In a thrilling first half, William McMillan gave the home side an early lead in the third minute scoring direct from a corner, with keeper Lopez looking very sloppy, and Scott Forrester added a second six minutes later with a header, again from a corner kick.

Kris Hynds pulled one back for the Sanquhar side from the penalty spot in eighteen minutes with Alex McColm finding the net for the home side two minutes before the interval to take a three goals to one lead into the break. Nithsdale came back strongly in the second half with Scott Dempster scoring in the sixty fifth minute and William Farrell scoring with a forty yard free kick thirteen minutes from time to take the game into extra time. Stevie Ross and substitute Ross McCridle were the Wigtown heroes both scoring in the first period of extra time to send the home side comfortably through into Round two where they will meet Fleet Star who beat Newton Stewart by six goals to four in an exciting tussle at Gatehouse.


The present holders St Cuthbert Wanderer started as strong favourites to progress from their match against Abbey Vale at St Marys Park, Kirkcudbright but they struggled through only by the odd goal in three as Vale made things difficult for them. A goal-less first half showed how even the contest was but two goals from Saints Scott Maxwell was enough to take the holders through although Vale did manage to find the net through Fraser Maxwell.

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Stranraer were the beaten finalists last season in this competition and on Saturday they traveled to Lockerbie to play Mid-Annandale with present league form suggesting a victory for the Stair Park side but it turned out otherwise following a creditable two goals to one victory for the home side. Mids opened the scoring after only five minutes with the first of a double for Kevin Hodgkins with Stranraer leveling with a long range Whorlow effort soon before the break. The winner came in fifty one minutes after Hodgkins had been pulled down in the penalty box. The player recovered to take the spot kick which he converted to send Stranraer out of the League Cup and to book a second round tie at home to Crichton. Crichton progressed by virtue of a six goals to on e victory over Dalbeattie Star with three goals each side of the break. Darren Kirkpatrick and Davy Kennedy claimed doubles with Norman Montgomery and Roman Saltys adding one each. Mark Adams scored a consolation goal for Star near the end of the match.


Threave Rovers played Creetown at Castle Douglas as the Ferrytoon sides changing rooms are still being refurbished so they gave up home advantage and played the match at Meadow Park. Creetown are struggling early season and this was in fact the case again on Saturday as Threave ran riot in an eleven goal romp with Paul Cook claiming a hat-trick, doubles for Ross Beattie, Sam Warren and Mark McGinley and singles from Jamie Struthers and Liam Patterson.This now sets up a Stewartry derby in round two at Meadow Park with holders St Cuthbert Wanderers as the visitors.


Heston pulled off a shock result against Annan Athletic in a second round tie at Galabank when they took the home side to extra time and then managed to conjure up a winner. Gordon Walker and Chris Clark gave Heston a two goal advantage at the break with Parker and Kissan finding the net in the second half for Annan. A Gordon Gibson header near the end of the first period of extra time was enough to give Heston the victory and put them into the semi-final stages.

RESULTS

Saturday, 23rd August, 2008. South League Cup – Round 1: Mid-Annandale 2 Stranraer 1; Crichton 6 Dalbeattie Star 1; Creetown 0 Threave Rovers 11; St Cuthbert Wanderers 2 Abbey Vale 1; Wigtown and Bladnoch 5 Nithsdale Wanderers 3 (after extra time); Fleet Star 6 Newton Stewart 4.

South League Cup – Round 2: Annan Athletic 2 Heston Rovers 3 (after extra time).