It goes without saying that pre-season friendly matches are regarded as a means towards an end.

Initially, the contests are all about achieving match fitness and it's only when players come through a few rounds of them do team managers really switch on to addressing strengths and weaknesses.

That moment of truth arrived for Rob Roy boss Stewart Maxwell after taking in his side's 1-0 defeat by Clydebank on Saturday.

He said: "The guys deserve every credit for the way they dominated possession for long spells and didn't look out of place against Clydebank, who are arguably one of the top Super Premier outfits .

"But playing clever passing football counts for nothing without a cutting edge in and around the penalty box and we were found wanting in that respect.

"We always knew it would be difficult to replace the 40-plus goals scored by Willie Sawyers last season and the game only reinforced the need to unearth someone blessed with that self-same knack of finding the net

"Paul Ronald and I both believe youngster Stevie Aitken will be a threat given time but he has only come on board from Campsie Black Watch and will need help from a more experienced head while he adjusts to the Junior game.

"He looked the part but all his best stuff was outside the penalty area if truth be told.

"Alan Urqhuart and Jordan McKechine were others to catch the eye and overall we came away happy with our display if not the result."

As a former defender, Maxi would not have been best pleased with the goal conceded by the Rabs just three minutes into the Adamslie Park affair when an error in judgement by experienced campaigner Jonathan Carter saw him caught in possession by Bankies winger Ian Gold who raced clear through on goal before squaring the ball for team-mate Jamies Campbell to sidefoot home.

Bankies gaffer Budgie McGhie said: "Posting a clean sheet is always nice and another pleasing aspect is the fact we have won all three pre-season games to date without fielding anything like our strongest line-up."

Elsewhere, David Gillies and Jim Wilson (pen) netted as Super Premier new boys Troon had to similarly work hard for a 2-1 victory at home to a battling Shettleston for whom Rikky McIntosh was on target.

And a tight 3-2 scoreline belied a comprehensive win for Carluke Rovers down at Kello Rovers thanks to Ian Watt (2) and Mark Weir counters.

Eddie Albhor, Bobby Colligan, Trialist and Scott Adam did the business to help Irvine Vics to a resounding 4-1 triumph over Cambuslang Rangers and a Greig Mitchell hat- trick was the highlight of a 7-0 win for Ardrossan Winton Rovers in the Dennis Donnelly Memorial contest against Benburb.

Other results: Irvine Meadow 7 Lochee United 3, Linlithgow Rose 0 Beith 3, Bo'ness Utd 0 Auchinleck Talbot 1, Camelon 0 Neilston 3, Kilsyth Rangers 2 Armadale Thistle 1, Arthurlie 4 Bathgate Thistle 1.