FC Annan bag big cup win

The weekend saw the first round of the Houliston Cup with some tasty ties but no real shocks. Five Arches Bombers will be replacing Queens Bar in the Premier next season and the first division champions showed why as they eased through scoring six unanswered goals with a Graeme Maxwell hat trick, Chris Ross double and a strike from Greg Rice saw the Bombers progress. Dumfries Athletic gave Nithside an early scare as they went ahead through Liam Watson, but Mark McGhie, David Martin and an Own Goal turned the game for Nithside. Keenan moss pulled it back to 3-2 to give Dumfries hope but a Thomas Nicholson effort made sure that Nithside went through. Hole in the Wa made no mistake against Black Bull Rovers. Tommy Goss had the Wa ahead inside a minute and Stuart Smith added a second after only 8; Black Bull pulled one back a few minutes later and the score remained 2-1 til half time. Stuart Smith grabbed his second to give Wa some breathing space and Tommy Goss scored on the 60th and 80th minute to complete the win. Moffat Thistle eased past Annan Town in an all Premier tie, an Adam Henderson brace and goals from Justin Borthwick, Jamie Carlyle and Aiden Wallace were enough despite Annan netting three times. Normandy Star also won an all Premier, Ben Louden scoring for Scaur but Gary White and Aaron Halliday hitting two apiece and Bobby Green and Mark Cravens also netting for Normandy. FC Annan are also in the quarter finals as they hit double figures at Ruthwell in the only all fist division tie. John Campbell and Brady Irving bagged doubles and Ian MacDonald, Lewis Hawes, James Reid, Danny Carradice, Chris Norval and Jack Campbell were also on the scoresheet, with an Own Goal making eleven. Nathan Brown hit a brace and Grant Bryson also scored in response for Ruthwell. There was one league match, as Summerhill came from behind to beat Park Thistle. Nik Lismanis scored the only goal of the first half with a Chris Watson double and Ross Findlater turning things round in the second half.