St Patrick's FPs book West Cup quarter-final place with Dirrans victory

Saints ensured their name would be in the quarter final draw with a solid victory against their Ayrshire opponents in the West of Scotland Cup.

However coach Zander Diamond was left looking for more from his side, after a dream start with Ryan McColl put them into a second minute lead.

He said: “We told the players to start the game with a high intensity and take the game to Dirrans, which they did, and we got our early goal from that.

“However we were disappointed at half time as we felt we came off the game after the good start.

“Whilst in the second-half we were wasteful with our chances, we got the penalty to seal the cup tie and we are really pleased to go through to the next round.”

Saints got off to a flying start with a fine goal after two minutes from Ryan McColl.

Hurst and May worked a short corner and when the ball was played to McColl he steadied himself before firing a vicious low shot beyond Stewart in the Dirrans goal.

The large home support were now expecting a goal-fest, but with the weather conditions worsening, the game became very scrappy with both teams struggling to master the windy conditions.

Saints had the lion’s share of the ball but too many times their passing was over hit which resulted in many promising situations breaking down.

The second-half started with Saints facing the strong wind, which actually helped them to play more controlled football.

They should have doubled their lead in the 56th minute when Brown broke free in the box and got his shot off. Stewart saved well, down to his right, but could only parry the ball into the path of Lobban, but from eight yards out with the goal gaping, he smashed his shot onto the bar and over for a goal kick.

Dirrans were defending stoutly, blocking