Beith Juniors are the new kingpins of Junior football after winning the ETHXenergy Scottish Cup for the first time in their 78-year history.

Scenes of outrageous jubilation - and more than a few tears -greeted the Mighty getting the better of Pollok on a 4-3 penalty kicks shoot-out following a 1-1 stalemate at a sun-drenched Rugby Park yesterday.

And few could begrudge Johnny Millar’s team their momentous triumph given how they demonstrated terrific spirit to recover from being on the end of a first-half going over from bookmakers favourites Pollok to hold their nerve better in the spot kicks finale.

One-time Petershill midfielder Richie Burke coolly slotted home the deciding kick, but he emerged from a beneath a seething mass of joyous team-mates to hand the credit to goalkeeper Stephen Grindlay.

The big stopper played his part after twice defying Pollok from 12-yards.

Richie said: "There was next to no time to get nervous as I didn’t know I was taking a penalty until the gaffer said I should do it at the final whistle.

“It was a tremendous feeling to see the ball hit the net with their keeper wrong-footed, but Big Shay is the real hero for superbly saving two of Pollok’s efforts so he’s the one deserving of the plaudits.”

The Glasgow outfit started as if they were going to sweep their Ayrshire opponents aside.

However, their territorial domination lacked the pay-off from a clinical touch in front of goal and a Keiran McAleenan header wide of target was the sum total of their efforts on goal.

Beith's hopes of making a game of it appeared to dip with an injury forcing off tenacious midfielder Tommy Martin.

However, his replacement Jamie Wilson was no shrinking violet when it came to making his presence felt around the pitch and if anything they began to hold their own in the exchanges.

Nevertheless, they should have been 1-0 down in 26 minutes when a forward ball sent Lok striker Davie Winters running clean through on goal. However, the normally deadly hitman -later named man of the match -dallied over his parting shot allowing Beith skipper John Sheridan to lunge in with a blocking tackle.

Beith finished the half looking more settled and almost netted the final’s opening goal when a looping Kenny McLean volley looked netbound until Lok keeper Jordan Longmuir stretched out a hand to touch the ball over his own crossbar.

Pollok were still on the ascendancy after the interval however the battling Ayrshiremen were anything but second best and their appearing more comfortable in the cup final surroundings saw them breaking forward with pace and guile.

One such move in 59 minutes led to the game’s opening score as a long ball upfield reached Christie.

He skilfully held off towering marker Paul Gallagher before turning him inside the area and delivering a low left foot shot into the far corner of the net.

Finding themselves 1-0 down sparked an immediate reaction from Pollok’s dugout in the shape of substitutes Robbie Winters and Liam Rowan being introduced into the fray.

And there was an instant payback as a frantic goalmouth scramble led to Grindlay tipping a David Winters shot on to his post only for older brother Robbie to poke the ball home from close range for 1-1.

Near things abounded over the closing quarter of an hour with David McGowan passing up a great headed opportunity for Beith while a searing touchline run by another Pollok substitute Alan McKenzie saw him pull the ball into the path of Robbie Winters whose normally sublime control deserted him when it was needed most.

The penalty kicks drama unfolded with McLean missing for Beith, but Pollok’s 2-0 advantage disappeared as Grindlay thwarted McKenzie and Davie Winters efforts to pave the way for Burke to clinch Beith’s place in history.

Beaming goalscorer Christie stopped short of saying “I told you so” when giving his post- match summations.

He said: "I told the Evening Times earlier in the week that my scoring record against Pollok is fairly decent and I always fancied myself if I could get a look at goal.”

Beith manager Millar, now with three cup wins to his name with three different teams, admitted his team rode their luck in the game’s early stages.

He said: "We were battered in the first first half, but changing to a 3-5-2 formation steadied the ship and gave Pollok problems in the second half that they could not answe .

“They had a lot of the ball but Shay had very few saves of note to make …until the penalties.

“It’s a great day for the players, but this win is for the people working away in the background at Beith Juniors and for all our supporters in the town.”