NOBODY watching from the Greenfield Park terracings as Shettleston made their home debut as a Super Premier Division club against Irvine Meadow would have raised an eyebrow at the 4-0 scoreline,

Indeed the only injustice here was Hugh Kelly’s side not posting an even bigger winning margin such was their emphatic vanquishing of the Ayrshiremen who were made to look embarrassingly poor by an energetic and pulsatingly vibrant Town.

The home side found the net four times but could easily have scored seven whereas Town goalkeeper Bryn Halliwell’s first real save of any note was in keeping out a 58th minute effort from Medda substitute Paul Maxwell.

But these dismal attacking forays were nothing compared to Medda’s abject defending in the face of the clever interplay and sheer physicality of Town trio Scott Anson, Rikky McIntosh and Bob Campbell who were hugely responsible for their side’s dominance.

The bustling Anson said afterwards: “Any neutral at today’s game would have struggled to pick out the team that finished third top of the Super Premier table last season.

“We didn’t have a single failure out there and from very early in the game I was confident there were goals in us.

“The hard bit now is to play to a similar level next week because consistency of performance is what defines the top teams from the rest in this league.”

There was no indication of what was to follow when Irvine Meadow figured prominently in the early exchanges, however their attacking enterprise failed to trouble Halliwell unduly and a tame Sean Fraser free-kick into his waiting arms in 25 minutes ironically led to the game’s opening goal.

His booming kick upfield saw Medda central defenders Grant Evans and Jamie Darroch both converge on the tall Anson who nevertheless won the aerial joust with ease to guide a superb knock down into the path of strike partner McIntosh and he blasted the ball past helpless goalkeeper Daniel Tobin.

A buoyed-up Town went looking for more goals but their own wastefulness and a brave Tobin save in diving at the feet of McIntosh ensured the visiting deficit remained at 1-0 going in at half-time.

One will never know if Medda boss Stevie Rankin had made a tactical switch during the interval because any plans were torn to smithereens just two minutes into the second half when Shettleston went 2-0 up.

McIntosh threaded a clever ball inside opposing full-back Graeme Girvan whose being outmuscled by the rampaging Campbell might not have proved fatal but for Tobin’s rush from his line to try and intercept presenting Campbell with the opportunity to send a deft lob over him into the empty net.

Rankin’s response to this setback was to introduce Maxwell off the bench, but the big striker had literally made just a couple of strides on to the playing surface before he and his team-mates found themselves trailing by 3-0.

Medda’s lamentable failure to clear their lines saw the ball bob in and around the penalty box before falling to McIntosh and he sent a lob shot over Tobin and into the net.

Maxi undoubtedly improved matters from an Ayrshire attacking sense but Halliwell kept out a couple of his efforts before topping everything with a magnificent one-handed save from the big striker’s close-range shot immediately prior to Shettleston rounding off the scoring from a set-piece at the other end.

Kenny Marshall sublimely whipped over a corner-kick and Reece McGillion got in front of his marker to flick home a header for 4-0.

A dejected Medda boss Rankin said: “We got what we deserved for being all over the place defensively and allowing big Anson to bully us so no complaints from me as the best team won by a country mile.

“We only got bits and bobs from players and I’m not taking anything away from Shettleston in saying the most disappointing aspect was they didn’t have to work hard for their goals today.

“I brought these players to Irvine Meadow and what they served up was not good enough so I need to take a long hard look at myself before moving on from this display.”

Town gaffer Kelly was understandably beaming when he reflected on events: “We were very impressive going forward while Reon Juskowiack was rock solid at the back any time Irvine Meadow threatened.

“I had always targeted us to pick up three points from our opening three games so anything we pick up from next week’s game against Rob Roy is a bonus.”

Medda now sit pointless and occupying bottom place in the standings alongside Pollok who were beaten 3-1 by derby rivals Arthurlie for whom Chris Dallas netted twice inside the opening two minutes at Dunterlie.

David Winters netted to raise visiting hopes of a comeback, however Gary Carroll restored the Barrhead side’s advantage within minutes to take them top of the table with full points from their opening two fixtures.

Leading the chasing pack are Hurlford United, 4-0 winners over Beith thanks to Ross Robertson, Ryan Donnelly (2) and Martin Brown scores and the revamped Kilbirnie Ladeside for whom Graham Boyd netted the only goal of the game against Troon.

Petershill had looked set for the spoils at home to Glenafton when leading though a corker of a Kieron McAnespie free-kick at the interval but Ayr United loan signing Craig McGuffie snatched a precious equaliser for the Glens after the break.

Elsewhere, a Graham Wilson hat-trick and Dwayne Hyslop counter saw Auchinleck Talbot cruise into the draw for the William Hill Scottish Cup first round proper with a comfortable 4-0 preliminary round victory over Hermes.

Kelty Hearts also made it through after a 4-0 defeat of Civil Service Strollers while Girvan’s name will also go into the hat following their 2-2 draw away to Lothian Thistle.

WEEKEND RESULTS

West Region Super Premier Division: Troon 0 Kilbirnie Ladeside 1, Hurlford Utd 4 Beith 0, Shettleston 4 Irvine Meadow 0, Petershill 1 Glenafton 1, Arthurlie 3 Pollok 1.

West Region Super First Division: Clydebank 5 Cumbernauld Utd 0, Maybole 1 Largs Thistle 3, Bellshill Athletic 2 Winton Rovers 0, Cumnock 1 Kilsyth Rangers 3, Rutherglen Glencairn 1 Yoker 1, Shotts Bon Accord 0 Greenock 0, Kilwinning Rangers 4 Blantyre Vics 0.

West Region Central First Division: Larkhall Thistle 0 Neilston 0, Maryhill 3 Vale of Clyde 0, Johnstone Burgh 1 Renfrew 2, Dunipace 0 Lesmahagow 5, Wishaw 5 Carluke Rovers 3, St Anthony's 3 St Roch's 2, Thorniewood Utd 3 Rossvale 1.

West Region Central Second Division: Gartcairn 1 Royal Albert 1, Ashfield 1 Port Glasgow 2, Benburb 0 Cambuslang Rangers 1, Newmains Utd 0 Lanark Utd 3, East Kilbride Thistle 4 Glasgow Perthshire 1, Forth 2 Vale of Leven 1.

West Region Ayrshire District Division: Girvan 0 Craigmark 0, DalryThistle 0 Annbank Utd 0, Saltcoats Vics v Lugar Boswell, Irvine Vics 6 Muirkirk 1, Darvel 3 Ardeer Thistle 0, Whitletts Vics 1 Kello Rovers 1.