A LATE goal from striker Bryan Boylan sealed Buffs’ progress in the national competition as they overcame a much-improved Dalry Thistle side.

It was a typical high tempo start with both sides well up for the challenge.

In nine minutes Dalry had a great chance when Jordan Stewart turned Calvin Kemp at the edge of the box and was through on goal but goalkeeper Adam Strain pulled off a great save to turn the ball round the post.

This miss was to prove costly as Kilwinning took the lead in 12 minutes. Boylan provided the cross for Calvin Kemp to shoot from the right hand corner of the box past Hewitt to put the home side ahead, This gave Kilwinning a boost and a Barry Fleeting run into the box caused problems but the ball was scrambled clear.

Dalry, however were well in the game and a poor pass from Tommy Maitland gave Greg McVeigh a half chance but Maitland did well to recover and clear the danger.

Back at the other end and a poor clearance from Euan Millan cost Dalry a corner.

It was Dalry pressing again and a cross from Craig Marshall brought out a great tackle from Lewis to clear the danger.

A weak shot from Boylan was easily saved as Buffs kept pressing.

A ball into the box was chased by Ian Cashmore and with the ball in the hands of Hewitt, Cashmore slid in very late and caught the keeper. It took lengthy treatment before Hewitt could continue. It could have been a straight red but Cashy got off with just a warning.

Boylan again caused problems when his cross came off the crossbar.

Kilwinning doubled their lead in 31 minutes when Ryan Cumming broke through on the right but despite appearing offside he ran on to score from 12 yards.

A shot from Ben Lewis was saved low in the corner as the hosts kept pushing. Dalry then saw a Jordan Stewart free-kick miss the target. Then they had a very strong claim for a penalty turned down when Robert Boyd looked to have fouled Mark Butler.

The final chance of the half fell to Kemp who shot wide.

Into the second half and a Liam McGuinness corner-kick was headed wide by Boylan.

Dalry were coming more and more into the game and were not giving the hosts an easy time. A cross from Stewart went into the side net.

Both sides made several changes before Boylan flicked a cross from the right wide of the post.

Thistle then had two more really strong claims for penalties turned down when a cross from Stewart was cleared by an arm and then seconds later McVeigh was pulled down, but both times the ref said no.

However Dalry were not to be denied when they pulled a goal back in 73 minutes. The ball came in from the right to Stewart whose shot came off the crossbar and into the net. It should have been an easy decision for the referee but he waved play on and the goal was given by the linesman.

Kilwinning were rattled by this although Cashmore sent a snap shot over the bar.

Dalry should have done better when a cross from McLintock allowed Stewart a shot which was blocked by the keeper. McLintock then sclaffed the follow-up shot.

before Guthrie sent a shot high and wide.

Forward went Kilwinning and Kemp pulled the ball down but his shot was weak. Stewart hit a free-kick off the wall for a corner as again Dalry came forward With time running out visiting boss Gavin Friels took a gamble and took off full-back Ryan McMunn and sent on David Mills upfront.

But with a minute left, the task got even harder for Dalry when captain Andy Brown was shown a second yellow for a foul on Lewis in the middle of the park, and left the field.

Kilwinning then made sure of progressing three minutes into time added on when they exploited the gap left in the full-back area and Boylan raced into space rounded Hewitt and scored from an angle.

Kilwinning were made to work very hard for this win and Dalry will take a lot from the game which showed how far they have progressed this season.

KILWINNING RANGERS: Strain, Maitland, Fleeting, Kerr, Boyd, Kemp, Cashmore, McGuinness, Boylan, Lewis, Cumming. Subs, Agnew, Hanvey, Stewart, McGowan DALRY THISTLE: Hewitt; McMunn, McFadzean, Millan, Butler, Brown, Hood, Marshall, McVeigh, Stewart, Guthrie. Subs: Mills, Lamont, Crombie, McLintock.