A stellar second-half performance from striker Jon Scullion helped pave the way for Kilbirnie Ladeside to emerge worthy West of Scotland Cup winners over Petershill on Saturday

The ex-Morton signing, largely ineffective it has to be said in the opening 45 minutes, was transformed into a proverbial thorn in the Peasy defence’s flesh after the interval and he helped himself to the game’s opening goal and set up the other for team-mate Cammy Elliot in a 2-1 Blasties triumph that should never have relied upon them benefiting from a couple of crossroads moments.

The 24 year old admitted: "Petershill’s tight marking made it difficult to get on the ball early on, but drifting wider and deeper enabled me to find pockets of space, which made all the difference.

"I was able to cut inside and curl a right-foot shot for my goal and there were several other near things, and not just from myself, which could have resulted in more goals, so the narrow scoreline doesn’t really tell the full story.

"We should have put the game to bed long before Joe Wilton has been called upon to save a Petershill penalty kick and they have scored late on.”

A lacklustre, though competitive, first period saw the visiting Glasgow outfit more than hold their own in the torrid exchanges and they both created and passed up the best scoring chance.

When Scott Cameron’s sparkling left-wing run with 33 minutes on the clock culminated in a glorious cross which unmarked front man David Cameron contrived to head wide of target from no more than six yards.

The lack of goalmouth incidents was not to be mirrored when second-half events got underway, because within minutes a well struck Scullion free-kick was ushered to safety by Peasy No.1 David Day at the second attempt.

But the Ladeside hitman was not to be denied and a bout of pressure led to him making the breakthrough with a well-placed shot beyond Day in 50 minutes and only a wonderful Chris Ketterer block prevented him from netting another score just minutes later.

Kilbirnie had their tails up and a doubling of their advantage duly arrived in 58 minutes when a driven Scullion corner kick was sublimely flicked home by the head of Elliot who had been criminally allowed to rise unchallenged from the set play.

Day made decent stops to keep out netbound Elliot and Scullion efforts and the goalkeeper also excelled with a save at the feet of Ladeside substitute Ryan Hynes before a lifeline was thrown to the visitors by a penalty kick award at the other end of the pitch after home team stopper Mick O’Byrne felled Cameron with a clumsy challenge inside the box.

The Peasy winger took the kick himself but his well-hit shot to the right of Wilton was at a perfect height for the keeper to parry the ball to safety and his save was to prove telling when Petershill substitute James MacLennan raced clear to halve his team’s deficit with an injury-time score.

Any hopes of a dramatic comeback ended with the sounding of the final whistle which was music to the ears of Ladeside caretaker boss Robert Scott.

"An altogether tremendous showing from the guys and knowing how much work they put into preparing for today’s game, I would say they deserve all the praise going," said Scott.

“Scullion was terrific out there as was Elliot but it’s hard to pick out individuals because today’s win was all about a team effort.”

The manner of Petershill’s defeat, their third on the spin was bemoaned by assistant manager Paul Kelly.

“You need to have a physicality and presence in your team coming to venues like this and our lack of it was all too apparent out there today.

“Kilbirnie are not what you would call big and strong, yet they won too many of the 50/50 challenges for my liking and they were also able to work their corner kicks well because we didn’t have people taking responsibility.”

Petershill’s demise was not a totally unexpected result but Clydebank’s exit at the hands of lowly Glasgow Perthshire was undoubtedly a turn up for the books as goals from Baboucarr Mussa, Kevin Kelly and Craig Smith did for the Bankies for whom Stevie Higgins netted a brace of goals.

Lesmahagow bounced back from last weekend’s 9-1 drubbing from Auchinleck Talbot to take the scalp of top league Largs Thistle thanks to goals from Jason Thomson and Kyle Weir earning a 2-1 success and hats off too to Shettleston, 4-2 winners over Championship side Darvel through a Liam Fergusson hat-trick and Jordan McGrotty counter.

Cup holders Hurlford United had Ryan Caddis, Richie McKillen, Sam Lidington and Liam Caddis (2) on target in a resounding 5-1 victory over Johnstone Burgh but beaten finalists last time out, Beith, needed an injury-time penalty kick from Connor McGuinness to overcome Renfrew 2-1 at New Western Park.

Winning clubs and their supporters did not have long to wait for the Second Round draw which was made by Graham Shepherd of sponsors Ardagh Group and former Scotland manager Craig Brown down at Portland Park in the aftermath of Troon Juniors running out 2-0 winners over Royal Albert thanks to early second-half goals from Robert Love and Ben Reilly.

The Ayrshiremen’s reward was another home draw against Premiership rivals Pollok while another couple of top-flight pairings to catch the eye were the match-ups of Auchinleck Talbot v Cumnock and Beith v Irvine Meadow.

West of Scotland Cup. Round 2. Draw:Auchinleck Talbot v Cumnock, St Rochs v Shotts Bon Accord. Rossvale v Cambuslang Rangers, Rutherglen Glencairn v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Troon v Pollok,Craigmark v Gartcairn,Newmains Utd v East Kilbride Thistle,Lanark Utd v Kilsyth Rangers, Beith v Irvine Meadow, Glenafton v Lesmahagow, Bellshill Athletic v Benburb, Hurlford Utd v Glasgow Perthshire,Port Glasgow v Arthurlie,Carluke Rovers v Muirkirk, Cumbernauld Utd or Vale of Clyde v Shettleston,Rob Roy v Thorniewood Utd.