Arthurlie boss Colin Reilly has urged his players to create history after they booked their place in the Scottish Junior Cup final.

A 2-1 win over Johnstone Burgh at Keanie Park on Saturday means the Barrhead outfit will face Darvel in the showcase event at Broadwood on Sunday, June 2.

The Dunterlie Park team had to do it the hard way after drawing 2-2 in Barrhead the previous weekend before triumphing in a return leg played in front of nearly 3,000 spectators.

Burgh drew first blood after 18 minutes when ex-Neilston forward Kieran Brophy netted at the back post.

However, the response from Arthurlie was impressive as Conor Bolger dispossessed Ryan Wallace and skipped past two challenges before rifling a shot into the net just five minutes later.

And the second half was only a few minutes old when the visitors pounced on another error in the Burgh defence, with Dylan Dykes teeing up Dylan McGuigan, who rolled the ball into the far corner.

Arthurlie then held out in comfortable fashion as they took a giant step towards lifting the trophy for the first time since 1998.

Reilly was beaming with pride after the final whistle and hopes the victory can be the catalyst for a winning run that sees his players retain their Premier League status.

He said: “I thought the boys were outstanding and deserved the victory. I couldn’t be any prouder of them.

“The message at half-time was to keep believing and show lots of energy, especially in the wide areas. We knew that, if we were persistent in what we were doing, it would bring success.

“Luck doesn’t just happen – you earn it – and I think the boys have earned it over the course of the season.

“It’s unbelievable for the club and the committee, who work really hard behind the scenes. It will mean the world to the fans as well.

"I had one boy in my dressing room out of 20 players who has been in a Scottish Cup final and that was the key message. Our players have now got positions to fight for ahead of the cup final and that can kick-start us and get us up the table."

Arthurlie are currently eight points from safety in the Premier Division, with just five games left to play.

They return to action on Wednesday night as they host already-relegated Irvine Meadow at Dunterlie Park, with kick-off at 6.45pm, before welcoming Auchinleck Talbot this Saturday, with that game getting underway at 2pm.

Neilston are staring relegation in the face after suffering consecutive 2-1 defeats in the space of a few days.

Andy Whiteford’s team travelled to Somervell Park last Wednesday night to take on fellow strugglers Cambuslang Rangers but suffered a poor start as the home side took a 2-0 lead into the break.

David Donnelly pulled one back in the early stages of the second half but the Farmer’s Boys were unable to find an equaliser.

And it was a similar tale against Ashfield at the Brig O'Lea on Saturday as Neilston again found themselves with a two-goal deficit to turn around.

Del McNab reduced the deficit on this occasion but the visitors held out for victory.

Neilston face promotion-chasing Johnstone Burgh this Wednesday night before taking on league leaders Drumchapel United on Saturday.

Both games take place at the Brig O’Lea, with Wednesday’s action getting underway at 6.45pm and Saturday's fixture starting at 2pm.