With top scorer Andy McQuillan rested and Danny Campbell still out injured, United started this East of Scotland Cup tie showing no fewer than six changes from last weeks top of the table victory over Dunbar United and it was one of the five players who had started against the Seasiders seven days ago who almost produced the perfect start, but Martin Lawrie's twenty yard free kick was spectacularly tipped over the top by Wilson in the visiting goal. Two minutes later Blackburn were forced into a further change when Fraser Cormack limped off to be replaced by Ewan Herriot and it was the subsitute who opened the scoring, Gordon Wilson slipping the ball in front of Fraser Spence arriving on the left and when his shot was saved and Gary Calvey's follow-up was blocked the ball fell kindly for HERRIOT to side foot home. However, it was the visitors who were the more cohesive and keen to push forward and their ambition was eventually rewarded when, moments after Gavin King had saved a shot from FORBES, the Primrose striker was in the right place at the right time to prod home a loose ball after King had denied Donaldson. Before the interval King was called on twice more, saving first from Anderson and then from Carroll.

Three minutes into the second period United really should have moved back in front but Gordon Wilson could only head Ross Williamson's cross from a Lee Meekison pass over his namesakes bar from plumb in front of goal. Almost straight away, King came to the rescue once more at the other end, saving from Stark who had caught John Drummond in possession. Crossgates, though, weren't to be denied a second and just before the hour mark HIGGINS rose highest inside the six yard box to nod home a Donaldson corner. Eleven minutes later the big centre half repeated the trick, heading in Carroll's corner from almost on the goal line to double his sides lead. With ten minutes remaining Aaron Gowans and Herriot swapped passes before the latter pulled the ball back into the path of Chris Marshall but his shot from the edge of the area flew way too high.