. St Rochs 1 St Anthonys 3, Vale of Clyde 0 Vale of Leven 1, Wishaw 2 Larkhall Thistle 4.PDM Buildbase Division Four., Glenvale 4  B.S.C. Glasgow 2, St Peters 3 Kilsyth Athletic 2. Strathclyde Demolition  Cup .Quarter Finals.St Cadocs 4 Harmony Row 3, Neilston 1 Rutherglen Glencairn 1(Glens win 5-4 pens), Bellshill Athletic 1 Drumchapel Utd 3.