Luthermuir had a fine win over Premier Division outfit Sportsman’s Club in the third round of the North of Scotland Cup.

Luthermuir started with an bang and in four minutes, Slesser flicked the ball over the back line for Greig to race away and fire in a shot which was pushed round the post.

It took until the 20th minute before another chance was created. The ball was played down the wing to Anderson who headed to the byline and cut the ball back for Ellis whose shot was blocked at the last second for a corner. Slesser swung the corner to the back post where Duff headed just wide of the top corner.

In 26 minutes a free-kick was whipped in by Ellis and Duff rose unchallenged to head home.

The Muir were dominating and Anderson set up Ellis to fire at goal but his shot was saved well by the keeper.

Luthermuir started the second half sluggishly and Sportsman’s equalised. A free-kick was played to the side and rifled at goal with Howe only able to parry the ball into the net.

Within a few minutes Luthermuir were back in front. Slesser and Craig set up Reid who coolly slipped his marker and rifled a shot across the keeper into the top corner.

The Muir stepped up the tempo and created another great chance in 55 minutes when Anderson picked up the ball on the edge of the box and as Ellis ran round him Anderson layed it perfectly into his path but his shot went just past the post.

In 68 minutes a great run down the wing past three players by captain Duff created another goal. Duff slipped the ball to Greig who cut inside the box and played it past the last defender then unleashed a low shot across the keeper.

In 76 minutes a great shot from 30 yards by a Sportsmans player was parried on to the crossbar by Howe and an onrushing striker fired the rebound towards goal but the ball was pushed away again by the keeper and cleared.

Luthermuir ended the game in 79 minutes Ellis laid the ball first time to Greig who fired it into the top corner.

In 86 minutes a throw in down the left by Robertson found the lively Greig, he controlled and spun his defender before drilling another shot inside the post with the keeper rooted to the spot.

The final few minutes saw the Muir keep posession until the referee brought the game to an end with the Sportsman’s Club side out on their feet.

Man of the Match was James Reid.

Luthermuir: Howe, Wood, Duff, R Darar, Slesser (Robertson), Reid, Ellis, Milne, Greig, Anderson. Subs: Chalmers, Simpson, Jones.

St Laurence continued their fine cup form by reaching their second final of the season on Saturday.

The Saints travelled to Aberdeen to take on Dickie Trophy semi-final opponents they knew very little about. Dee Amateurs are a new team in the Third Division who had beaten several Second Division teams to get the semi-finals, including Bervie Caley in the quarter-final.

St Laurence started poorly, struggling to get up to the tempo of the game, and it was Dee Amateurs that looked more lively, with Hadden making several saves to keep them out.

St Laurence found themselves behind, when Dee Amateurs were awarded a penalty. A breakaway saw the Saints caught short at the back and Harley recklessly brought down the attacker and they scored from the resulting spot-kick.

This proved a wake-up call for the Saints and they started to get into the game and both McCombie and Myles forced saves from the Dee keeper.

The Saints levelled midway through the first half when a deep corner found Myles at the back post and he rose to nod home.

Saints continued to look lively, but they fell behind again following another clumsy challenge inside the box. Johnston caught the back of the Dee winger as he raced into the box and the referee blew for his second penalty of the game. Hadden got his fingertips to the kick, but failed to keep it out.

Saints started the second half on the back foot with Dee in control, but Dee managed to miss several great chances and Hadden pulled off several great saves, including tipping a fearsome shot onto the post.

Saints rode their luck for the majority of the second half, but it was Myles who nearly put them level. A breakaway found McCombie out wide and he crossed to Myles who showed great control on his chest to set up a volley which forced the Dee keeper into a great save.

Saints continued to press forward on the counter attack and Myles beat the last defender and sent an unstoppable shot goalwards, that the keeper could do nothing about to level the game for the Saints.

The Saints went on to win the game with 10 minutes left. Neither defender nor goalkeeper came to meet an inswinging cross from Myles and Blair McCombie rose to head powerfully back across goal and Ryan Arthur was there to nod over the line.

The Saints hung on for the remainder of the game to earn a place in their second final of the season.

The Saints will play Hazlehead United in the final. By coincidence they will also play Hazlehead in the final of the Barclay Cook Cup as well.

Hazlehead sit top of the Saints’ own division and the two finals will define the St Laurence season.

Match Ball Sponsor was Darren Arthur Painter & Decorator.

Stonehaven Athletic will be disappoinetd not to have taken something from this league game on Saturday as they played well against a strong RGU side.

It was a breezy day at Mineralwell and Athletic opted to take advantage of the wind in the first half on a day when striker Reid returned from suspension.

The home side were first to show and forced two corners which unfortunately came to nothing. Then on 19 minutes, Athletic took the lead. Good play down the right saw the ball fall to Reid and he played a neat pass to MacLeod and he finished from six yards.

Athletic continued to press but as half time approached, in a rare attack, RGU forced a corner. Unfortunately keeper Middleton misjudged the flight of the ball

and the RGU striker headed home unchallenged from six yards to tie the score.

The visitors stepped up the pace at the start of the second half and two quick goals put them in the driving seat.

The first came when a midfielder was given too much time and he scored from eight yards and the second came when Bowron failed to make a proper challenge and a striker scored from close range.

Holtes and Elloitt were replaced by A MacKenzie and Toner for the home side.

Undaunted, Athletic fought back and in 65 minutes Reid scored a superb goal when he turned his marker and smashed an unsavable shot high into the top corner, giving

the keeper no chance.

This gave Athletic hope, however all the good work was undone when Nicoll stupidly pulled his opponent’s shirt inside the box giving away a penalty which was converted

to make the score 2-4.

Steer then replaced the injured Bowron with time running out.

Athletic reduced the leeway in the final minute when Reid was fouled inside the box and Neish scored from the spot.

Stonehaven Athletic: Middleton, Duncan, Nicoll, Holtes, Bowron, MacLeod, Elloitt, R MacKenzie, Neish, Reid, Jolly. Subs: Cohen, Toner, A MacKenzie, Steer, Taylor.

Athletic’s Man of the Match for the second week was Ross MacKenzie.