MARYHILL are long-time strangers to being among the top echelons of Junior football, but on Saturday they showed themselves well capable of competing against the West Region’s elite.

And their New Coin Holdings Cup first round clash 2-1 defeat to holders Arthurlie showed they have plenty in their locker to mix it with the big boys this season.

Three consecutive defeats prior to coming into this showdown had bookmakers and pundits alike predicting that Jim Delaney’s men would be no more than cannon fodder.

And no doubt the same prophets of doom would have been smugly wearing “I told you so “ expressions after the Barrhead side opened the scoring in their very first attacking venture.

The deadlock was broken when Gary Carroll firmly rammed home a Chris Dallas cross with only 90 seconds on the clock.

But a stroke of good fortune in a goalmouth scramble saw the underdogs move level within minutes.

Lie goalkeeper Mikey White’s attempted clearance rebounded off team-mate Ryan McGregor and struck Scott Gair before going over the line to make it 1-1.

Then it became easy to forget this was a Super Premier Division side playing at home against Central First Division opponents.

Maryhill’s trading punches with their hosts as apparent equals was summed up perfectly by Dallas netting only for his celebrations to be cut short by the linesman’s raised flag and the visitors immediately breaking downfield for a Willie Wells score to be similarly deemed offside.

The same touchline assistant then appeared to mistakenly flag up Andy Monaghan after he was put clean through on goal.

But visiting supporters were stopped short in venting their wrath as Paul Callander let loose with a 22-yard piledriver that White just managed to touch onto the top of his crossbar and away to safety.

The first period ended with McGregor passing up a decent headed chance from a Mark Blakey cross and the two sides headed inside at level pegging.

Arthurlie pressed hard from the restart with Blakey prominent in sending over a succession of crosses, but Maryhill’s defiant backline - with Andy Banks a centre-back colossus - were dealing comfortably with all that was being thrown at them so it was no real surprise to see Arthurlie’s substitutes warming up on the hour mark.

Attacking pair Craig Holmes and Gary Smith were sent on to bring about a breakthrough.

However, it almost arrived at the other end but for a terrific saving tackle by Gavin Rushford just as Monaghan was about to press the trigger with just White to beat.

A spot-kick conclusion was looming when Maryhill’s resilience was finally breached as McGregor got down the left to power over a cross that was met by substitute Smith who rose unchallenged to power a header past defiant Hill goalkeeper Grant Hay.

His side’s late winner was warmly received by Arthurlie gaffer Robert Downs, who emphasised the importance of playing with patience and perseverance when speaking afterwards .

He said: “Teams don’t always get the breaks they deserve and the trick is to keep plugging away and doing what you are good at.

“We kept a good tempo and energy about us but got little joy from putting balls into the box right up until Ryan’s cross has allowed Gary to direct away a great headed goal and I’m pleased the players got their reward.

“We challenged them at half-time to show a bit of character and get us into the next round which ultimately is all that counts though I can fully understand Maryhill thinking the late goal was harsh on them.

“On another day they could easily have earned a draw and I went in to their dressing room at the final whistle to say exactly that to their manager and players.”

The pride felt by Maryhill boss Delaney in his players was clearly evident in his post-match summations.

“Right now I’m absolutely gutted for the players though they have every right to hold their heads up and take nothing but positives from today’s defeat “ he said.

“They have more than matched up against one of the better Super Premier sides and might easily have come out on top had we been a little bit more selfish in the final third.

“It wasn’t to be and we wish Arthurlie all the best in the next round.”

It has to be said that cup shocks were few and far between in the first round contests, though eyebrows will have been raised by Cambuslang Rangers overcoming Shotts Bon Accord through a Kieron Chalmers goal and last season’s beaten West of Scotland Cup finalists Kilwinning Rangers routing Super First Division rivals Yoker Athletic by a 5-1 scoreline at Holm Park.

Only two top-flight sides were set tumbling and their exits came in all –Super Premier clashes - Pollok going down 1-0 away to Irvine Meadow for whom Gary McCann scored the only goal of the game and the same scoreline sufficed through in Springburn where Petershill lost out to a first-minute David Gillies strike for Auchinleck Talbot.

The remaining top seven secured second-round spots with Stewart Kean bagging four goals in Hurlford United’s 6-0 hammering of Wishaw and Scott Anson helping himself to a hat trick as Shettleston crushed Gartcairn 5-1 while Rob Roy had Willie Sawyers, Luke Tolland (2), Gary McMenamin, Lee Gallagher and Danny Boyle on target in a 6-2 defeat of Carluke Rovers.

Dean Keenan and Adam Forsyth did the damage as Troon emerged 2-0 winners over Largs Thistle and Kilbirnie Ladeside eased past Newmains Utd by a 4-0 scoreline with Stevie Meechan continuing his hot scoring streak with a brace of goals.

On the mark in Beith’s 4-0 win at home to Lesmahagow were Paul Frize (2) Darren Christie and Kenny McLean, while Glenafton had Darren McGill, Ryan McGuffie and Ally Park to thank for bettering Larkhall Thistle 3-2 down at Loch Park.