The manner of Arthurlie's 2-1 victory over Pollok must surely have triggered alarm bells around Newlandsfield.

And one could not help but think the reason this toothless and limp Lok side looked a clear second best against their arch-rivals was only because there wasn't a third team out on the Dunterlie Park pitch.

Two games into the new season is far too early to be making rash judgements but, on the evidence of last night, Tony McInally has a major job on his hands trying to restore Pollok's reputation as a force in Junior football.

Arthurlie had the two outstanding players afield in Conor McGlinchey and Mark Blakey, but the full-back pairing had a decent supporting cast.

But for some wasteful finishing - Paul 'Tiny' Stewart was the biggest sinner- they could easily have won this Euroscot Eng Sectional League Cup clash at a canter.

Lie forged ahead close to the half-hour mark when midfielder Kyle Rafferty strode forward to play a sublime one-two with former Lok striker Ritchie Barr and create space to lash an unstoppable high shot beyond visiting goalkeeper Jordan Longmuir.

Lok's sole effort at goal in the first half came within minutes when Kevin Green was dispossessed inside his own penalty box to allow Ryan McBeth to direct a low shot a foot wide of the far post.

Visiting gaffer Macca could clearly be heard lambasting his playing charges during the interval, but there was little sign of them shaking free from their apparent lethargy when the teams came back out.

The second half saw Arhurlie again the dominant of the two sides despite McInally's best efforts to rally his troops.

Lie doubled their advantage in the simplest of fashions when a throw-in flicked on by the head of ex-Lok midfielder Ryan McGregor was miscued into his own net by errant

defender Michael McGhee.

However, the Newlandsfield side receieved a lifeline on 84 minutes when striker Davie Winters was upended by Arthurlie keeper Mikey White to bring a spot-kick award netted with considerable aplomb by Winters for 2-1.

The final minute brought a Pollok three against one break forward, but it summed up their night when Alan McKenzie's attempted pass to Kieron McAleenan went out for a throw-in.

Seething gaffer McInally said: "I'd have taken it, but a draw would have been an absolute travesty of a result. We were an absoluteshambles with players not doing the jobs asked of them and changes will be made as I'm not prepared to accept that level of performance as manager of this football club.

"I have very high standards and the players have been left in no doubt that they fell well short of them."

In the other Section Five contest, goals from Steven Docherty and Matthew McLean helped Neilston to a 2-1 win at St Anthony's, whose score came from Gareth Timmoney.

St Roch's were on thewrong end of a 10-2 scoreline against Bellshill while, in Ayrshire, Glenafton routed Muirkirk 9-0.

Gordon Pope and Graeme Wilson were on target in the big derby clash at Beechwood Park as Auchinleck Talbot ran out 2-0 winners against cup holders Cumnock.

RESULTS

Euroscot Eng League Cup

Section 2: Shotts 1 Wishaw 2.

Section 3: Bellshill 10 St Roch's 2, Thorniewood 3 Shettleston 2.

Section 4: Cambuslang 2 Blantyre Vics 3, Glencairn 1 East Kilbride 1.

Section 5: Arthurlie 2 Pollok 1,

St Anthony's 1 Neilston 2.

Section 6: Yoker 0 Maryhill 1, Ashfield 2 Clydebank 6.

Section 7: Johnstone Burgh 0 Renfrew 2, Vale of Leven 1 Port Glasgow 3.

Section 8: Dunipace 1 Cumbernauld 2, Rob Roy 2

Rossvale 3.

Ardagh Glass League Cup

Section 1: Beith 3 Winton Rovers 2, Dalry 4 Kilwinning Rangers 6, Kilbirnie 1 Largs 0.

Section 2: Irvine Meadow 2 Ardeer 0, Saltcoats 2 Irvine Vics 0, Darvel 4 Hurlford 4.

Section 3: Girvan 1 Troon 6, Whitletts 6 Annbank 2, Maybole 8 Craigmark 0.

Section 4: Auchinleck 2 Cumnock 0, Lugar 3 Kello 1, Glenafton 9 Muirkirk 0.