Kilsyth Rangers proved yet again that experience counts for everything in football with their 4-0 hammering of Shettleston on Saturday.

The stark contrast between the teams as they lined up for this Super First Division top-of-the-table clash was powerful with league leaders Town appearing full of hope and exhibiting plenty of desire.

Second-placed Kilsyth had less of a spring in their step yet looked as if they were totally focused on taking care of both the occasion and their opponents.

And it proved to be a case of mission accomplished given league positions had been reversed when the dust finally settled on this head to head between the leading title protagonists.

It had the makings of a classic but was never a great match because the imposing core of seasoned campaigners in the visiting tanks ensured Kilsyth had the outcome in an iron grip from first whistle to last.

Andy Carlin in goal had one save of note to make in the entire 90 minutes thanks in no small way to a rock-solid defensive rearguard in front of him where old-stagers Mark Tyrrell and player/assistant manager Kevin McBride oozed quality and authority in comfortably snuffing out the home side’s attacking threat, blunted before kick off by injury ruling out top marksman Ricky McIntosh.

And Shettleston’s shortcomings at one end was mirrored at the other where pluck, spirit and the manful efforts of Ross Dickson were all that could be mustered to match the movement, strength and sheer quality of Kilsyth’s attacking duo Paul McBride and Ian Diack…and as usually happens , quality won out .

The impressive and younger of the McBride brothers was a particular threat throughout, but was disappointed to only score two of his side’s four goals.

Speaking afterwards, the 29-year-old whose striking skills were honed working under his former Cowdenbeath manager Mixu Paatelainen, said: "It is always a great feeling to score goals, but I have missed a couple of real snips today that would have given me a third hat trick in successive games which would have been a first for me.

“I’m not a glory hunter and would gladly settle for blanks against my name as long as Kilsyth win and it’s only fair to point out the service from the other guys around me makes the job of scoring easy in this team."

His first goal was Kilsyth’s second in a punishing five-minute spell sparked by Tyrrell being left criminally unmarked inside Shettleston’s penalty area (he didn’t even have to jump) to head home a Nikky Prentice corner kick on the half hour mark.

That score was then doubled when a Kevin McBride free kick broke into his younger sibling’s path and he rifled a low shot into the far corner of the net and he was shortly afterwards defied by the feet of goalkeeper Gary Whyte from adding to his side’s 2-0 half-time lead .

His second score of the afternoon was delayed until the 71st minute when Shettleston failed to deal with a long ball upfield and McBride pounced to leave Whyte helpless with a well- struck 15 yards shot and the striking ace was also involved in Kilsyth’s coup de grace when another goalmouth scramble saw him cut the ball across goal for the unfortunate Bob Campbell to divert the ball into his own net.

Delighted team boss Keith Hogg said: "Paul has been in sensational scoring form all season and I was always confident of him finding the net today.

“He and big Diars teamed up to great effect yet I believe we won the game today because of our defence giving nothing away to Shettleston who became dispirited as a result and were a beaten team long before the final whistle.

“I still think they will feature in the promotion race because John Fallon will know what it takes to get them back on course and I’m just glad not to be playing them again.”

The Shettleston co-boss slammed the goals conceded by his side in saying: "You simply cannot afford to ship goals from two set pieces flung into our penalty box and a route one kick from their goalkeeper.

“And even McBride and Diack would have struggled to score for us today as we created nothing in the forward areas and the guys ended up playing backs-to–wall football for most of the match.

“Our performance today is all the more puzzling after we were so good to beat Renfrew last weekend.”

Up into third top spot in the Super First standings are Girvan for whom Scott Dinwoodie(2) Jack McDowall and Robert Patterson were on target in a 4-0 defeat of Irvine Vics whose near neighbours Irvine Meadow boosted their step-up hopes and dented Clydebank’s in the process with a dramatic 1-0 Holm Park victory earned by a 90th minute Ben Carson penalty kick conversion.

Petershill stay in the hunt after overcoming Yoker Athletic 3-0 through Jason Hardie, Ian Gold and Chris Hall scores and Rutherglen Glencairn are just off the pace in seventh place after Ryan McCardle and Stewart Hall netted in a 2-1 triumph over Blantyre Vics.

Maryhill’s terrific Scottish Junior Cup run was ended by a 4-2 defeat by Linlithgow Rose at McKenna Park, but not before the Central First Division outfit gave the East Region giants (for whom Tommy Coyne bagged a hat trick) a fright by recovering from a 2-0 half time deficit to gain temporary parity in the second half through Joe Beckley and Justin Begg scores.

WEEKEND RESULTS: Scottish Junior Cup Fifth Round.Maryhill 2 Linlithgow Rose 4.

McBookie.com Super Premier Division.

Auchinleck Talbot 2 Pollok 1, Glenafton 3 Kilbirnie Ladeside 1. McBookie.com Super First Division.

Blantyre Vics 1 Rutherglen Glencairn 2, Shotts Bon Accord 0 Renfrew2, Shettleston 0 Kilsyth Rangers 4, Petershill 3 Yoker Athletic 0 ,Girvan 4 Irvine Vics 0, Clydebank 0 Irvine Meadow 1.

McBookie.com Central First Division.

Vale of Clyde 2 Lesmahagow 2, Bellshill Athletic 4 Johnstone Burgh 2, Larkhall Thistle 2 Cambuslang Rangers 1, Benburb 4 Wishaw 1, Forth Wanderers 0 St Rochs 2.

McBookie.com Central Second Division.Lanark Utd 2 Carluke Rovers1, Newmains Utd 0 Glasgow Perthshire 5, Gartcairn 2 Vale of Leven 4, Port Glasgow 1 Royal Albert 1.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League. Saltcoats Vics 0 Ardrossan Winton Rovers 5, Maybole 3 Lugar Boswell 1, Craigmark 0 Whitletts Vics 1, Muirkirk 1 Ardeer Thistle 3.