THE West of Scotland Football League (WoSFL) Premier Division title race has taken yet another intriguing twist.

It comes following an action packed midweek fixture card for Ayrshire sides across the league set up.

A total of 17 matches were played across various leagues and in cup competitions on Tuesday and Wednesday with results as unpredictable as ever.

The biggest fixture of those taking place was held at Beith on Wednesday, April 24, with The Mighty looking to build after going atop the Premier Division only days before.

But it was their opponents St Cadoc's who kept their own slim title hopes alive with a 3-1 win to stun Chris Strain's side.

Ciaran Diver opened the scoring for the hosts, but St Cadoc's levelled before the break through Ronan Hughes and went on to secure a surprise three points through Neil McLaughlin's strike and Hughes' second goal.

The surprise result at Bellsdale has given a huge boost to Beith's main challengers, Auchinleck Talbot, who bounced back from the heartache of their Scottish Junior Cup exit to Darvel behind them by chalking up a resounding 4-0 win over Gartcairn at Beechwood Park.

Kyle McAvoy, Connor Boyd and Tarek Abed found the net to put Talbot firmly in control at the break, with Luke Gillies completing the scoring nine minutes into the second half.

The result means that if Talbot win all of their remaining fixtures, they would draw level on points with the reigning champions - assuming that Beith likewise don't drop any more points.

Elsewhere, Hurlford United all but secured their Premier Division place for next season with victory over Kirkintilloch Rob Roy.

A 2-0 win for Darren Henderson's side means two wins from their final five games will seal the deal in terms of mathematical survival.

Irvine Meadow, meanwhile, were officially relegated on Saturday, and had their misery further compounded on Wednesday when they travelled to face Arthurlie.

And the Barrhead side, who are battling for their own top flight survival as well as preparing to appear in the Junior Cup final in June, handed out a 7-0 thrashing to Ben Carson's beleaguered side - Medda's biggest loss of an already challenging campaign.

Away from league action, Darvel earned their place in a second cup final - only days after winning their way into their first.

First Division Shotts Bon Accord pushed Tony McInally's side all the way, but it was the East Ayrshire side who came through the semi-final fixture 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

The Recreation Park side will now face Pollok in the competition's final which will be played at Broadwood Stadium on Sunday, April 28, at 2pm.

Into the First Division and Kilbirnie Ladeside already know they are preparing to play their football in that same league next year.

But they still played out a thrilling match at Valefield on Wednesday as they took on promotion-chasing Ashfield.

All the goals came in the first 45 minutes as the Glasgow side earned a narrow 3-2 victory in a match which also featured a penalty save from Ladeside keeper Jamie McGowan.

In the Third Division, Dalry Thistle claimed a notable scalp with a 3-1 win at home to high-flying Vale of Leven as Chris Wilson's men aim to climb the table while catching up on their outstanding matches.

At the other end of the fourth tier, Girvan boosted their survival hopes with a crucial 4-3 win at home to West Park United on Wednesday, a result which saw their visitors relegated to the Fourth Division.

The win also lifts Chris Flanagan's side out of the relegation places, in place of fellow Ayrshire outfit Ardeer Thistle and within touching distance of Port Glasgow.

Girvan may yet have their sights set on the latter, with Ardeer only two points back and with four games in hand.


Fixtures for Ayrshire's WOSFL sides this Saturday, April 27, are as follows.

Premier Division: Arthurlie v Auchinleck Talbot, Beith v Glenafton, Gartcairn v Hurlford, Rob Roy v Irvine Meadow.

First Division: Maybole v St Roch's, Ashfield v Kilwinning Rangers.

Second Division: Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Kilsyth Rangers, Craigmark Burntonians v Vale of Clyde, Glasgow University v Muirkirk.

Third Division: Ardeer Thistle v Lesmahagow, Bellshill Athletic v Dalry Thistle.

Fourth Division: Lugar Boswell Thistle v Newmains United, Eglinton v Easterhouse.