THERE was euphoria, heartbreak and something in between in Ayrshire's amateur football sides battled it out for a place in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Amateur Cup at the weekend.
With the prospect of a place in the showpiece Hampden final, as well as a place in the 2024-25 senior Scottish cup up for grabs, there was plenty on the line for the four Ayrshire sides who went into battle in the last 16 of the tournament on Saturday.
The clash between Ayrshire AFA Premier League sides Annbank and Shortlees meant there was a guarantee of at least one Ayrshire side in the last eight, with the Bankies looking to make it through to the quarter-finals for the third year in a row since their formation.
But with Shortlees, winners of the tournament in 2018, standing in their way, it was little surprise that the two teams couldn't be separated at New Pebble Park.
Yusuf Ulukus had given Annbank the lead in the match on 25 minutes, a lead they held until the 78th minute when a superb Calvin Kemp strike levelled the game and took the tie to a replay this weekend.
The winner of that tie will join Glenburn Miners Welfare in the last eight after the Prestwick side edged a seven-goal thriller at home to Gartcosh United.
The hosts led twice in the first half through goals from Morgan Bird and Jamie Ferdinand but were pegged back on both occasions before the break.
Aidan Connor restored the home side's lead early in the second half before they were reduced to ten men - but despite being a man short, Steel Fergusson added a fourth to put one Glenburn foot in the last eight.
A second red card and a third goal for Gartcosh made for a nervy last few minutes, but the Ayrshire side held on to earn their place in the quarters.
Sadly, though, it wasn't to be for Second Division shock troops Mauchline, who had caused plenty of upsets on their road to the last 16 but found the going too tough against Sandys AFC of Edinburgh.
A Jordan Nohar goal had the East Ayrshire outfit well in the tie at 2-1 down heading into the final ten minutes, but the home side scored three in the closing stages to end the visitors' hopes of pulling off another shock result.
The defeat brought to an end a tremendous run for Mauchline, who will take plenty of positives from the Scottish Cup campaign.
The draw for the quarter final will take place next week.
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