Southern Counties football roundup

Mar 3 2010 Dumfries Standard Wednesday

STRANRAER will take part in their second cup final of the season when they play St Cuthbert Wanderers for the Potts Cup in two week’s time, having beaten Crichton by three goals to one at Hospital Park.

The sides were tied at one goal each after 90 minutes with Andy Morrison scoring in the 70th minute for the home side and Chris Doyle retaliating three minutes later after Crichton’s Roman Soltys had missed a penalty.

The 90 minutes ended all square and five minutes from the end of extra time Richard Jones put Stranraer ahead with Derek Dougan ensuring progress in the final minute.

Newton Stewart are through to the last eight of the SFA Challenge Cup South after defeating Heston Rovers by four goals to two at Blairmount on Saturday.

The home side took the lead when midfielder Gary Smith struck a superb volley into the roof of the net from 25 yards after 27 minutes play.

Eleven minutes later, they doubled their score when Stewart Taylor rounded the visiting keeper to slide the ball home for goal number two.

Five minutes before the break Heston pulled one back when Fraser McGhie’s header was too hard for keeper Fidler to hold and crossed the line to give the visitors a fighting chance.

Newton Stewart found the net again in the 62nd minute when Stewart Taylor sent goalkeeper McCulloch the wrong way from the penalty spot after a handball by a Heston defender.

Five minutes later, Sean Taylor looked to make the game safe for the home side when he latched onto a Davy Hyslop through ball to slot the ball past a stranded keeper for goal number four.

With 14 minutes left to play, Heston came back once again when Grant Learmont found the net with a 20-yard free kick.

Try as they did, Heston could not find the net again and the home side went through to join Crichton, Dalbeattie Star and Gretna as the South representatives at the quarter final stages which will be played next Saturday.

Dalbeattie Star kept themselves ahead of the pack with a goal from Steven Watt four minutes from the end of their match with Fleet Star.

The home side had taken a surprise first half lead through a Barry Pickthall goal a minute before the interval when he fired home from eight yards following a Stewart Currie corner which had come off the upright.

It took the league leaders until the 61st minute to draw level when Scott Milligan struck from 25yards.

With a share of the points looking a distinct possibility Steven Watt popped up with four minutes left with a headed goal which took the three points.

At St Mary’s Park, Kirkcudbright, St Cuthbert Wanderers went nap against Nithsdale Wanderers who could only manage one in return while Threave Rovers went one better over Mid Annandale at Meadow Park to keep the pressure on Dalbeattie Star.

Threave were three nil up at the break through James Baty, Darren Kerr and Jamie Struthers with an Andrew Donley double and a Sam Warren single being added in the second half.

Wigtown and Bladnoch were two up at the break in their match at Trammondford Park against Abbey Vale with the goals coming from Ross McCrindle and Rab Jamieson.

Two minutes after the interval an own goal from Alan Clark made it three and two minutes later George Wilson scored goal number four with Jamieson wrapping up the points for the home side in the 56th minute.

Results from Saturday:

SFA Regional Challenge Cup - Round Two: Newton Stewart 4 Heston Rovers 2.

Potts Cup semi-final: Crichton 1 Stranraer 3 after extra time.

South of Scotland League: Fleet Star 1 Dalbeattie Star 2; St Cuthbert Wanderers 5 Nithsdale Wanderers 1; Threave Rovers 6 Mid-Annandale 0; Wigtown and Bladnoch 5 Abbey Vale 0.