ROB ROY made a positive start to the new Junior season at the weekend as they proved too strong for a resolute but severely weakened Cumbernauld United.

Guys Meadow boss John Queen’s pre-match claim that his team was down to the bare bones was anything but unfounded as he then named a line-up including one trialist … with another five listed as substitutes.

It therefore speaks volumes about the organisation and battling spirit instilled in his patched-up side – fully nine signed players were posted missing - that it took until the second half before they were dismantled by a dominant Rabs.

United even had the temerity to take a totally against the run of play lead when just 20 minutes in former Rob Roy midfielder Scott Upton audaciously let fly with a dipping volley from all of 45 yards that evaded the reach of backtracking goalkeeper Michael McKinven to nestle in the net.

And the shellshocked Rabs could easily have found themselves 2-0 down just minutes later when a sublime defence splitting Upton pass carved out a clear-cut scoring opportunity for Steph McDonald only for the experienced frontman to fatally hesitate over his parting shot thus allowing McKinven to close him down and deflect the ball for a corner kick.

Regret over that miss was to be more sorely felt in Rob Roy’s next attacking sortie as young United centre-back Kieron Brown felled Willie Sawyers with a despairing challenge inside the box to bring a spot-kick award, hammered home by the Kirkintilloch club’s close-season signing Shaun Fraser for a 1-1 scoreline.

Any plans for the home team to offer up more of the same stiff resistance wilted early into the second period when midfielder Fraser did what he does best in getting on the end of a cross into the box to score from close range.

That the scoreline remained intact throughout the next 30 minutes owed much to United’s backline defending for all their worth aided by a string of fine saves from goalkeeper Barry Fraser whose crossbar came to his rescue to keep out a Chris Duff headed effort.

It was inevitable the near incessant pressure would tell and Queeny’s men were breached twice in the closing 10 minutes, firstly when Sawyers capped a terrific line-leading performance with a strong headed flick from a corner kick shortly before he worked himself some space when confronted by three United defenders to send in a flighted cross that strike partner Kevin Watt gleefully headed home to round off the scoring.

Rob Roy gaffer Stewart Maxwell’s summations hinted at better things to come from his playing charges.

He said: “There were a lot of cobwebs apparent in our general play and you could see minds and bodies were not prepared for a game of this intensity, however a winning result for starters is all I can ask for.

“Scott Walker and Sawyers were stand-outs for me while Shaun Fraser, once fully fit, looks capable of netting double figures this season.

“It was difficult against a team prepared to sit with numbers behind the ball and simply hit us on the break but I thought we took better options as the game wore on and thoroughly deserved to win.”

Losing gaffer Queeny offered no apologies for setting his side’s stall out to frustrate their higher league opponents.

“On Saturday morning we had only eight signed players available so I had to persuade Simon Eeles to play while injured and Scott Upton to help us out even though he’s not trained or played in the past three weeks.

“And having two teenagers in our starting line-up forced me into going for damage limitation by making ourselves hard to beat.

“Scott’s wonder goal set the cat amongst the pigeons but only fleetingly and I’d have loved to see how Rob Roy would have reacted had Steph scored a second goal.

“We were not quite at it today for obvious reasons but I was pleased with how the guys played for long spells .”

In the other Section 8 opener Gary Kelly, Mark Flynn and Scott Davidson (2) goals helped Kilsyth Rangers win 4-2 at home to Rossvale whose scores came from Craig Holmes and Gary Trussler .

Elsewhere, reigning trophy holders Petershill ran out 2-0 winners over St Roch's with a brace of goals from midfielder Liam Finnigan while beaten finalists last time out Vale of Clyde, had James McKinstry (2), Scott McManus and Iain Gray on target in an opening 4-2 defeat of Blantyre Vics.

Highest scorers of the day were Gartcairn for whom Jordan Love and Martin Harty helped themselves to hat-tricks in a 7-4 hammering of Newmains United that sees the Junior new boys top Section 2 ahead of Shotts Bon Accord whose lively frontman Danny Burns netted a brace of goals in a 4-2 victory over Carluke Rovers.

Govan pair St Anthony's and Benburb lost out by 2-0 scorelines to Arthurlie and Pollok respectively while 2-2 stalemates ensued in the derby clashes of Yoker Athletic v Clydebank and Cambuslang Rangers v Rutherglen Glencairn.

Ardagh Glass Cup holders Hurlford United had John Gemmell red-carded as Ross Chisholm bagged the only goal of the game against Irvine Vics while the day’s biggest upset came at Campbell Park where Saltcoats Vics triumphed 3-2 over Irvine Meadow thanks to goals from Calum McDade, George Bonner and Joe Young.

Scott Anson netted four goals in Cumnock’s 6-0 rout of Lugar Boswell and there were expected wins for Auchinleck Talbot and Glenafton, however Troon had to settle for a share of the spoils in drawing 2-2 away to Whitletts Vics.

Kilwinning Rangers recovered from 2-0 down to eke out a 2-2 draw against Largs Thistle while goals from Connor McGlinchey and Richie Burke clinched a 2-1 derby win for Beith away to Kilbirnie Ladeside.

WEEKEND RESULTS

Exsel Group Sectional League Cup. Section One: Lesmahagow 4 Royal Albert 1.

Section Two: Carluke Rovers 2 Shotts Bon Accord 4, Nemains Utd 4 Gartcairn 7.

Section Three: Bellshill Athletic 0 Thorniewood Utd 0, Petershill 2 St Roch's 0.

Section Four: Cambuslang Rangers 2 Rutherglen Glencairn 2, Blantyre Vics 2 Vale of Clyde 3.

Section Five: Arthurlie 2 St Anthony's 0, Benburb 0 Pollok 2.

Section Six: Clydebank 2 Yoker Athletic 2, Glasgow Perthshire 2 Ashfield 3.

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

Section Eight: Cumbernauld Utd 1 Rob Roy 4, Kilsyth Rangers 4 Rossvale 2.

Ardagh Glass Cup. Section One: Dalry Thistle 2 Ardrossan Winton Rovers 3, Largs Thistle 2 Kilwinning Rangers, 2 Kilbirnie Ladeside 1 Beith 2.

Section Two: Saltcoats Vics 3 Irvine Meadow 2, Darvel 2 Ardeer Thistle 4, Irvine Vics 0 Hurlford Utd 1.

Section Three: Craigmark 1 Annbank Utd 3, Maybole 0 Girvan 1, Whitletts Vics 2 Troon 2.

Section Four: Cumnock 6 Lugar Boswell 0, Muirkirk 1 Auchinleck Talbot 4, Kello Rovers 1 Glenafton 3.