Last Saturday snow and severe frost completely decimated the Only Sport Scottish Amateur Cup 3rd Round program, with only a handful of games beating the weather. It was some relief, therefore, that most of the 64 scheduled ties went ahead yesterday. For all the sides, there was the added incentive of already knowing their likely 4th Round opponents, following Thursday’s draw at Hampden.

Last week, the all-Ayrshire clash between Beith and Largs Thistle ended all-square at 2-2. Largs Thistle hosted yesterday’s replay. It finished with an identical scoreline to set up a dramatic penalty shoot-out. In an amazing conclusion to the tie, Beith went through 19-18 after the spot kicks.

The weather did have some impact on yesterday’s games, with a handful of postponements. And, in the capital, the all-Lothian and Edinburgh clash between Leith Victoria NCLV and recent winners, Tollcross Thistle was abandoned at half-time due to deteriorating conditions, with the away side holding a 2-1 advantage.

Postponed games and replays will take place next Saturday. Perhaps the most eye-catching of those ties will be the one between last year’s Runners-Up, Steins Thistle (Scottish Premier AFA) and Kingdom of Fife’s Leven United who drew 1-1. Next week’s game in Fife will surely attract a bumper crowd.

Former winners Drumchapel Amateurs (Caledonian League) and Shortlees (Ayrshire) will meet in Round 4 after both won. Drumchapel defeated Mill (Lothian & Edinburgh AFA) 4-1, while Shortlees came out 3-1 winners in an Ayrshire derby versus Kilbride Thistle.

Holders Cupar Hearts impressed in a resounding 8-1 away win, defeating another Ayrshire side, Crosshill Thistle. Cupar will host Broughty United in Round 4 after the Midlands AFA side won 3-1 away from home against another former winner, Harestanes.

There were few major surprises in yesterday’s clashes. Most of the sides who have shown good form so far this season made it through, although some after closely-fought games. Gartcosh United (Scottish Premier AFA) won 5-2 at home to Ayrshire’s West Kilbride. In another clash between two sides from these leagues, Castlemilk OBC scored two late goals to edge past Cumnock by the same scoreline.

Two Ayrshire sides who did progress were Annbank, defeating Strathclyde University (Caledonian League) 4-1 and New Farm Loch winning 3-2 away to Clydeside Athletic (Greater Glasgow Premier League). Sandys (Lothian & Edinburgh AFA) returned from Aberdeen 2-1 victors over Westdyke.

Another former winner, Bannockburn, won 3-1 in Dundee against Stobswell. St Joseph’s (Caledonian League) edge a 3-goal thriller against the Bowhill Rovers from the Kingdom of Fife. EKRR (Greater Glasgow Premier League) continued their fine cup run with a 4-0 home win over Aberdeenshire’s AC Mill Inn Academy. Glasgow Island (Glasgow Colleges AFA) produced another fine display to defeat Southside (Saturday Morning AFA) 3-2.

A number of teams recorded big wins. Dinamo Paisley (Saturday Morning AFA) top=scored, sweeping aside Caledonian Under 21 side, Shotts Bon Accord. The Caledonian League’s Wishaw Wycombe Wanderers won 9-0 in Perth against FC Romania. Fellow Caley sides Doune Castle and St Mungo’s scored freely. Doune won 7-0 at home versus Greengairs (Saturday Morning AFA) while the Mungo won 5-1 in Ayrshire against KFA Amateurs. In the all-Caledonian League clash, Westerlands progressed with an impressive 6-2win over East Kilbride YM. The clash between Plean (Stirling and District AFA) and Plains (Saturday Morning AFA) produced a goals feast, the home side winning 6-4.

With 4th Round ties scheduled for Saturday 6th January, all those teams who make it through can look forward to a sizzling start to the New Year!