Abbey Vale came from two goals down to set themselves up for victory – only to suffer last gasp heartbreak.
The Maryfield Park side faced East of Scotland outfit Luncarty in the first game of the Cup Winners Shield, which also includes West team Renfrew.
A place in next season’s Scottish Cup is on offer for the winners and Luncarty raced into a 2-0 lead with goals from Aaron Carlon and Rhys Davis.
A deflected Phil Middlemiss effort gave Vale hope only for them to miss a penalty.
But Adam Kirk then headed them level, with Middlemiss firing his side in front.
However, deep in stoppage time Dan Walker scored for the visitors, who claimed the bonus point by winning 4-2 in the penalty shoot-out.
Vale co-manager Allan Clark said: “We never got going in the first half. Things didn’t click into place and we found ourselves 2-0 down.
“We got a goal back just before half-time and in the second half we were tremendous. We really took the game to them, went 3-2 up, then lost a 91st minute goal.
“We’d been under pressure for at least five minutes, but I’m more disappointed with the way we lost the first two goals and the way we started the game than losing the third goal.
“I don’t know how we started off so badly but the second half performance was excellent, we really took the game to them. We got into a 3-2 lead but they put on the pressure and eventually got one, although Taylor Hall had a few good saves.
“It’s disappointing to lose on penalties but it’s only a bonus point we lost, we’ve not gone out of the cup.
“It hopefully leaves us with something to go for in the last game, it all depends on the result when they play each other.”
Vale moved to the top of the Utility Hut South of Scotland League on Monday night with a thumping win over Nithsdale Wanderers.
Phil Middlemiss opened the scoring with Darren Kerr heading in the second.
Further goals from Aiden and Craig Kerr had Vale on easy street at the break, although Nithsdale got one back early in the second half.
But that seemed to just fire Vale on even more, Aiden and Craig Kerr both scoring again before Aiden completed his hat-trick to make it 7-1.
Knowing goal difference could prove the deciding factor in the title race, Vale pushed on, Grant Middlemiss joining his brother on the scoresheet before Sam Hughes got the ninth.
As things stood on Monday night, Vale, Creetown and Lochar Thistle were all tied at the top on 49 points, Vale’s superior goal difference giving them the edge.
And they boosted their goal difference further on Wednesday night with a 9-2 win over Newton Stewart.
Creetown have three games to go, Vale two and Lochar just one – against Creetown.
On Saturday, Vale face Stranraer in the Potts Cup semi-final.
Clark said: “If we were sitting at the bottom of the league we wouldn’t be playing these games - we’d be finished our league campaign and not in any cups. If you’re playing a lot of games just now it means you’ve done well.”
