IRVINE Meadow got their Super Premier Division campaign off to a winning start on Saturday.

But hard-to-please Medda gaffer Stevie Rankin insists his side "are a million miles away from where he wants them to be".

By his own admission, Rankin was happy but far from delighted following Saturday's 2-0 defeat of Arthurlie, earned on the back of two first-half goals scored by Paul Maxwell and Mark Staunton.

And his dissatisfaction is understandable given both the visiting Ayrshiremen's goals came as a result of avoidable defensive mistakes.

The first was scored in just three minutes when Barrhead centre-back pair Jamie Lyden and Kevin Green failed to clear their lines, allowing the lurking Maxi to fire home for 1-0.

And the decisive second came as Maxi's near-post flick at a corner came back off the upright and caught everyone on their heels barring Staunts who blasted a shot home.

Rankin said: "Don't get me wrong, it is highly pleasing to come away with all three points considering this is a far better Arthurlie team than last season, but it's probably best to sum up our own performance today as bitty.

"We never really stamped our authority on the game in terms of mounting concerted bouts of pressure and it was all too scrappy for my liking.

"Yes, there were decent passages of play possession-wise and we missed chances which could have put the game out of sight, but overall there's a lot more to come from the players ... and they know that better than anyone."

Irvine Meadow suffered an early injury blow when towering stopper Grant Evans limped away after pulling up with what appeared to be a pulled hamstring, however Rankin refused to offer up this enforced team change as an excuse.

He added: "It was disappointing to lose Grant, but you would have to say Mark Thomson dropped into our defence and was outstanding while Michael Keenan came on and did a great job in midfield.

"Staunts coming back after a three-game suspension was another factor in shoring us up at the back while our new goalkeeper signing Andy Carlin oozed confidence and dealt comfortably with everything that came his way."

The unfortunate Green walked for the second time in consecutive matches after picking up a second yellow card for hauling down Medda substitute Paul McLaughlin.

Arthurlie striker Richie Barr came close to netting against one of his former clubs with a shot just wide off the far post and he emerged as one of the home side's best players with a typically hard running display.

He insisted Arthurlie paid the price for a disjointed start. Barr said: "Gifting two goals to a side of Irvine Meadow's quality made it a real uphill task and they certainly gave us a going over in the first 45 minutes. But we came out for the second half with nothing to lose and gave them a lot of uncomfortable moments that on another day could have earned a draw.

"I should have scored when put clear and Jamie Lyden had a header cleared off the line. You can see the potential in this team and we will get better."

Reigning champions Auchinleck Talbot sounded out a stark warning to any would-be title challengers with an 8-2 Beechwood Park hammering of promoted Beith.

The visitors must have harboured hopes of salvaging a point when Darren Christie and Andy Reid goals had answered early Talbot strikes by Graeme Wilson and David Gormley to make the scoreline 2-2 at half-time.

Wilson converting a penalty kick put the home side's noses back in front, however, the red-carding of Beith midfielder Nikky Dochery proved the catalyst for a rout of five goals in 15 minutes, with the deadly Wilson scoring a further hat-trick to go along with Gordon Pope and Keir Milliken counters.

Another of the fancied clubs to make a winning start were Hurlford United, for whom Calum Watt, Stewart Kean and Danny Mitchell were on the mark in a 3-1 victory over Kilbirnie Ladeside whose consolation goal came from a Chris Malone penalty.

Two goals in five second- half minutes by Cameron Marlow and Alan Kinney saw Glenafton win 2-1 away to Clydebank, who had led through Jordan Shelvey while Petershill slipped up at home to Shotts Bon Accord for whom ex-Peasy frontman Sean McKenna bagged the only goal of the game.

The only top-flight affair without a conclusive finish was at Townhead Park where Cumnock and Troon played out a 0-0 share of the spoils.

In the Super First Division stakes, Pollok newcomer Findlay Frye made a scoring debut in a 2-1 victory over Greenock where Davie Winters was also on target and Shettleston won thanks to Scott Anson and Kyle Robertson goals in a 2-1 success at Irvine Vics.

Greg Maitland and Gary Arbuckle did the damage for Yoker in a 2-0 defeat of Thorniewood United while Del Esplin was Rutherglen Glencairn's matchwinner in a 1-0 win away to Largs Thistle.

Rob Roy's 3-0 triumph over rivals Kilsyth Rangers came via Chris Duff, Alan Urqhuart and Scott Upton strikes.