AMATEUR FOOTBALL

USUAL SUSPECTS PROGRESS Most of the Premier sides were involved in Buckman Mackie cup ties on Saturday and it was the usual suspects who progressed, writes our Amateur correspondent. Semi-final places were up for grabs in the Carnoustie Panmure YM v Menzieshill AFC and the Fintry v Montrose ties with the last two Premier League champions progressing, but it was not as straightforward as they may have wished.

YM were holding Menzieshill at 0-0 until the hour mark but a couple of long-range shots and a penalty made it 3-0 with Brad Ness getting the home side’s consolation.

An Owen Neave brace had put the visitors in charge, with Kevin Egan providing the three-goal gap that ensured safe passage. Fintry moved through by defeating Montrose 4-2. Graeme McLeish, John Foley, Brian Borland and Alex Gibb were the winners’ marksmen. But the Montrose men certainly made it a real contest.

Two of the other three Buckman Mackie ties were at the first round stage with top four Premier sides Lowson United and Lochee United progressing.

The Lowson v Broughty United match was a thriller which went to extra-time before the first named eventually won 3-2.

Ewan Gunn and Josh Perrera had put the Ferry side ahead on two occasions but Mike Bell twice levelled for the Forfar side before he snatched the winner, and his hattrick, in extra-time.

Lochee United were 4-1 winners against Tayside Fire Brigade thanks to Danny Moir, Jonathan McBride and John Penman goals plus an own goal making up their tally. Danny Albayati scored the consolation effort for the Firies. Barnhill had the biggest victory of the day, winning 8-1 at Invergowrie. Braces from Robbie Whyte, David Salsbury and Murray Bisset and singles from Stuart Brankin and Gary Middleton made up the victors’ lot. Three goals in the first eight minutes more or less ended Gowrie’s likelihood of winning the match. The focus next weekend is on the North of Tay Cup and there was a rehearsal for this by way of the Premier match between AHSFP and Morgan Academy FP which the latter won 4-1.

Goals from Craig Stevenson, Scott Dolan, Steven Rice and Jason Alexander gave Morgan a 4-0 half-time lead when they were very dominant. But it was a different game after the turnaround, although Keith Beattie’s penalty was the only consolation the Arbroath side got. Next week should be an interesting tussle.

In the Gray Trophy there were wins for Wellbank and Kirriemuir Thistle. Division 1 title rivals Newport and Shotz faced each other at Waterstone Crook.

The visitors ended up winning this one 1-0.