HELENSBURGH FC battled back from 2-0 down to secure a replay after a thrilling 3-3 draw away to Ochiltree Community AFC in the first round of the Scottish Amateur Cup on Saturday.

On a sloping park it took a while for the Burgh team to get going, and it was Ochiltree who held the advantage at half-time after finding the net on the 20-minute mark.

Helensburgh settled in after the loss of that goal and saw the game out until the break without falling further behind as Ochiltree tried to up the pace.

But despite a good start to the second half, Helensburgh fell victim to a soft second goal – and at 2-0 down it was beginning to look like a long journey back home.

However, the visitors dug in and just minutes after going 2-0 down they pulled one back when Petro poked the ball past the Ochiltree keeper.

And with the hosts beginning to look increasingly tired, it was no surprise to see Helensburgh up the pace and level the tie when Petro once again got the better of the home defence to slot the ball into the net.

Ochiltree changed things around to try and freshen up their approach – and it was a move that worked almost immediately when the home substitute got in behind the Helensburgh defence to put the home side back in front.

But the tie still wasn’t finished, and Helensburgh levelled again when Wilkie, who had been pushed forward from his defensive duties, found himself with space at the back post and brought the visitors level at 3-3 from a corner after the Ochiltree keeper failed to hold on to his original header.

For the last ten minutes both sides tried hard to finish it off but neither could conjure up a winner, meaning they will need to do it all over again in a replay in Helensburgh this coming Saturday.

* Saturday’s Scottish Cup draw followed a commanding performance, and convincing 5-0 win, away to Westerlands in Helensburgh’s first league game of the Greater Glasgow Premier AFL season.

Burgh heaped pressure on the home defence right from the off, and it was a tactic paid dividends when the home defence struggled to clear the ball from a corner and Sinclair’s shot was turned in by Tadlock to open the scoring.

And Helensburgh’s second goal followed soon after when James Rowe fired the ball home after a knock down by Danny Johns.

The Burgh side were dominating the game now and keeper Cavanna was hardly troubled.

Just before half time the third gave Helensburgh a good half-time cushion; this time Petro scored from the penalty spot after Johns was brought down in the middle of a rampaging run.

The second half was largely controlled well by Helensburgh, who remained well organised at the back to prevent Westerlands getting even a sniff of a way back into the match.

The hosts kept working away and nearly gave themselves a glimmer of hope after a tremendous strike from 25 yards crashed off the bar. But normal service was soon resumed, and substitute Caleb Phipps fired in the fourth before Tadlock made it five from close range after good work by Petro.

Squad over two games: Cavanna, Steve Bailey, Johns, Makeham, Findlay, Tadlock, J Bailey, Petro, Martin, Thomas, Sinclair, Wilkie, S. Bailey, Phipps, Park, Black, Rowe.