The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Lochee United to take the cup trail to Troon
JUNIORS: McComiskie and Birse see Bluebells through
Lochee United face another trip to Ayrshire in the quarter-finals of the Macron Scottish Junior Cup to take on Troon after they took care of Craigmark Burntonians in their twice postponed fifth-round tie.
After a goalless first half, Lochee took control through goals from Scott McComiskie and Connor Birse.
McComiskie added a third for George Shields’ side before Birse made it four.
Scone Thistle lost out after they went down 2-1 at injury-hit Carnoustie in Section B of the League Cup.
Scone took the lead in first-half stoppage time as Kevin Sinclair headed his side in front from a corner but, despite second-half pressure, Carnoustie levelled on 83 minutes from the spot through Sam Simpson after Ryan Dignan had been tripped.
The winner came for Phil McGuire’s men when Simpson made no mistake when Mark Smith played him in.
Lochee United have already won Section F so the clash between North End and Blairgowrie was a dead rubber.
The game, however, exploded in the last 15 minutes with North End scoring four goals to put a slightly unfair slant on the result.
The sides were level at half-time after Kevin Milne had scored for North End and Gary Axworthy netted for the visitors.
Ryan Smith made it 2-1 on 75 minutes and Milne hit the third on 83 minutes. Drew Wighton scored the fourth before Gary Archibald scored number five in stoppage time.
Thornton Hibs qualified for the next stage with a game to spare from Section H after they won 2-0 at Kennoway Star Hearts.
Both goals came in the second half, Stuart Drummond with the first from the penalty spot after Lewis Grierson fouled Raymond Crichton and then Iain Millar headed the second with eight minutes left from a Crichton corner.
After a burst pipe caused damage to the dressing room area at Tulloch Park, Kinnoull had to switch their winnertakes-all Section K clash with West Calder to Hermand Park.
Alan Cameron’s men had to come from behind twice before eventually winning 5-2 to progress.
The home side took a 15th minute lead but Mark Smith equalised four minutes later.
West Calder went back in front just before the half-hour but again Kinnoull hit back through Smith.
Kinnoull took control in the second half. Ben Ragen put his side in front for the first time on 48 minutes before Smith completed his hat-trick on 86 and captain Greg Whyte made it five with a minute remaining.
Kirkcaldy YM will finish bottom of Section L as they went down to three second-half goals from Livingston United at Denfield Park.
Luncarty gave a debut to Icelandic striker Sigurour Kristjanson, on loan from Thor FC, at Arbroath Vics and he was involved in both goals in the Perth side’s 2-0 Premier League North win.
Kristjanson made the first as the ball was turned home by a Vics defender on nine minutes and then he was fouled in the box on 37 minutes, allowing Fraser Briggs to convert the penalty.
Nik Mann returned to the East Craigie side with style as he scored four times as the Shipbuilders won 6-0 at home to Coupar Angus, Adam Brown and Connie Howitt scoring the other two goals.
Rosyth are the form side of the Premier League South after they won 4-1 at Lochgelly Albert.
Ryan Hughes put Albert in front on seven minutes but Rosyth were level inside three minutes through Scott Gilfillan. The scoreline remained level until five minutes into the second half when Jason Keith put Rosyth in front, then on 72 minutes Mark Higgins made it three.
Tam Hampson scored in stoppage time to make it 4-1 to lift them up three places to sixth.
Newburgh were beaten 4-3 at home by Lochore Welfare after taking an early lead through Gordon Clark.
Joe Kinninmonth equalised for Welfare and then Scott Renton put the visitors in front only for Jake Hutchison to level things in stoppage time.
Sean Johnstone and Kinninmonth for a second time put Welfare back in control and the visitors held on despite a third Newburgh goal late on from Craig Robertson.