Former Killie star Mark Roberts sends Stewarton into final

The striker, 48, who also had spells with Ayr United, St Mirren and Clyde, slammed home the opener for the East Ayrshire amateur side, as they saw off a competitive Kilbride Thistle 2-0.

In a game of little quality at Kilwinning Sports Club, it was Roberts' superb strike from a well-worked Stewarton corner that separated the sides after 20 minutes.

Both teams had started well on the astroturf pitch without creating too many clear cut chances to test either keeper.

From the corner, several United players cleverly dummied the ball and Roberts, who has returned to playing after leaving his post as Glenafton manager in November, was left free on the edge of the box to curl it into the top corner. 

Stewarton went on the search for a second shortly after, with the Kilbride keeper saving well after Blair Taylor was sent through on goal after beating the offside trap. 

The West Kilbride side, who play in the third tier of Ayrshire amateur football, also had chances of their own, but were unable to really test the United keeper.

Stewarton piled on the pressure early in the second half and were rewarded on the hour mark, when a cross into the Kilbride box was not dealt with and David Cunningham slammed home from close range. 

Kilbride piled forward in search of a route back into the game and the United goalkeeper pulled off some superb saves to retain their two goal advantage to the end.