Carnoustie Panmure 3 Whitburn 1

Carnoustie kicked-off, but immediately found themselves under pressure as Whitburn pushed forward and forced a corner on the left. S. Murphy crossed the ball to the edge of the box, but Lurinski fluffed his shot and the Gowfers' defence were able to clear their lines.

Play then switched quickly to the other end with Conway and Steele combining well up the right, but the latter's cross was headed past by Voigt.

A deep cross from the Whitburn left by Mooney put Whyte under pressure, but the 'keeper was equal to the task and held it well.

Carnoustie had a half-chance to take the lead when a Conway long throw from the left was only partially cleared by the visitors' defence and fell to Smith, whose shot from the edge of the box was well saved by Walker.

Moments later, Steele set up another chance for the Gowfers with a fine cross from the right, but Voigt's header went straight to the 'keeper.

Whitburn pushed forward in response and came close to opening the scoring when a J. Murphy cross from the left found the unmarked Ramage, who unleashed a fierce drive from the edge of the box, but Whyte made a fine clutch to hold the ball. In 13 minutes, Steele collided with Walker inside the Whitburn box as both went for a 50-50 ball. The 'keeper was able to continue after treatment, but Steele had to go off and was replaced by Collier.

Mooney then conceded a corner from a Conway free kick, but from Cook's cross, Robertson fired high over the top. Whitburn also had their chances during this spell and were unlucky not to open the scoring when Leiper headed narrowly over from a Mooney free kick.

In 30 minutes, however, it was Carnoustie who took the lead. Collier got on the end of a Muhsin cross from the left and knocked the ball back across the face of the goal to VOIGT, who headed home from close-range.

] As the visitors now pushed forward in search of an equaliser, a Mooney long throw from the right picked out S. Murphy, who fired just wide of Whyte's right-hand post.

Whitburn continued to press and drew level in 34 minutes. Ramage made a good run up the left and fired the ball across the six yard box to the unmarked LURINSKI, who beat Whyte with a close-in header.

A minute later, however, the Lothian side were reduced to 10 men after centre-half Mbu complained a bit too forcefully about the lack of an offside decision and was shown a straight red card for foul and abusive language.

Carnoustie were quick to cash in on the extra man advantage, regaining the lead in 39 minutes. A Narey cross into the goalmouth was knocked away to the edge of the box from where CONWAY dispatched a fierce drive through a ruck of players into Walker's top left-hand corner, giving the 'keeper no chance.

Just on half-time, Strickland had a chance to put Whitburn back on level terms, but ballooned his shot high over the bar.

Half Time : Carnoustie Panmure 2 Whitburn 1

Shortly after the restart, Carnoustie almost doubled their lead when a Muhsin shot was cleared off the line by Leiper at the expense of a fruitless corner.

Cook was next to have a shot at goal, but his 15 yard effort was weak and held easily by the 'keeper.

Having weathered the Gowfers' early onslaught after the break, Whitburn began to come more into the game again and Lurinski was unlucky not to level the score with a dipping 20 yard shot, which struck the top of the crossbar and went over.

However, just when the 10-man visitors were threatening to make a game of it once more, Carnoustie added a third in 54 minutes to virtually kill the match as a contest. Conway played a great through ball to VOIGT, who outpaced McKay before slotting the ball under the advancing Walker to make the score 3-1.

The Gowfers now began to pile on the pressure and a 20 yard effort from Conway was only just too high.

Narey then put in a deep cross to Collier, who headed narrowly past when he should have done better.

Whitburn's final roll of the dice came in 67 minutes when their only substitute Carson was introduced to the fray in place of Strickland.

A minute later, Carnoustie also made a change, replacing Beith with Morrison.

The Gowfers almost increased their lead when a great cross from the right by Collier was met by Conway, who unleashed a fierce drive, but Walker pulled off a fine save at the base of the post.

Conway was then replaced by Wilkie in 77 minutes with Carnoustie seemingly content to play out time in the closing stages.

Collier was booked in 81 minutes for encroaching at a free kick.

The remainder of the game saw few clear-cut chances, but right on the final whistle Muhsin burst through the middle for Carnoustie only to be thwarted by a fine save from Walker.

Shortly afterwards, the referee blew for full-time and the Gowfers were through to face Camelon in the semi-finals.

Line-Ups:

Carnoustie Panmure : Whyte, Narey, Beith (Morrison 68), Hendry, Robertson, Smith, Muhsin, Cook, Voigt, Steele (Collier 13), Conway (Wilkie 77).

Substitute Not Used : Ogilvie, McCafferty (gk).

Whitburn : Walker, McKay, Mooney, Leiper, Mbu, S. Murphy, Flannagan, J. Murphy, Lurinski, Strickland (Carson 67), Ramage.

Referee : K. Beats, Finavon.

Match Report Courtesy Of Guide & Gazette Newspaper