Manager Andy Whiteford had his new assistant, John Crooks beside him in the dugout and was still missing a few players due to injuries and suspension. He gave a first start to Barry Tulloch, a new signing from Rossvale and gave recent signing Graeme Barbour, a place on the bench.

Neilston got off to the worse start when they lost a goal in the opening minute after Brendan Gillan found space on the left to deliver a great cross which was flicked over James Digney by Martin McGowan into the bottom corner.

Neilston levelled in the 20th minute when Barry Tulloch scored his first goal for the club after he picked up the loose ball in the penalty box to fire home under the keeper from an tight angle.

Neilston had the last chance of the half when a corner from James Canning’s corner fell to Matt McLean but his shot was blocked by the defender.

The second half started with Neilston on the front foot and created the first chance when Martin McInnes long ball found James Canning who cut in to fire a low drive off the back post. A minute later they gained the lead thanks to Matt McLean who beat the offside to fire past Monk.

In the 55th minute the Farmer’s boys extended their lead to 3-1 when Matt McLean set Matt Stevenson on the edge of the box to drive home. Five minutes later they made it 4-1 when a Craig Murphy long pass found James Canning down the right and he squared for Robbie Cameron who slotted the ball low past Monk.

Two minutes later they got a fourth goal lead when James Canning’s free kick caused problems in the box and Robbie Cameron reacted first to score with the rebound after Matt McLean’s shot was blocked.

The home side pulled two goals in space of two minutes. However in the 80th minute Neilston made it 6-3 when sub Graeme Barbour picked up a loose back pass to round the advancing Monk to knock the ball into the empty net despite the efforts of the defenders.

50th Anniversary.

In the Scottish Junior Cup, Neilston Juniors and Arthurlie have only met once. The match was a second round tie played at a wet and misty Dunterlie Park on Saturday, December 5, 1964. The result was a resounding 6-0 victory for the young Neilston side whose oldest player was 24 years old, John McMillan in front of a crowd in excess of 1,200.

Arthurlie could not handle the conditions and were swept aside as an Ian White double, and goals from John McCaw, Jim Orr, John “Dixie” Deans and Bobby McCance completed the rout.

It was back in the days before substitutes and Neilston had a regular side of McIlwham, J McMillan, Anderson, Orr, T.McMillan, Sheerin, McCaw, McCance, Deans, McTier, White with Alan Molloy covering any absentee.

Of that team, Tommy McMillan became a regular with Aberdeen and won the Scottish Cup with them in 1970 while Dixie Deans went on to star for Motherwell and Celtic and was also capped for Scotland.

Neilston would go on to dispose of Dunbar United, Arniston Rangers (after a replay at Brig O’Lea with around 3,000 spectators) and Wishaw. They reached the quarter-finals of the cup for the first time in their history before a penalty kick in the 87th minute saw them lose 2-1 away to Kilsyth Rangers. They also won the Renfrewshire Junior Cup later that season beating Johnstone Burgh 6-3 in the final at Renfrew.