BELLSHILL Athletic gaffer Robert Downs is already hailing his new striker as one of the buys of the summer.

The availability of top striking quartet Willie Sawyers, Richie Barr, Darren Christie and Iain Diack had plenty of clubs scrambling for their chequebooks.

But Downsy's eyes were trained on a long-time target.

And on Saturday Jay McKay rewarded that perseverance when he scored on his Bellshill debut in an emphatic 4-1 defeat of Central First Division rivals Carluke Rovers.

Downs first attempted to land the 24-year-old frontman from St Anthony's last Christmas.

And he followed up that initial interest in June before his persistence finally paid off towards the end of last month after the Ants player of the year caved in and agreed to join the Lanarkshire outfit.

And Jay made a highly impressive start with his new club at the weekend, finding the net along with Chris Dolan, Darren Ferguson and Steven Tait. The Bellshill boss said: "We got exactly what we wanted from him - a high- energy and pacy display that made him a constant thorn in Carluke's flesh.

"On another day could have scored three or four goals so he fully justified our long chase for his signature.

"That said, the whole team stepped up to the mark."

Delighted McKay admitted he deliberated long and hard before deciding to walk away from St Anthony's and his mentor James McKenna.

He added: "Cotter has been an unbelievably huge influence on my development as a player and it was extremely difficult to tell him I was leaving. People might think it bizarre that I opted to join a club in the same division, but I wanted to kick on with my career and felt Bellshill offered me a slightly better chance of progressing up through the leagues than the Ants.

"I might end up eating those words when I go up against my old team-mates this season but hopefully that won't be the case and I can show my decision was the right one.

"I loved every minute of my time at Ants, however I'm deriving the same enjoyment at Bellshill working under Downsy and his assistant Stevie Aitchison.

"They showed a lot of faith in me by staying on my case for almost a year so hopefully this is payback time."

Bellshill's three-point haul keeps them in touch with a handful of Central First outfits who are separated only by goal difference after roaring away with 100% winning starts to sit with six points from their opening couple of fixtures.

Something has to give this weekend when two of the nap hand, Vale of Clyde and Dunipace, lock horns at Fullarton Park in a tasty encounter, while another of the early pacesetters, Blantyre Vics, await the visit to Castle Park of an unpredictable St Anthony's.

Surprise packets Renfrew will look to in-form striking duo Jamie Benton and Scott Arthur for the goals to overcome struggling Ashfield, while Lesmahagow will hope to post a victory over arch rivals Lanark United to celebrate their first game back at Craighead Park in almost a year, a 6-1 New Coin Holdings Cup win against St Roch's last October.

SATURDAY JUNIORS

Stagecoach Super Premier Division: Arthurlie v Troon, Beith v Shotts, Clydebank v Irvine Meadow, Kilbirnie v Cumnock, Petershill v Glenafton.

Super First Division: Cumbernauld v Neilston, Greenock v Rob Roy, Irvine Vics v Yoker, Kilsyth v Ardeer, Largs v Maybole, Shettleston v Pollok, Thorniewood v Glencairn.

Central District First: Blantyre Vics v St Anthony's, Larkhall v Benburb, Lesmahagow v Lanark, Maryhill v Carluke, Renfrew v Ashfield (at Keanie Park), Vale of Clyde v Dunipace, Wishaw v Bellshill.

Central District Second: East Kilbride v Port Glasgow, Forth v Rossvale, Newmains v Vale of Leven, Perthshire v St Roch's, Royal Albert v Johnstone Burgh.

Ayrshire District: Ardrossan v Kello, Craigmark v Whitletts, Darvel v Annbank, Lugar v Muirkirk, Saltcoats v Kilwinning.