■ Blair Atkinson scores to make it 3-3 in a pulsating Scottish Cup tie at the Spartans Academy

A hat-trick by Park Villa's Ciaran Mulcahy saw the young Glasgow side qualify for the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup and a return trip to Edinburgh to face Tynecastle.

This game flew from one end of the pitch to the other with chances and goals galore in what turned out to be a real feast of entertainment for the large crowd at the Spartans Academy. But it was the supporters from the west who went home the happiest as they watched their young protégés put in a terrific performance to deservedly progress.

Spartans had lots of chances, particularly in the first half, but defensively they made most mistakes and wee Ciaran Mulcahy (who qualifies to play U12) made the most of them by slotting home three of his side's four goals.

The home side looked dead and buried at 3-1 down before a storming comeback to make it 3-3 through two quick fire goals from Blair Atkinson. But Mulcahy had the last word when he headed home the winner at the end of a five goal spree in the space of 14 second half minutes.

The brilliant Academy facilities were an oasis of activity in an otherwise barren weekend for grassroots football. There is no doubt this is the way forward in Scotland and there is also an obvious extra bit of impact on player performance when they play in facilities such as this. It makes youngsters feel special.

Both teams entered the fray to noisy encouragement from within their own ranks and it was the away touchline that were first to celebrate with only 4 minutes on the clock. Ciaran Mulcahy gratefully thumping the ball home after a defensive passback mix-up.

The pace was frantic in the early stages and despite the early setback, Spartans started to dominate in the attacking areas with some fine sweeping moves down both flanks. David Scobie had a fine chance on 6 minutes but his effort sailed over after a bye line cut back from Peter Connelly. Then on 10 minutes they had two excellent opportunities in a minute. Firstly, Stephen Havelin shot wide after a fine move down the left wing and then Blair Atkinson glanced wide of the same upright.

But Park Villa were more than a match for their Edinburgh opponents and every time they foraged forward Spartans looked shaky. Matthew Feeney and Barry Cuddihy were pulling the strings from central midfield and Michael Mulcahy was very impressive down the left wing and caused all sorts of problems. It was a ball from Cuddihy that almost doubled Villa's lead on 15 minutes when he sent Ciaran Mulcahy clear only for Liam McKay to pull off a tremendous save from the wee striker's vicious shot.

Back came Spartans and the equally impressive Stephen Havelin almost snatched an equaliser on 25 minutes but his shot flashed wide of the post.

Both sides were playing some brilliant football with fine interplay in midfield setting up chances galore. Park Villa looked the stronger side physically and their play was just that little bit quicker than the home side.

On 32 minutes they doubled their lead. A brilliant move that involved Matthew Feeney and Michael Mulcahy ended with the ball being swept into the 6 yard box from the left wing. It wasn't dealt with properly by the Spartans defence and it eventually ricocheted to Ciaran Mulcahy who made no mistake from 8 yards.

Half Time 0-2

Spartans had never truly been out of this game but Park Villa had taken their chances and looked to have a commanding lead going into the second period. The Edinburgh side needed to make an early breakthrough and they got it on 40 minutes.

A quick free kick midway inside the Villa half was fed out to the right wing where it was crossed right over the face of the goalmouth where Stephen Havelin was lurking and he had the easiest of tasks of touching the ball home into the empty net.

Suddenly the noise was emanating from the Spartans touchlines but their celebrations were short lived when Park Villa stormed up the other end almost immediately to restore their two goal lead.

Sam Smith steered the ball towards goal from a corner and Connor McCambridge glanced his header into the net as the noise transferred to the away support.

But Spartans were not done yet and two goals in the space of 5 minutes brought this game to a new level of excitement. Kris Buchanan had had an unusually quiet game but he sprung into life as provider for both goals.

Spartans took a corner on the left. It was partially cleared by Villa but only as far as Buchanan on the left edge of the box. He lifted the ball back high into the danger area where it was tipped onto the crossbar by Kieran McWilliams. A "stramash" followed as the ball was bundled to and fro towards the goal line before it was eventually slammed high into the net from a yard by Blair Atkinson.

Game on and the Spartans support had even more to shout about on 49 minutes when Buchanan stormed down the right wing before sending over a fabulous ball into the onrushing right foot of Blair Atkinson who swept the ball home from 10 yards to make it 3-3.

20 minutes to go and this game could go either way. But it was Park Villa that emerged the stronger side in the final period and they got their winner on 54 minutes when Ciaran Mulcahy secured his hat-trick to cap a fine afternoon for the wee forward.

Liam McKay, who had a great game in goals for Spartans saved a cross/shot from the left but his parry spun into the air where it was headed home at the back post by the Park Villa number seven.

Villa then saw the remainder of the game out fairly comfortably. The back four of Mark Feeney, Jeff Wood, Kyle Brennan and Liam Sweeney kept Spartans at bay and with the midfield dynamos of Barry Cuddihy and Matthew Feeney snapping and snarling the side from Govan progressed into the quarter final and a tie at Saughton against Tynecastle.