Pollok narrowly overcame arch rivals Arthurlie 1-0 on Saturday thanks a marvellous strike from Bryan Young.

The former Auchinleck Talbot ace - one of eight close-season signings on show in an evenly-contested clash at Newlandsfield - is already showing all the signs of paying rich dividends for Tony McInally's side this season.

His goal on the hour mark and the result all but clinched a place in the Central Sectional League Cup quarter- finals for the Southside big guns.

However, his side’s overall performance did not quite strike a chord with Butch .

He maintained his usual candour by admitting the home side must up the ante to be in the trophy mix this term.

He said: “It’s always pleasing to come out on top in a derby game but everyone of us knows we can play a whole lot better than we did out there today.

“Arthurlie deserve credit for keeping a good shape that made things difficult for us but thankfully we were able to introduce a couple of game-changers in substitutes Stefan McLuskey and Adam Forde.

“Their pace and movement caused Arthurlie all sorts of defensive problems and allowed us to get on top over the latter stages.

"Having such strength in depth is fantastic, but it’s a fallacy for people to think Tony McInally has a problem in having so many top Juniors to choose from.

“It’s the players, myself included, who have the real headache in firstly playing ourselves into his team plans -and then staying there.”

The tidy midfield work of Ross Brash and the close dribbling skills of Nikky Prentice caught the eye for Pollok in the opening half hour.

But defences stayed on top and there was little in the way of penalty box action to excite a watching 630-strong crowd.

The Barrhead visitors emerged as more as an attacking force nearing half-time and they came close to snatching a goal when a net-bound Chris Lennon pile-driver was acrobatically touched over his crossbar by Lok goalkeeper Jordan Longmuir who minutes later was sent scrambling across his line to usher a Steven Weir free kick past the upright.

On the resumption, hardworking Lok striker Alan McKenzie had a strong shot saved low down by visiting keeper Anton Nugent in what was the last contribution of note from the Lok front man as ten minutes later he and Prentice were replaced by McLuskey and Forde.

The change in the game’s dynamic was immediately apparent as the first yellow card of the afternoon was dished out to Kieran Brannan for chopping down Lok winger Gary McCann in full flight.

Then, on the hour mark, came the only goal of the game as McLuskey worked a bit of space on the right flank to cut the ball back for the lurking Young.

And he allowed the ball to roll across him before despatching a left-foot shot high into the net from around 12 yards range.

Buoyed by their breakthrough ,Pollok continued on the front foot and almost doubled their advantage as a Forde clipped shot rebounded off the crossbar before Nugent saved well at the feet of McCann and then parried away a McLuskey effort.

Arthurlie’s need to win brought an onslaught on Pollok’s goal over the closing stages, but a Ryan McGregor snap shot apart, they never looked like breaching a Pollok backline marshalled by Martin McGoldrick.

The disappointment felt by Arthurlie boss Chris Mackie was only too evident when he spoke later .

He said: “I felt we dominated the game for long spells and feel frustrated that we never went in at half time at least one goal to the good.

“If our noses had been in front then I’m sure we would have won the game but Pollok scored first and forced us to go for it which in turn left spaces for them to exploit that hadn’t been there before.

“A lot of people expected us to be turned over big style today so I’m pleased the players have shown there’s no great gulf between the teams.”

Not surprisingly, Pollok gaffer McInally had an altogether different take on things when he gave his summations.

“Arthurlie set out their stall to do nothing other than contain us so I’m happy we managed to get a victory and with a cracking goal into the bargain.

“We didn’t help our own cause with a lot of poor final balls but I ‘m putting that down to the front players being a bit leggy from their early season exertions.

“I’d have liked to change things from the outset but Forde has been carrying an injury, a re-occurrence of which has forced him to come off today while McLuskey was below par after being laid low with a virus until Friday morning.”

The other Section 5 game saw goals from Paul Stewart (2) and Martin Curren help Neilston run out 3-0 winners against St Anthonys while the Central Cup’s biggest winning margin was recorded by Renfrew for whom Scott Morton bagged a hat trick to go along with Dominic Innes and Kieran Hately counters in a 5-0 hammering of Greenock whose goalkeeper Ryan McWilliams was red carded at 3-0.

The importance of goalkeepers was further reinforced at Huntershill where Rossvale Juniors No.1 David Donnelly was dismissed as his side succumbed to a 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Sectional Cup trophy holders Rob Roy.

Willie Sawyers, Andy Johnston, Kevin Watt, Sean McCall and a brace of goals by Gary Carroll did the damage whilst Jamie Hunter netted a consolation double for Rossvale.

In the Ardagh Glass Cup stakes, Kilbirnie Ladeside’s defence of the silverware is at an end despite Budgie McGhie’s men winning 2-0 against Ardrossan Winton Rovers through Jon Scullion and Peter McGill scores.

Meanwhile, in the Scottish Cup proper , Chris Dallas (2) ,David Gray , Cammy Marlow, Kyle McAusland and Ryan McChesney were on target as Glenafton hammered Newton Stewart by a 6-0 scoreline that was bettered by Scottish Amateur kingpins Colville Park’s 7-0 defeat of Burntisland Shipyard.

Last season’s East Region champions Kelty Hearts (now a Lowland League club) were beaten 1-0 by Lothian Thistle.

WEEKEND RESULTS: Central Sectional League Cup. Section

One; Lesmahagow 1 Lanark Utd 1, Larkhall Thistle 1 Royal Albert 1.

Section Two: Wishaw 3 Shotts Bon Accord 2, Gartcairn 3 Carluke Rovers 0.

Section Three: St Roch's 2 Petershill 5, Thorniewood Utd 4 Bellshill Athletic 3.

Section Four: Blantyre Vics 1 Cambuslang Rangers 2, East Kilbride Thistle 3 Rutherglen Glencairn 1.

Section Five: Pollok 1 Arthurlie 0, Neilston 3 St Anthony's 0.

Section Six: Clydebank 2 Ashfield 0, Maryhill 3 Yoker Athletic 2.

Section Seven: Renfrew 5 Greenock 0, Vale of Leven 3 Johnstone Burgh 0.

Section Eight: Cumbernauld Utd 2 Dunipace 4, Rossvale 0 Rob Roy 6

Ardagh Glass Sectional League Cup. Section One: Beith 2 Kilwinning Rangers 2, Dalry Thistle 0 Largs

Thistle 3. Ardrossan Winton Rovers 0 Kilbirnie Ladeside 2.

Section Two: Irvine Vics 0 Irvine Meadow 0,Saltcoats Vics 2 Darvel 4, Hurlford Utd 5 Ardeer Thistle 1.Section Three: Troon 3 Annbank Utd 1, Maybole 2 Whitletts Vics 3, Girvan 5 Craigmark0.

Section Four: Muirkirk 0 Cumnock 7, Auchinleck Talbot 4 Kello Rovers 0.