Newtongrange dumped out of cup by Dundonald Bluebell

Blair Tolmie's equaliser wasn't enough for Newtongrange. Pic: Colin Wright

Dundonald took the lead through Ben Anthony and although Blair Tolmie equalised, Scott Lawrie fired the visitors into the semi-finals.

Goalkeeper Kieron Renton stepped up to help take the team until a new boss is appointed and insisted the players “had to accept responsibility for their performance”.

He said: “We had a poor first half, but stepped up in the  second. We had to take some of the chances we created, but missed out and we should have done better.

“We played great last Saturday and in midweek but today’s performance isn’t good enough. We had plenty of chances in the last ten minutes but blasted the ball over the bar or made it easy for the keeper. At this level we should have done better.

“I’m not sure if we had a manager in place that we would have won this game, but the players have to accept responsibility for their performance.”

Star did start the game well, creating at least four great chances to take the lead in the opening 20 minutes, but keeper James Lennox had some super saves. Then, in a breakaway, Dundonald took the lead when Gregg Meikle’s effort was blocked and Anthony clipped the ball into an empty net.

Nitten stepped up the pressure in the second half and equalised with a header from Tolmie following a Lee Currie corner in the 52nd minute. Parity only lasted 13 minutes, however, as Dundonald retook the lead with a super free-kick from Lawrie. It was around the 30-yard mark but he found a hole in the Nitten wall and beat the keeper on his left-hand side to ensure the Fife side won.

Newtongrange: McQueen, McManus, Noble, Tolmie, Tulloch, Currie, Morris, Cherrie, Kr Renton, Cropley, Wilson. Subs: Deland, Motion, Coultress, Ki Renton.

Dundonald: Lennox, Walton, Hendry, Forbes, Main, Duffy, Lawrie, Wallace, Anthony, Meikle, Grady. Subs: Gilfillan, Quinn, Nutt, Keatings, Morrison.