Kilbirnie Ladeside took the plaudits and the silverware after winning their own Hammy Glen Memorial Trophy at Valefield.

But the Super Premier Division outfit were made to work for the prize after being pushed all the way in yesterday's final by a battling Maryhill, who were left bitterly disappointed from succumbing to an 88th-minute strike from Mark Archdeacon.

The winning goal owed much to the ingenuity and vision of Blasties co-boss Mark Crilly, who came off the substitutes' bench and picking out Chris Craig with an astute pass that saw the ex-Rangers signing cut the ball back for Archdeacon to direct a low shot into the corner of the net.

The game had looked to be 
going to penalty kicks until that late strike, mainly due to the heroics of Hill goalkeeper Mark Wilson – named man of the match – who had defied the Ayrshire cracks with a string of superlative saves.

Relieved co-gaffer Stevie Swift said: "Mark's introduction paved the way for our win as he was able to finally unlock Maryhill's defensive set up that we toiled to break down for long spells.

"Our work-rate was not as we wanted however that is understandable playing in this heat and overall we have to be happy with every single player getting a good workout over the two days.

"The only down side was the broken nose injury suffered by Liam McGuinness against Ashfield which threatens to sideline him for the next week to 10 days."

The battle for third place was won by Rutherglen Glencairn through a 4-3 win over Ashfield through goals from Mark 
McAlpine, a Mark Terry own goal, David Mackay and Nikki Sullivan.

In other friendly affairs , David Gormley netted a hat trick as West Region kingpins 
Auchinleck Talbot got their season underway with a 7-0 demolition of West Calder while 
Arthurlie also emerged triumphant in the east thanks to Stevie Dymock (2) and Trialist counters in a 3-0 win over Craigroyston.

Clydebank's new striker signing Ciaron McElroy was another treble marksman in a 6-0 hammering of Campsie Black Watch with Bankies' other scores coming from Joe Andrew, Trialist and Mark Russell.

Gavin Rushford and Steven McLung were on target to help Cambuslang Rangers defeat Shotts Bon Accord 2-1 with Shotts' consolation coming from new signing Jordan White.

Pollok won 3-1 at Dundee North End with trio Willie Howie, Richie Barr (pen) and Kieron McAleenan on target.