Rutherglen Glencairn look to have put a dismal start to the season behind them judging by the emphatic manner of Saturday’s 4-0 Scottish Junior Cup triumph over Kirrie Thistle.

Seeing his side chalk up a third win on the spin was every bit as satisfying as securing a place

in the second-sound draw as Glens boss Willie Harvey acknowledged afterwards.

He said: "We’ve got our mojo back even though I felt the guys won without really ever getting out of second gear today.

“ My only criticism is down to us getting lazy when playing against ten men, which allowed Kirrie to have a spell on top but our third goal knocked the stuffing out of their players and we were well on top over the closing stages to the extent we could and probably should have added a few more goals.”

Early on the Angus-based outfit had shaped as if they might prove a difficult first round hurdle at the Celsius Stadium even though the Glens were enjoying a territorial dominance and came close to scoring through Liam Gormley and Jordan Leyden efforts .

Reports claiming the visitors were a physical, long-ball side seemed at odds with their deliberate build-up play centred around keeping possession with neat passing movements and they created a couple of near things of their own before the all-important first goal was netted by the Glens on the 40th-minute mark.

And it was no real surprise that livewire forward Jay Mackay was instrumental in carving out this crucial 1-0 lead as he bravely and skilfully skipped past a despairing all-or-nothing tackle attempt by Kirrie defender John Farqhuarson and made a beeline goalwards before unselfishly squaring the ball for new striker signing Gormley to net his fifth goal in three starts from a couple of yards range.

The visitors came out for the second half with an intent to get on level terms.

However, their attacking approach was now leaving gaps at the back and Glens flank pair Stuart Hall and Ryan McArdle were revelling in the extra space.

One-time Lesmahagow midfielder Hall was particularly to the fore in delivering a succession of cross balls into the penalty area and he it was who doubled the Ru’Glonian’s lead in 55 minutes, despatching a low into the far corner of the net after being picked out by a clever Gormley cutback.

Kirrie’s fast diminishing hopes were duly dealt a killer blow when team skipper Farqhuarson was giving his marching orders for a “last man “ challenge on Gormley and he could only look on from the dressing rooms as his depleted team mates shipped a further two goals over the closing quarter of an hour.

Mackay set up Jamie Hamilton for a low and well struck 18-yard drive that took a deflection on its way the net for 3-0 before substitute Allesandro Savarese ran through on goal to clip a shot at the second time of asking beyond goalkeeper Sean Diamond and round off the scoring.

Glens second goalscorer Hall said: "The manager told me at half-time to play five yards further up the pitch and the positional switch worked a treat for what is only my third goal of the season.

“I’d like to think there’s more of the same to come because there’s a healthy competition here for the jerseys and scoring goals will only boost my chances of holding down a starting place.

“We’ve played better but Kirrie battled their corner and were a better team than the scoreline suggests.”

Second round spots were narrowly earned by Rossvale for whom Liam McGonnigle bagged the only goal of the game against Greenock while Greg Maitland supplied the finishing touch as Yoker Athletic won 1-0 away to Ardeer Thistle and old-stager Davie Dickson was Cumbernauld United’s scoring ace with a brace of goals in his side’s 2-1 defeat of Tayport.

Danny Burns top scored with a hat-trick as Shotts Bon Accord beat Burghead Thistle 5-2, Rob Roy’s feared hitman Willie Sawyers was one of the Kirkintilloch side’s marksmen in a 5-0 demolition of Glenrothes and new Ardrossan Winton Rovers manager Bryan Slavin oversaw a 6-2 hammering of Banchory St Tiernans which had six different goalscorers in Jamie McKenna, Lee Davidson, Jamie Biglass, Steven Tan, Larry McMahon and Bobby Colligan.

Dougie Ryan (2) and Scott Hadden were on the mark as East Kilbride Thistle won 3-2 away to Culter and Arthurlie avoided a cup shock by coming from 0-2 down to overcome Kello Rovers by a 4-3 scoreline.

David Jardine and Bob Hampson scores had the Kello support in dreamland with just 15 minutes on the clock however top scorer Marc McKenzie weighed in with a scoring treble which along with an Alex Wyper counter had the Barrhead visitors 4-2 ahead before Sean Bennie netted a late consolation for the Ayrshiremen.

Among those clubs having to do it all over again in replays are Glasgow Perthshire who relinquished a 2-0 lead from Jordan Currie-McLean and J.P. Craig goals at Keppoch Park to draw 2-2 with Dundee North End and there’s another locking of horns between Renfrew and Troon following a 1-1 Portland Park stalemate which had Tony Murphy putting the home team ahead before Kieran Healy levelled matters.

The ground breaking Friday night staged tie between Maryhill and Irvine Meadow saw both sides hit woodwork in a tense 0-0 draw that ensures the combatants will square up to each other at Meadow Park next Saturday.

WEEKEND RESULTS: William Hill Scottish Cup First Round. Glenafton 4 Threave Rovers 0, Brora Rangers 5 Girvan 0, Banks O’Dee 4 Huntly 0.

Scottish Junior Cup, first round; Maryhill 0 Irvine Meadow 0, Culter 2 East Kilbride Thistle 3, Dunipace 0 Dunbar Utd 4, Rob Roy 5 Glenrothes 0, Glasgow Perthshire 2 Dundee North End 2, Rutherglen Glencairn 4 Kirrie Thistle 0, Arniston Rangers 1 St Andrews Utd 0, Ardeer Thistle 0 Yoker Athletic 1, Penicuik Athletic 7 Livingston Utd 0, Kello Rovers 3 Arthurlie 4, Longside 2 Devoronside 1, Troon 1 Renfrew 1, Bonnyrigg Rose 5 Shetteston 0, Lochee Harp 2 Bo'ness Utd 4, Tayport 1 Cumbernauld Utd 2, Burghhead Thistle 2 Shotts Bon Accord 5, Thornton Hibs 2 Ellon Utd 0, Musselburgh Athletic 4 Newburgh Thistle 0, Ardrossan Winton Rovers 6 Banchory St Tiernan 2, Broxburn Athletic 6 Fraserburgh Utd 0, Rosyth 2 Dundee East Craigie 2, Pumpherston 1 Cambuslang Rangers 3, Aberdeen University 5 Kirkaldy YM 0, Irvine Vics 0 Maybole 0, Lewis Utd 1 Bathgate Thistle 2, Rossvale 1 Greenock 0, Hill O Beath 5 New Elgin 0, Newmains Utd 2 Annbank Utd 4.

McBookie Com.Super Premier Division; Kilbirnie Ladeside 2 Clydebank 1.

McBookie Com.Super First Division; Petershill 4 Largs Thistle 1.

McBookie Com.Central First Division; Neilston 1 Benburb 2, Wishaw 5 St Roch's 1, Port Glasgow 2 Blantyre Vics 1.

McBookie Com.Central Second Division; St Anthony's 2 Lanark Utd 2, Vale of Leven 2 Johnstone Burgh 3,Carluke Rovers 2 Bellshill Athletic 4.