McBookie Super League Premier Division

BEITH 2

AUCHINLECK TALBOT 0

TABLE-toppers Beith maintained their 100% start to the league campaign with another solid display against the side that are widely regarded as the benchmark of junior football.

A good crowd saw the hosts start positively up the slope and they looked well up for the task despite the absence of regular starters Ross McPherson and David McGowan.

David McKenna went close to giving Beith the lead after 10 minutes but his powerful left foot shot curled inches wide.

No quarter was being given and the first a regular flow of yellow cards was shown by Chris Graham to Beith stopper Mark McLaughlin and Talbot striker Graham Wilson following an aerial clash and some low level afters.

Beith midfielder and man-of-the-match Paul Frize followed soon after for a mis-timed challenge but he walked the tightrope without further mishap and his drive from midfield proved a huge asset.

Jamie Glasgow had a dangerous run forward for the visitors but he couldn't keep his shot down and it flew well over the bar.

Beith were looking the hungrier of the sides with Kier Milliken giving his former employers an uncomfortable afternoon.

Darren Christie also gave fair warning when he fired in a powerful shot from 25 yards that just missed the target.

The hosts duly claimed the lead on 31 minutes when Nicky Docherty burst up the left wing onto a Paul Frize pass and fired in a dangerous cross-cum-shot that keeper Andy Leishman could only turn away as far as Darren Christie lurking on the penalty spot and he quickly tucked a left foot shot into the net. Keir Milliken was then denied by a fine double block by the big Talbot keeper when the former Beechwood Park favourite pounced on a mistake by Gordon Pope.

Before the visitors could re-group, properly Christie struck again just four minutes after his first when the under-pressure Talbot keeper failed to cut out a Richie Burke delivery to the back post and Christie wasted no time, smashing a shot back past the goalie into the far corner from a ridiculously tight angle.

The hosts kept a firm grip on proceedings with only a Glasgow header testing Beith keeper Stephen Grindlay before the break and they went in for the interval pleased with their efforts and a handy two goal lead to boot.

Talbot brought on sub Sean McIlroy to offer more physical presence but he was well controlled by the hosts' experienced centre backs.

The visitors plugged away but they were generally unable to create much up front while at the other end, Leishman pulled off fine saves to deny Frize and Burke as Beith moved the ball forward quickly.

Talbot nearly got on the scoresheet when Stephen Wilson picked up a clearance just outside the box but his fine left foot shot smacked off the crossbar and clear.

Beith remained pretty much in control in the second half and substitute Thomas Col?ins could have added another before the end when he sliced a shot wide with only Leishman to beat.

Beith had no failures on the day and look to be the team to beat if they can maintain this form but it's still very early in the season and Johnny Millar will no doubt strive to keep his players' feet firmly on the ground.

BEITH: Grindlay; R Docherty, N Docherty, McLaughlin, Sheridan, Wilson, Christie, Frize, McKenna, Milliken, Burke. Subs: Collins, Martin, Cunningham, MacDonald, Digney (gk).

AUCHINLECK TALBOT: Leishman; Lyle, Pope, Harvey, McCracken, S Wilson, Glasgow, Hyslop, G Wilson, Shankland, Thomson. Subs: McIlroy, Pooler, Armstrong, McPherson, Kemp.