A point away from home against one of your fellow title challengers should be sufficient to satisfy any Super Premier Division manager.

But Glenafton manager Craig McEwan was left disappointed with his side’s 1-1 draw against Beith on Saturday.

Visiting supporters arrived at a sundrenched Bellsdale Park looking for a response from their team to suffering only their second league loss of the season last weekend (a 4-1 beating by Largs Thistle).

And they must have been encouraged by a competitive Glens storming out of the blocks and territorially dominating the early exchanges.

Beith stopper Mark McLaughlin picked up the day’s first yellow card for felling Joe Andrew in 20 minutes.

And that was an indication of the pressure being exerted and only two further minutes had elapsed before the Glens got their noses in front with the game’s opening goal.

It was definitely one for the purists as a crisp passing move from deep in their own half saw Darren McGill put through on goal and he unselfishly squared the ball for team- mate Chris Dallas to sweep home a low shot.

The New Cumnock outfit were continuing to look the more likelier of the two sides to score.

Not least because Beith’s forward line pairing of Thomas Collins and Darren Christie were making little headway against a towering Glens backline superbly marshalled by Craig Menzies.

Yet before half-time the scores could and should have been levelled as Mighty midfielder David McGowan in quick succession blasted a volley high over and headed wide of target from right wing crosses to the back post.

Glens gaffer McEwan said: “There were a lot of positives to be taken from our first 45 minutes, not least of all the manner of our goal which symbolises everything that Craig Potter and I want from the guys in terms of passing and movement.

“We made a point of praising the players and urged them to get on the ball, but we also warned that Beith would now throw everything at them looking to get back on level terms and that’s exactly how things panned out.

“Quite simply, they just didn’t let us play and their pressing high up the pitch forced us to sit ever deeper with as many as 7/8 players in and around our own penalty area throughout the second half.

“The pressure was unrelenting and I said to Pottsy that I couldn’t see us holding out, but it looked like we were going to escape with a clean sheet right up until Beith equalised with just two minutes left to play.

“I’m deeply disappointed to concede a goal so late in the day - even if it was a screamer.

"However, I cannot deny Beith deserved something from the game on the overall balance of play.”

An indication of things to come was Glens goalkeeper Brian McGarrity making a couple of diving saves as the second period got underway and a number of goalmouth scrambles also ensued as he and his team mates fought to keep their goal intact.

Beith’s wastefulness in front of goal brought about the introduction of attacking substitutes Ross McPherson, Joe Bradley and Cammy Elliot but the breakthrough still never arrived despite a plethora of near things .

But with time running out, midfielder Jamie Wilson’s desire to chase a lost cause paid dividends as he won a shy and then threw the ball to Bradley some 22 yards out from where the former Queen's Park signing unleashed a well struck volley that beat McGarrity all ends up to level the scores at 1-1.

Beith gaffer Johnny Millar admitted: "Glenafton were better than us in the first half but there was only one team in it once we changed our shape and pushed more people forward coming back out for the second half.

“It’s yet another draw - frustratingly our eighth in 15 league games - and follows the same old pattern whereby we have created enough openings to win the game but haven’t converted our chances.

“The result is a godsend for Auchinleck and now we need teams to peg them back if we’re to come with a late charge.”

It was similarly a case of honours even in the only other top flight contest taking place, the basement clash of Kilwinning Rangers and Hurlford United at Abbey Park where the home side twice led through Ben Lewis and Carlo Monti scores only to be pegged back by counters from Stewart Kean and ex-Buffs winger Dean Agnew in a 2-2 stalemate.

Saturday’s outcomes in the Super First Division were arguably every bit as significant with in-form Petershill reinforcing their title ambitions with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Cumbernauld United thanks to goals from Stephen McGladrigan, Jason Hardie and Stuart McCann.

And somewhat pointedly Willie Patterson’s side moving to third top place in the standings just two points behind joint leaders Kilsyth Rangers and Shettleston was strengthened by on-the-road defeats for rivals Irvine Meadow, Girvan and Clydebank.

Greg Maitland's brace of goals along with a Ryan Hynes counter helped Yoker Athletic run out 3-1 winners at home to Medda while finishing on the wrong end of the same scoreline dealt a damaging blow to Girvan’s step-up hopes away to Rutherglen Glencairn for whom Fraser Team and Jamie Hamilton(2) were on target.

Their sixth win in seven outings has lifted the Glens into the promotion reckoning in the stead of Clydebank after their faint hopes were ended by a 3-0 reverse at the hands of relegation-threatened Maryhill whose chalking up a third league win in 13 starts three points lifted the Lochburn Park outfit off rank bottom spot in the table.

Their stunning triumph, kickstarted by an astonishing Gavin Stokes score in just three seconds,was all the more remarkable considering Maryhill added their two further scores from Colin Preston and Justin Begg in the 57 minutes played with only ten men following the dismissal of David Mathews.

Weekend results: New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup.Third Round.

Craigmark 0 Kilsyth Rangers 3, Cumnock 5 Blantyre Vics 2, Largs Thistle 0 Rob Roy 2, Pollok 5 Neilston 0, St Rochs 5 Annbank Utd 1, Troon 1 Gartcairn 4, Maybole 0 Auchinleck Talbot 2, Thorniewood Utd 1 Darvel 1(Darvel win 5-3 pens).

McBookie.com Super Premier Division.

Beith 1 Glenafton 1, Kilwinning Rangers 2 Hurlford Utd 2.

McBookie.com Super First Division. Rutherglen Glencairn 3 Girvan 1, Maryhill 3 Clydebank 0, Yoker Athletic 3 Irvine Meadow 1, Vics 0 Shotts Bon Accord 2, Cumbernauld Utd 0 Petershill 3.

McBookie.com Central First Division.

Johnstone Burgh 2 Forth Wanderers 0, Cambuslang Rangers 5 Lesmahagow 0, Greenock 3 Bellshill Athletic 2, Rossvale 4 Larkhall Thistle 5, Wishaw 2 Benburb 3.

McBookie.com Central Second

Division. Carluke Rovers 1 Newmains Utd 2, Dunipace 2 Ashfield 0, East Kilbride Thistle 0 Port Glasgow 2, Royal Albert 2 St Anthony's 3.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League.

Ardrossan Winton Rovers 3 Muirkirk 0, Kello Rovers 3 Ardeer Thistle 1.

Central League Cup . First Round. Shettleston 2 Renfrew 1.