SHOCK troops Craigmark have been handed just about the toughest possible tie in the West of Scotland Cup last eight – a trip to face holders Auchinleck Talbot.
The Station Park side will head to Beechwood Park on March 16 after knocking out Rutherglen Glencairn on penalties in the fourth round on Saturday.
It was the second win Ian Nixon’s men have enjoyed against higher opposition in the tournament this season, following their third round victory over Irvine Meadow.
And the prospect of facing one of the top flight's biggest names away from home isn't necessarily one that will faze the Craigmark squad - with memories still fresh among those who were at Station Park last season of the day they dumped Cumnock out of the 2022-23 tournament after a shoot-out at Townhead Park.
Meanwhile, Glenafton Athletic, who needed penalties to avoid a banana skin on Saturday, will welcome First Division Shotts Bon Accord to Loch Park in the quarter-finals after Ryan Caddis’s men sneaked past Second Division Larkhall Thistle in a shoot-out at Gasworks Park.
Two Ayrshire teams are guaranteed to reach the last four of the competition following Monday night’s draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals, after Chris Strain’s Beith Juniors side were handed a tie against either Darvel or Ardrossan Winton Rovers at Bellsdale Park.
Strain’s men booked their place courtesy of a 2-0 win over Maybole at Ladywell on Saturday, while the Darvel-Winton tie was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch and is now expected to be played on Saturday, March 9.
The final last-eight tie will see Hurlford United face Pollok at Blair Park – but only if Darren Henderson’s men can get past Second Division Cumbernauld in another rescheduled fourth round fixture that fell victim to Saturday’s heavy rain.
The full draw for the last eight and last four is as follows.
Quarter-finals (March 16)
Auchinleck Talbot v Craigmark Burntonians
Hurlford/Cumbernauld United v Pollok
Beith v Darvel/Ardrossan Winton Rovers
Glenafton Athletic v Shotts Bon Accord
Semi-finals (April 6)
Auchinleck/Craigmark v Hurlford/Cumbernauld/Pollok
Glenafton/Shotts v Beith/Darvel/Ardrossan
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