Wilie Patterson hopes Petershill's five-star display against St Roch's will act as a boost in confidence for the season's challenges to come.

A tenacious Candy Rock had briefly looked as if they could make a game of it against their higher league opponents but ultimately they can consider themselves a trite fortunate to only come away on the wrong end of a 5-0 Springburn scoreline.

That point was not lost on experienced gaffer Patterson who believes his side might yet rue their wasteful finishing.

He said: "I've been more than happy with the way this new team of ours is taking shape in every respect other than taking our scoring chances.

"Our outfield play has been a delight but without an end product which explains why we lost to Newtongrange Star and Bellshill Athletic recently despite playing both teams off the park.

"Thankfully we managed to tuck away a few opportunities this time but we could and should have scored more if truth be told, however I'm not blind to the fact that St Roch's also passed up a few clear-cut openings of their own."

The initial exchanges saw Petershill's great composure on their artificial pitch more than matched by the desire and commitment of the visitors, however this early resistance crumbled on the 15th minute mark when two Peasy close season signings combined for the game's opening goal.

Ex-Berwick Rangers winger Mark Lamont drove down the right flank before delivering a inch- perfect cross that former Glasgow Harp front man Andy McLay bulleted home with his head for 1-0.

McLay was to go on and help himself to an opportunist hat -trick while his strike partner, former Albion Rovers and Irvine Meadow front man Scott Sally, playing as a trialist, netted a double that will almost certainly earn him a contract offer from Patterson.

The Peasy boss said: "Andy had not been getting the breaks in front of goal until this time and I felt he and Scott provided a goals threat every time we were in the final third, but to my mind Mark Lamont was the best player afield.

"All our newcomers showed up well and there are good signs for the season ahead with Liam Finnigan, Paul McMenamin and Gary Peebles yet to come back into things.

"Those people tipping us to figure in the relegation mix may yet have to eat their words."

Defiantly upbeat St Roch's boss Andy Cameron admitted his team were second best but felt they deserved better than returning a blank scoresheet.

He said: "We were on the back foot for long spells yet still got forward to carve Petershill open on three or four occasions only to lack poise and nerve when it mattered.

"Probably the turning point for us was immediately after their first goal when a shot has come back off the crossbar to be touched home by Chris McFadyean only for the linesman to adjudge him offside.

"If that had gone in then who knows what might have happened."

Petershill's emphatic victory became all the more important when news filtered through of Section Three frontrunners Bellshill Athletic succumbing to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of arch rivals Thorniewood United whose goals were netted by experienced midfielder JP Grant, one from the penalty spot.

The eagerly awaited Ardagh Glass Cup clash between Kilbirnie Ladeside and bitter foes Beith was won 3-2 by the Blasties, who had gone 2-0 down to Darren Christie and David McGowan strikes before roaring back through Chris Malone (pen) and a brace of goals from ex-Tower Hearts striker Graham Boyd who had come on as a second-half substitute.

However it looks odds on that champions Cumnock will be relinquishing their hold on the silverware after drawing 1-1 against Lugar Boswell to sit five points adrift of Glenafton, 1-0 winners over Kello Rovers thanks to a Dan Orsi goal.