On fire ‘Burn book spot in last 32

UB United .............. 3 Bannockburn ........ 6

Bannockburn produced a fine counter attacking display to reach the last 32 of the RJM Sports Scottish Amateur Cup for the third successive year.

In what was expected to be a tough match against last year’s West of Scotland Cup finalists, Bannockburn were made to work extremely hard for their place in the next round.

They should have taken the lead in the first five minutes when a ball whipped in from the right by Chris Ogilvie found Ryan Weir unmarked in the middle of the box, but he blazed his volley over the bar.

It was Ogilvie who broke the deadlock in 15 minutes when he wriggled free and slotted home.

But the home side equalised when a cross ball was knocked into his own net by‘Burn skipper Harry Bruce past a helpless Greig Maitland.

Bannockburn bounced back almost immediately when Kenny McLellan unleashed a 30 yarder on his supposed weaker left foot which the keeper parried out to David Grant, who duly knocked the ball home.

Five minutes into the second half it was 3-1 when Steven Knox scored after the UB keeper had saved from Grant.

Maitland was then called into action twice to keep the home side from scoring and Bannockburn made it 4-1 on the hour when Grant netted.

He then claimed the match ball after a well worked routine from the training ground and with 10 minutes to go Bannockburn made it six from the penalty spot as McLellan sent the keeper the wrong way.

Two late consolation goals for the home side took the edge off what was an emphatic victory for Bannockburn.

Team: Maitland; Todd, Bruce, Reid; Ogilvie, McLellan, R Weir, Donaldson, S Taylor; Knox, Grant; Subs: Dempsey, Walker, M Weir, McLaughlin, M Taylor.

On Saturday, Bannockburn are away to Cumbernauld side Eastfield in the third round of the M&M Trophy.