NEILSTON crashed out of the West of Scotland Cup at the first stage when they lost to Benburb on penalties after the game ended in a draw.

A header from Daniel McKay in the last minute took the cup tie into the penalty kicks where Derek Kennedy’s effort hit the post to prove be the sinner.

Neilston welcomed back Paul Young to the starting line-up after a few weeks out, and still had a few players missing due to injuries and other commitments.

It was a scrappy opening and took it until the 12th minute before the game had a decent effort.

Derek Kennedy’s strike forced Sommerville into a good save.

Minutes later James Digney tipped away cross and it was cleared away.

Bens conceded two free-kicks just outside the area in the space of minutes. Kevin Kelly’s effort was deflected off the wall for the corner then Derek Kennedy’s shot was come off the wall into the path of Matt Stevenson who’s shot deflected just wide. At the other end Bens missed a great chance when Hendry failed to connect with Wright cross and the chance was gone.

Neilston suffered an injury blow on the half hour when Paul Young had to taken off due to injury he picked up early in the game to be replaced by Mark McCuish.

They had a chance from a corner but didn’t make most of it before Benburb opening the scoring in the counter attack in the 34th minute when James Digney let the ball slipped through his hands at front post from Wright’s cross.

Neilston had the ball in the net twice before half-time but both times they were judged to be offside by the referee much to the annoyance of the home support and bench.

Benburb made a change during the interval with Blackwood replacing the injured McNeil.

The home side had the first chance of the second half as they pressed for the equaliser.

Robbie Cameron found Daniel McKay at the back post but his header was tipped around the post by Sommerville.

Minutes later Robbie Cameron turned his marker to fire his shot over. At the other end Neilston’s Allan Diack almost increased the visitors lead when his attempted clearance deflected off the bar from Henry’s corner.

The game went end to end with Matt Stevenson setting Daniel McKay but Sommerville produced a good save. While Ben’s Monan free-kick just over the bar and James Digney saved well from Jarvie shot.

Neilston eventually equalised in the 65th minute when Matt Stevenson found Robbie CAMERON who cut in to fire a low shot past the Bens keeper into the bottom corner.

The home side were denied another goal minutes when Daniel McKay had the ball in the net but was judged to be offside again by the referee.

Neilston found themselves 2-1 down in the 77th minute when Martin McInnes diving header clearance deflected past James Digney from Lockwood’s long range effort to give the Bens lead.

Neilston made a double change with Stephen Graham and Stephen Docherty coming on for Robbie Cameron and Kevin Kelly. Neilston pressed for the equaliser and eventually took the cup tie into the penalty kicks with a goal in the last minute when Daniel McKAY found space in the box to head home from Mark McCuish’s corner.

Into the penalty shootout, both teams scored their first kick with Daniel McKay for Neilston but it was Derek Kennedy effort came off the post that came Bens advantage.

Matt Stevenson and Mark McCuish converted their kick before Scott Henry scored the winning penalty home to put Benburb into the next round.

Neilston: Digney, Murphy, O’Brien, Young (McCuish), McInnes, Stevenson, Kennedy, Diack, McKay, Cameron (Graham), Kelly (Docherty).

Subs not used: Hopewell and McArthur.

Benburb: Sommerville, McGhee, Wright, Greer, Collinge, Monaghan, Henry, McNeil, Livingstone, Monan, Jarvie.

Subs: Blackwood, Lockwood, Duggan, Boyle and Tirolpoulous.