OVERSHADOWED to an extent by Scottish Junior Cup affairs on Saturday were a number of crunch McBookie.com league encounters which could yet turn out to have massive ramifications in the grand scheme of things.

Super Premier title challengers Beith, for instance, were left lamenting the loss of two points after yielding up a 2-0 lead at home to arch foes Kilbirnie Ladeside whose attempts to clamber clear of the basement zone were afforded a welcome shot in the arm by last-gasp scores from Stevie Meechan (89 mins) and Kyle Maxwell (93) earning a 2-2 outcome.

And Arthurlie’s dreams of coming with a late title push were effectively killed off at Dunterlie by Pollok who punished their bitter rivals who went down to nine men through the dismissal of Graham Girvan in the first half and Ryan McGregor early in the second half.

Tam Hanlon firstly levelled matters from the spot before the visitors went on to net another five goals against their depleted and tiring opponents…four of them in the closing 13 minutes.

A red card also proved costly for Super First Division challengers Petershill who had Jordan Murch sent inside during a 2-2 stalemate with league bottom markers Irvine Vics, while fellow leading lights Clydebank also slipped up with a 2-1 defeat against Renfrew ingloriously marking Kieran McAnespie’s first game at the helm.

Girvan took full advantage in hammering Blantyre Vics 6-1 as did Shettleston, now sitting atop the standings after defensive lynchpin Ross Dickson netted the only goal of the game against Shotts Bon Accord.

Central First Division leading lights Cambuslang Rangers emerging 4-3 winners in a ding-dong contest with Bellshill Athletic allowed the Wee Gers to extend their lead over nearest challengers St Roch's who suffered a shock 1-0 reverse against Vale of Clyde.

An even bigger surprise saw long-time Second Division frontrunners Glasgow Perthshire open the door for the chasing pack by losing out 4-3 to struggling Royal Albert.

Yet arguably the day’s eyebrow-raising result to top them all occurred in the Ayrshire District League where table-topping Ardrossan Winton Rovers succumbed to a first league defeat of the season in 15 starts...a 3-2 defeat at home to closest challengers Whitletts Vics.

Playing their first home game since Stirling Albion swooped to sign star turn Liam Caddis , saw the Rovers leading through a penalty kick conversion from his brother Ryan only for a Craig Harvey brace and Niall Kennedy score to set Whitletts on course for a victory that was only made to look less emphatic by Larry McMahon’s consolation counter.

Meanwhile, it never ceases to amaze just how many rank and file Junior supporters are totally oblivious to goings-on at their clubs even when they appear likely to prove hugely significant for the future of the game in these parts.

Hard for one to think otherwise after witnessing up close the bemused looks offered up by terracing fans when seeking out their opinion on proposed changes for the 2017/18 season put forward by Whitletts Vics that are set to be voted on when the 64 clubs convene for their AGM at the end of this season.

The Ayrshire outfit are radically suggesting the formation of four separate 16-team divisions and the opening Sectional League Cup competitions played in midweek on a knockout basis as well as having the current Ayrshire Cup abolished and replaced by a Western League Cup whose participants would be all 24 Ayrshire clubs plus the eight nearest geographically placed clubs of Arthurlie, Benburb, Greenock, Renfrew, Neilston, Johnstone Burgh, St Anthony's, and Port Glasgow while clubs in the Central area would take part in a similar Central League Cup competition.

And the motion wants the West Region divided into four divisions, each consisting of 16 clubs from the start of the 2018/19 season with the top two divisions taking in the top 32 clubs as at present in the Super Premier Division and Super First Division.

The two lower divisions would continue to be regionalised as the Western and Central Divisions with the top two placed clubs from each gaining automatic promotion to the Super First Division.

The fifth bottom Super First Division side would play-off against the third top team of the corresponding geographical region while clubs relegated from the Super First would be placed according to their geography in either the Western or Central Leagues.

West Region club secretaries have been sent comprehensive details in relation to these far reaching proposals which also want the compiling of fixture lists to help clubs make plans in terms of attracting matchday sponsors to generate income.

It’s believed a number of top clubs have already come forward to broadly support the plans which guarantee a minimum of 15 home games instead of the 11 provided under the current set-up.

SATURDAY'S FIXTURES

(Kick-offs 2pm)

Scottish Junior Cup Fourth Round: Rob Roy v Musselburgh Athletic. Replays: Bonnyrigg Rose v Kilsyth Rangers.

McBookie.com Super Premier Division: Arthurlie v Glenafton, Auchinleck Talbot v Largs Thistle, Cumnock v Beith, Kilwinning Rangers v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Troon v Hurlford Utd.

McBookie.com Super First Division: Blantyre Vics v Yoker Athletic, Girvan v Irvine Vics, Petershill v Shettleston, Renfrew v Maryhill, Clydebank v Rutherglen Glencairn, Irvine Meadow v Shotts Bon Accord.

McBookie.com Central First Division: Wishaw v Bellshill Athletic Benburb v Rossvale, Cambuslang Rangers v Lesmahagow, Greenock v Vale of Clyde, Johnstone Burgh v Forth Wanderers, St Roch's v Larkhall Thistle, Neilston v Thorniewood Utd.

McBookie.com Central Second Division: East Kilbride Thistle v Ashfield, Dunipace v Port Glasgow, Carluke Rovers v Gartcairn, Royal Albert v Newmains Utd, Glasgow Perthshire v Vale of Leven, Lanark Utd v St Anthony's.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League: Muirkirk v Kello Rovers, Ardeer Thistle v Annbank Utd, Darvel v Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Craigmark v Whitletts Vics, Maybole v Saltcoats Vics, Lugar Boswell v Dalry Thistle.