Challenge Cup exit for Lochar

LOCHAR Thistle’s South Region Challenge Cup journey ended on Saturday after a 3-0 defeat away at Kilbirnie Ladeside. The scoreline somewhat flattered the home side with two goals in the final five minutes taking the game away from a valiant Lochar effort. With a depleted squad travelling, Harvey Craig, Jack Caskie and young Rhilay Walls were given starting berths while under 20 players Shaw Learmont and Jamie Torrance took a seat on the bench. In an even but cagey opening period both teams kept things tight with Lochar looking threatening on the break while the two Kilbirnie wingers looked dangerous. It was the home side who took the lead on 18 minutes when a Kilbirnie player reacted quickest to stab home after a good save from Konar Pietsch kept the first attempt out. Lochar went close to an equaliser on the half hour mark when Scott Milligan curled an effort net bound but the keeper made a superb save to tip round the post. Lochar pressed hard in the early stages of the second half to get the all important equaliser but Lewis Todd’s volley crept wide while Finlay Kennedy’s strike went straight at the keeper. Milligan did have the ball in the net but the referee pulled it back for tight offside call. Lochar kept the pressure on and the major talking point came seven minutes from time when the two captains collided in the middle of the park. The Kilbirnie skipper raised his hands to push Todd away while also using unsavoury language. The referee was quick on the scene and pulled out the red card before bizarrely putting it back in his pocket which incensed the Lochar touchline with manager Ritchie Maxwell receiving a yellow card while assistant Davie Kennedy saw a red card brandished at him. With Lochar losing a bit of discipline on and off the park at the decision, Kikbirnie took advantage and netted two goals in the final five minutes of the game. In the league, Nithsdale Wanderers won 5-0 at basement boys Wigtown and Bladnoch. Whilst, Dalbeattie Star claimed a J Haig Gordon semi spot with a thumping 5-0 victory over rivals St Cuthbert Wanderers. Abbey Vale’s first round Cree Lodge cup tie with Stranraer and Creetown’s league match against Mid Annandale were both postponed.