LOCHAR and Newton Stewart served up a cracking encounter at Blairmount Park in the quarter finals of the SCFA Challenge Cup on Saturday.
But it was home side Newton who progressed to the semi finals stage of the competition after winning 4-3 after extra time.
Lochar took the lead on nine minutes following a frantic opening to the encounter. Finlay Kennedy drove forward and tried to play the ball though the Newton defence. The pass was blocked but it came back to the youngster 25 yards out and he rifled low into the bottom corner.
The Wilson Park side continued to threaten but Newton keeper Euan Drysdale did well to keep his side in the tie.
Newton did eventually come into the game in the final minutes of the half.
Lochar went on the offensive early in the second period. Kennedy went close with a free kick, while Brodie Turner screwed a shot wide of target.
Lochar looked to have doubled their lead on 70 minutes but somehow Drysdale got across to tip a net bound Scott Milligan effort onto the post.
Newton went for it in the final 15 minutes. And their pressure paid off with six minutes remaining when Robert Middleton nodded home from six yards.
The scoring was not finished yet as the clocked ticked closer to the 90. A superb break on 87 minutes resulted in Kennedy firing home his second of the day from 20 yards out.
However, an unfortunate mistake at the back saw Newton grab another equaliser through Ally McColm just 90 seconds later.
Both teams looked tired in extra time as a result of the effort put in, another Newton long ball caught the Lochar defence out and Middleton scooped over Pietsch to give the home side a 3-2 lead on 100 minutes.
Newton then extended their lead ten minutes later when a scramble in the box saw Middleton claim his hat trick.
Kennedy also grabbed a hat trick in the final minutes after he slotted home a penalty to make it 4-3. But the home side held on to claim victory.
It is a massive game for Lochar this Saturday as they host Whitburn in the Cup Winners Shield at Wilson Park, the winners will progress into next season’s Scottish Cup.
Elsewhere, Creetown ran riot away to Abbey Vale in a South of Scotland League encounter.
The Ferrytoun won 5-0, with the goals coming from Adair, Fyfe, Hughes, Jones and McMillan.
