Zack Birnie’s first half double and Sean Stewart’s simple finish for Clydebank were cancelled out by Andy O’Donnell’s goal direct from a corner, and a late brace from substitute Paul Pettigrew, sending the tie into extra time. Luke McCowan then scored in the first minute of first half extra time to complete a memorable comeback for the Greenock side.

Midway through the first half, Bankies took the lead. After great hold up play, Zack Birnie created space and lashed in the opener high past Arkley. It was the breakthrough Clydebank needed having been the better of the two sides in the opening exchanges.

Just four minutes later, Birnie doubled his tally. A bursting run from lone striker Sean Stewart saw him take the ball round Arkley, and despite taking it too far, he managed to cut the ball across the six yard line for Birnie, who tapped in as Bankies took control of the match.

With nine minutes of the first half remaining, Stewart has a great opportunity to add another for the visitors, but his effort went narrowly wide.

Less than a minute later however, Stewart made amends for his miss by adding a third. The nippy forward picked the ball up wide on the left and drove at the heart of the United defence before curling a right footed shot around Arkley to seemingly all but end the tie.

Christopher Richmond’s free kick, that was easily gathered by McKenna, was East End’s only chance of note as the first half ended with Clydebank three goals to the good.

From the outset of the second half, it was evident United were convinced they could turn the game around and almost did within a minute of the restart. Both Jack Rafferty and Cory Hughes had towering headers going close.

On the hour mark, United found their way back into the match in bizarre circumstances. Andy O’Donnell’s corner evaded everyone and, wind assisted, flew into the top right hand corner giving hope to the hosts.

Buoyed by reducing the deficit, End End went in search of another and almost found it through Lee Rodgers. The substitute, on for just a matter of seconds, cracked the upright with a fantastic drive that McKenna would not have reached.

With 12 minutes remaining, Clydebank’s Conor MacLeod was shown a straight red card for violent conduct, and East End took full advantage.

Hughes and Rodgers both had efforts go narrowly wide as they looked to capitalise on the man advantage, and they did grab a second with three minutes left. Paul Pettigrew collected the ball inside the area and, after a ricochet, fired past McKenna.

Seconds later, East End were awarded a spot kick when McKenna was adjudged to have brought down Scott Rush inside the area. Pettigrew stepped up and sent McKenna the wrong way to send the tie to extra time, amid jubilant celebrations from the home dugout after such a remarkable turnaround.

Within a minute of extra time commencing, the turnaround was complete thanks to McCowan. Having picked the ball up wide on the left, he drove at the Bankies back three before rolling the ball across McKenna to book his sides’ place in the final of the Scottish Cup.

East End had both Pettigrew and Taylor Lindsay dismissed after picking up their second cautions of the game, and were fortunate not to concede a penalty when Stewart was upended in the box but the referee waved play on as United held on for a memorable victory.