Scottish Cup holders Harestanes still heading for Hampden

A single goal was enough to see Harestanes through against Letham

Had they taken the chances created this would have been a comfortable victory for the Kirkintilloch side who dominated the first half and started well in the second half.

But they ended up losing their way as Letham came close to scoring near the end - and would have succeeded if not for Travers in the Harestanes goal.

However they held on and are now just two games away from Hampden where this year’s final will be played, reverting back to itrs traditional national stadium venue.

Harestanes started brightly and pinned Letham back into their own half.

A good run down the right by Black cut through the Letham defence, but his cross was scrambled out for a corner.

Another corner was headed on by Cawley and Fitzsimmons got the head on it but was narrowly wide.

Harestanes were denied what they felt was a stonewall penalty, instead being awarded a corner.

But justice was done from the home side’s point of view when the corner was swung in and met at the near post by Cawley, whose header took a slight deflection on the way in.

As Harestanes pushed to increase their lead a shot by Harper rattled back off the post, Mackie drove the ball in on the target but the shot was blocked.

Harestanes started the second half at pace and Fitzsimmons was denied a headed goal by a wonderful stop by the Letham ’keeper who twisted to get his hand to the ball.

Fitzsimmons had another opportunity when Young sent him through with only the ’keeper to beat, but uncharacteristically he put a low shot just the wrong side of the post.

Letham were prevented from equalising when Travers clocked that a high ball was going in just under the bar and rose to push it over.

They had another chance when they were through but shot wide.

Cawley came close to collecting a second but was denied by the ’keeper’s diving save.

In the dying minutes Letham were through on Travers again, but he spread himself to save and deny the visitors a replay.

Harestanes Tote: no winners, £100 rollover.