What can you say about Jamie Docherty other than that he is one of Junior football’s enduring goalscorers and vital to Maryhill’s hopes of avoiding relegation from the Super First Division.

Older followers of the game may remember him as a fresh-faced teenager breaking into the St Anthony’s side in 2002. At that time his movement in and around the penalty box, awareness, bravery and his eye for a goal earmarked him as a class act in the making.

So has the now 31-year-old lived up to his early billing? Being his own biggest critic, Docherty would most probably say no.

However, supporters of the various clubs he has played for through the years – The Ants, Renfrew, Rob Roy, Pollok and Rutherglen Glencairn – might well argue differently.

He certainly won’t lack for plaudits from his current Lochburn Park gaffer John Hughes, who says the hitman is one of those intelligent players who knows instinctively when and where to make runs into the box.

He was to be found doing what he does best last Saturday when bagging a brace of goals in a 3-2 victory over Irvine Vics that further boosted Maryhill’s hopes of beating the drop.

And the experienced frontman with four goals in Maryhill’s last five outings looks certain to be spearheading his side’s survival bid over the coming weeks.

Docherty said: “The team have been on a terrific run and have won four of the five games played in the past eight days, but despite weighing in with a few goals, I’d be lying to say I am happy with my level of performance.

“To consistently put the ball in the net is the aim of every striker and that’s been lacking from me for the most part though I’ve worked my way into the manager’s thoughts in recent weeks and hopefully I’m doing enough to keep my place in the team despite the strong competition for the jerseys at this club.”

Maryhill were looking dead and buried when joint bottom of the table just three weeks ago but picking up 15 points from a possible 21 has transformed fortunes and the seasoned Doc, who has never been relegated in his Junior career, believes he and his team-mates have it in them to clamber clear of the drop zone.

“We’ve given ourselves a fighting chance but keeping the momentum going in this weekend’s head to head against another of the teams battling to get out of trouble, Blantyre Vics, is essential,” he said.

“We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves but a win would provide a great confidence lift by taking us above Shotts Bon Accord and within a point of Cumbernauld United who have played three games more than us.

“Safety will not be guaranteed by getting ourselves to that position but having something to aim for is a dream come true when you think where Maryhill were just a short time ago.”

Hill gaffer Hughes made light of the likelihood of a number of his playing charges being posted missing for the visit of Blantyre.

"If the players keep doing what they have been doing then nobody can ask for anything more,” he said.

In last night's action, St Rochs conjured up the shock of last night’s Central League Cup contests after Martin Shiels netted the only goal of the game to seal a 1-0 victory over Super Premier Division leading lights Rob Roy.

Cup holders Pollok eased through with a comfortable 5-0 win away to Port Glasgow where Paul Gallagher, Davie Winters (pen), Darren McLean and Derek Hepburn (2) were on the scoresheet, while Barry McGeechan and Alan Clark did the damage as Forth Wanderers ran out 2-0 winners at Johnstone Burgh.

Ryan McGregor, Mark Blakey and Ryan Deas netted as Arthurlie won 3-0 at home to Gartcairn while Alex Cassells, Jordan Murch and Luke Crerand (2) were on the mark as Petershill won 4-2 against East Kilbride Thistle for whom Alan McFadden and John Craig were on target.

The big upset in the Ayrshire Cup was the elimination of Scottish Cup finalists Glenafton after losing out to an Andy Stevenson goal for Girvan at Hamilton Park, while a storming contest at Portland Park saw Troon lead 2-0 and 3-2 yet lose 5-3 to Auchinleck Talbot for whom Clark Thomson and Graham Wilson netted three goals in the closing 10 minutes to clinch a comeback win despite Talbot being down to 10 men following the dismissal of Ross Harvey.

Results: Central League Cup, second round - Benburb 2 Thorniewood Utd 2 (Bens win 5-4 pens), Johnstone Burgh 0 Forth Wanderers 2, Rob Roy 0 St Rochs 1, Port Glasgow 0 Pollok 2, Shettleston 0 Rutherglen Glencairn 4.

Third round - Arthurlie 3 Gartcairn 0, East Kilbride Thistle 2 Petershill 4.

Ayrshire Cup, second round - Dalry Thistle 2 Annbank Utd 3, Girvan 1 Glenafton 0, Maybole 2 Whitletts Vics 1, Troon 3 Auchinleck Talbot 5.