Thorniewood 0 Kilwinning Rangers 0 (Kilwinning win 4-3 on penalties)
Harry Broun was the hero for bare bones Buffs as they survived a shoot-out to reach the semi-finals of the Kilmarnock Pie West of Scotland League Cup.
Teenage keeper Broun, on loan from Kilmarnock, made two spot-kick saves as his side survived a potential banana skin at Robertson Park on Saturday.
Kilwinning will now host Darvel in the last four of the competition on June 4 after victory extended their season.
The omens had not looked promising for the visitors – who were unable to list a single substitute – at the end of a goalless 90 minutes.
Striker Thomas Collins missed a second half penalty to give Thorniewood real hope of pulling off an upset
But Broun, 18, denied Fraser Stobie and Declan Brown in the shoot-out before Gavin Millar slotted home the decisive penalty to send Kilwinning through.
The Buffs were always going to be in for a tough afternoon against a Thorniewood side buoyed by winning promotion from Conference B.
And that was before you factor in they were missing Keiren Wood, Lewis Gardiner, Kyro Crawford, Struan McArthur, Jordan Stuart, Ally McColm and Chris McGowan.
Both sides bared their teeth in the opening 10 minutes, the hosts surviving an early goalmouth scramble before Declan Brown blazed a good chance over at the other end.
Supporters had to wait until the 24th minute for the first save of the match, home keeper Craig Smith getting a strong hand to David Ramsay’s strike from 16 yards before smothering the loose ball.
Thorniewood responded with an Ally Small header that Broun was happy to see flash wide of the target.
Kilwinning finished the half the stronger of the two sides with front pairing Collins and Jamie Kirkpatrick registering efforts on target, albeit neither unduly troubling Smith in the Thorniewood goal.
The hosts wasted a great chance to get their noses in front three minutes after the restart when Jake Morris headed a corner kick over from point blank range.
Dillon McLaughlan then went close with an effort from the edge of the box before Darren Bowie narrowly missed the target with a snap shot from slightly closer range.
Thorniewood were visibly growing in confidence but they were dealt a blow in 61 minutes when, against the run of play, Kilwinning were awarded a penalty for a handball spotted by referee Ross Clark.
Collins was Kilwinning’s appointed spot-kick taker but his effort clipped the top of the crossbar on its way over as the stalemate endured.
Thorniewood took advantage of their six-strong bench in the final half hour – making three changes – while Buffs had to make do with what they had.
It was therefore no surprise to see the home side create the better chances the longer the game went on.
Brown was first to threaten, showing quick feet before dragging a shot across Broun’s goalmouth.
Then, with six minutes left of the regulation 90, the sliding Small was a boot lace away from getting on the end of a low, drilled cross.
With no extra time, it was straight to penalties and the shoot-out began with two saves - Broun diving to his left to keep out Stobie’s opening spot kick before Collins was denied by a smart stop by Smith.
The next two efforts found the net, Aldin El-Zubaidi finding the top corner for Buffs.
Broun then pulled off a flying save to keep out Brown’s attempt and put Kilwinning back in the driving seat.
The visitors didn’t miss again as Ramsay, Ben Lewis and then Millar netted to clinch a 4-3 shoot-out victory.
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