Shettleston boss Hugh Kelly refused to blame Scott Anson for his side's comprehensive 4-0 defeat at the hands of Petershill last night.

This Euroscot Eng Sectional League Cup opener was all but over as a contest with just 12 minutes on the clock after the bustling striker was adjudged to have foiled a certain score by handling a net-bound Stevie O'Keane drive on the goal-line following a Paul McQuilken corner.

Anson was sent off by referee Steven Brown and it only rubbed salt in the wounds when Paul Woods stepped forward to convert the penalty, sending former Peasy keeper Steven McNeil the wrong way from the spot to set the home side on the road to victory.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Shettleston continued to pass the ball around in looking to work openings and Keigan Parker, playing as a lone frontman, came close to snatching an equaliser with a shot on the turn following a rehearsed corner-kick ploy.

But any hopes of the depleted visitors staging a fightback were all but blown out of the water on the stroke of half-time when another McQuilken flag-kick was blasted into the roof of the net from close range by impressive defender Jordan Chisholm.

With their tails up , Petershill stroked the ball about after the interval and a third goal duly arrived from another set-piece when skipper Ross McCabe forced the ball home.

The introduction of lively substitute Kevin Bradley only added to Shettleston's woes and his cross from a right flank foray just after the 80th-minute mark saw Woods net with a header to round off the scoring.

Kelly said: "The referee has seen fit to make a game-changing call, yet from where I stood Scott's arm never left his side and the big fellow is every bit as adamant that he never handled the ball. It's hugely disappointing as we were more than holding our own up to that point.

"I felt we recovered from his red card to acquit ourselves well, but the real gut-wrencher was to lose another goal with the last kick of the first half.

"There was no coming back from that one, yet the guys dug in and did well to restrict Petershill to just two goals in the second half."

Peasy co-boss Willie Patterson was delighted with his team's first competitive display. He said: "I thought we were always in control and my only criticism would be that more goals should have been scored. It was also encouraging to see young Jordan, who is only 21 years of age, looking the part out there.

"However, we won't lavish too much praise on him as a lot of tougher tests are yet to come."

In other games, Iain Diack netted the only goal of the match as holders Pollok got their defence of the silverware underway with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over St Anthony's.

Former Lok striker Willie Sawyers bagged a double as Rob Roy hammered near neighbours Kilsyth Rangers 5-2.

Scott McManus (2), Conor Stevenson and Martin Stewart were on target as Vale of Clyde ran out shock 4-1 winners over higher league Rutherglen Glencairn.

Scott Arthur and Kenny Wilson did the damage as Vale of Leven beat Renfrew 2-1, while Thomas Kilmartin, a trialist, Phil McCabe and Billy Young were on the scoresheet to help Cambuslang Rangers overcome East Kilbride Thistle 4-1.

Ardagh Glass Cup holders Irvine Meadow hammered arch-foes Irvine Vics 5-0 thanks to goals from Declan Cairney, Ryan McStay, Chris Hall, Mark Staunton and Paul Maxwell - but even this nap hand paled in comparison to Auchinleck's 10-1 pummelling of Kello Rovers.

Other high scorers were Cumnock, 9-1 victors over Muirkirk, but the shock of the night was Super Premier League side Glenafton's 7-1 mauling by lowly Lugar Boswell.