Scottish Junior Cup Fifth Round

KELTY HEARTS 1

KILWINNING RANGERS 2

IMPRESSIVE Buffs caused a huge upset by sending the second favourites crashing out of the national competition at Central Park.

This was a repeat of the epic 1999 Cup final, won 1-0 by Buffs at Firhill.

And a bumper crowd of 920, including goal hero from that day, Gerry Peline took in the match with the visitors taking a sizeable travelling support to the Kingdom.

Buffs have enjoyed a fine run in the national competition, defeating Arthurlie and Edinburgh United away from home, despite their poor league form and manager Chris Strain went into the match quietly confident they could spring an upset.

Home player/boss Thomas Courts was aware that this would be no easy task and did not under-estimate his side's opponents.

Hearts won their appeal against Stephen Husband’s red card which the midfielder picked up against Camelon last week and he was able to play

Kilwinning were lively going forward and twice went close to opening the scoring.

However, at the other end Hearts threatened through Brian Ritchie. However in 15 minutes the noisy home support was silenced by a long throw-in which ended with former Whitletts Vics man Ricky Hanvey brilliantly heading past recalled Kyle Allison to give the visitors the lead.

Hearts tried to come back immediately but the Buffs defence were on top of their game and at the break that goal separated the sides.

There was another shock for the heavily-favoured hosts at the start of the second period when a good finish put Kilwinning 2-0 up after a miss-kick gave Ben Lewis a chance and he coolly netted from 12 yards. However back came the Hearts and they started to push forward.

There was a blow for the home side when Brian Ritchie was red carded for a fierce midfield challenge but soon after the Buffs were reduced to 10 men when Carlo Monti was sent off for a challenge.

There were several close calls around the visitors' goal and eventually Sean O’Neil blasted the ball into the net from close in after good work by Husband.

Kilwinning - who reached the semi-finals last season - only to lose to eventual winners Beith, were finding it hard going now and Stuart Cargill went close with a fine shot.

It was all Hearts in the closing moments but super defending by Buffs saw them through.

KILWINNING RANGERS: Strain; Maitland, McCloskey, Kerr, Swift, Harvey, Monti, McGuinness, Hogg, Lewis, Boylan. Subs: Burns, Fleeting, Cashmore.