Scottish Junior Cup holders Beith’s emphatic 3-0 victory over Vale of Clyde on Saturday is a sign they are in no mood to relinquish their hold on the coveted silverware.

In truth, it wasn’t one of the Ayrshiremen’s more sparkling performances, but the right result was achieved.

And it was done and with hardly a ripple on the stress scale other than the injuries picked up by defensive duo John Sheridan and Mark McLaughlin that forced both centre-backs to come off early.

But Mighty gaffer Johnny Millar was certainly not complaining at full-time.

He said: “We came here with a job to do and had it done early so the game was put to bed by half-time and the players then took their foot of the gas second half, but it says everything when our goalkeeper has not had a save of note to make.

“It proved a fairly comfortable win, though things got a bit physical at times which was to be expected and we had picked our starting team accordinglywith guys like Kenny McLean and Kevin McDonald left on the bench.

“Shez felt a slight tweak in his hamstring while Mark took a painful knock on the top of his foot and we’ll see how both of them respond to treatment before next week’s trip to meet the league leaders Rob Roy.

Beith were on the ascendancy right from the first whistle, but the home side kept them at bay with some no-nonsense defending only for the deadlock to be broken with 17 minutes on the clock when the concession of a free kick some 20 yards out and to the left side of the penalty area allowed Ross “Archie” McPherson to rifle home a low shot into the far corner of the net for 1-0.

That lead came close to being doubled when McLaughlin rose to meet a Richie Burke corner kick only to power his header wide of target when it looked easier to score.

And that near miss was followed by a rare Tin Pail attacking sortie in which impressive 16-year-old Kyle Prior skilfully worked an opening for himself only to tamely fire his parting shot straight at visiting keeper Stephen Grindlay.

Just after the half hour mark, Beith went 2-0 ahead in somewhat dubious circumstances as Darren Christie theatrically went to ground as he and Vale keeper Matt Lynch contested a through ball to bring a soft looking penalty kick award that the busy striker duly netted with ease.

Home supporters were not slow to vent their fury at whistler Ryan Oliver’s decision and they were soon joined by Beith fans and players alike, left similarly incensed as Christie was felled in full flight by a scything challenge from Vale full-back Ryan Frances.

Somehow he escaped with a ticking off when most onlookers were debating whether a yellow or red card was merited.

Another erratic Oliver call was to merely speak with the already yellow carded David Mackay when the midfielder's studs up challenge caused the foot injury to McLaughlin at the start of a second half where the tempo was visibly lowered from before.

Beith continued on top and came close with a couple of half chances while Christie was foiled by a terrific Lynch save before the striker got his own back by despatching a low shot beyond the Vale No.1 at his near post to round up the scoring.

Tin Pail gaffer Ian Currie admitted: "I thoroughly enjoyed today’s 90 minutes, not least because I felt my players gave a good account of themselves against arguably the best team currently doing the rounds at Junior level.

“The fact we competed all over the pitch and never stood off the Beith players was pleasing and my only disappointment was over the opening goal where I thought the free kick award was harsh on us.

“There’s no denying the best team won on the day, but I’d like to think Beith coming here has given our young guys an insight to what playing standards are like at the very top of the Junior tree.

“ Now the hope is we learn from these lessons and get there ourselves some day.”

The remaining second-round ties being played at the first time of asking went the way of East Region clubs with Clydebank and Dalry Thistle coming a cropper against Linlithgow Rose and Bo’ness United respectively.

Rossvale also tumbled out against Bonnyrigg Rose, even though Brian McGinty’s side gave the East Region champions a fright by leading through an early Gary McGrath score.

In replay jousts, Kilwinning Rangers won the all-Super Premier Division battle with Ian Cashmore, Ben Lewis and Carlo Monti on target as they triumphed 3-1 against Arthurlie for whom Ryan McGregor netted.

Stephen Docherty and Paul Young goals saw Neilston get the better of Lanark United, who had briefly led through a David Bannerman strike at Brig O’Lea while Thorniewood United overcame opponents Port Glasgow 3-1 with counters from Darren Bowie, Murray Wilson and Chris Jackson.

Further afield, Ashfield did well to recover from falling a goal behind to beat Stoneyburn 2-1 through goals from Jay Karenzi and Michael Giblin.

However, there was no such luck for Newmains United who were hammered 6-0 up at Hermes.

A dramatic late collapse saw Shotts Bon Accord pass up a glorious opportunity to seal a place in next Tuesday's third round draw at the expense of Haddington Athletic.

Danny Burns (2) and Ally Martin were on the mark to have Bon Accord seemingly coasting to victory however the closing 13 minutes proved unlucky in the extreme as the home side netted three times to take the tie to a penalty kicks shoot-out which they won by a 3-2 scoreline.

Weekend results: Scottish Junior Cup.Second Round: Bonnyrigg Rose 3 Rossvale 1, Dalry Thistle 0 Bo’ness Utd 4, Vale of Clyde 0 Beith 3, Linlithgow Rose 3 Clydebank 0. Replays: Ardrossan Winton Rovers 1 Darvel 2, Neilston 2 Lanark Utd 1, Arthurlie 3 Kilwinning Rangers 1, Stoneyburn 1 Ashfield 2, Hermes 6 Newmains Utd 0, Thorniewood Utd 3 Port Glasgow1, Haddington Athletic 3 Shotts Bon Accord 3 (Haddington win 3-2 pens)

McBookie.com Super Premier Division.

Glenafton 1 Cumnock 0, Auchinleck Talbot 2 Hurlford Utd 0, Troon 1 Rob Roy 0, Largs Thistle 1 Pollok 4.

McBookie.com Super First Division.

Cumbernauld Utd 0 Irvine Meadow 3, Irvine Vics 1 Girvan 3, Petershill 4 Blantyre Vics 1, Yoker Athletic 3 Shettleston 4, Kilsyth Rangers 2 Rutherglen Glencairn 2, Maryhill 1 Renfrew 0.

McBookie.com Central First Division

St Roch's 6 Lesmahagow 2,Wishaw 1 Cambuslang Rangers 3, Greenock 1 Larkhall Thistle 2, Benburb 4 Bellshill Athletic 1, Forth 3 Johnstone Burgh 2.

McBookie.com Central Second Division.

East Kilbride Thistle 2 Glasgow Perthshire 5, Gartcairn 6 Carluke Rovers 1, Royal Albert 1 Vale of Leven,2. McBookie.com Ayrshire District League.

Annbank Utd 4 Ardeer Thistle 2, Kello Rovers 2 Lugar Boswell 1, Maybole 1 Craigmark 0, Whitletts Vics 6 Saltcoats Vics 0.