McBookie Premiership

BEITH JUNIORS 7

KIRKINTILLOCH ROB ROY 2

CHAMPIONS Beith will be delighted with another victory to continue what has been a good start to their title defence.

But they will also not get carried away as the scoreline doesn’t really reflect what was a tough match that was only secured with goals coming after they seized the upper hand in the second half.

The hosts got off to the best possible start, taking the lead after only five minutes when Thomas Collins showed all his predatory instincts to find the net at the second attempt after a fine Jamie Wilson low inviting cross into the box created the opportunity.

Beith were not allowed to enjoy their lead for long however as, only a few minutes later, Martin McBride drilled a free-kick past the wall into the bottom corner to level.

An open contest swung from end to end with Conner McGlinchey and Paul Frize going close for Beith while Joe Slattery passed up a real opportunity to give the visitors the lead, shooting straight at Stephen Grindlay when he found himself unmarked in the box.

Play continued at a frantic pace with little between the sides but the hosts did look the more likely to score and they duly regained the lead in 25 minutes, again via Collins when he darted in at the near post to touch home a Keir Milliken cross with Wilson again heavily involved.

Beith were relieved to see that Slattery had indeed left his shooting boots at home as he passed up another great chance when he dallied in the box when one-on-one with Grindlay, allowing the big keeper to turn his shot past.

The quick tempo continued with the hosts again creating the majority of genuine chances. Keir Milliken continued to find room on the left for Beith but further scoring opportunities were scorned by Collins and Ross McPherson before the break.

Kirkintilloch had a flurry after the restart but the hosts gradually grabbed the upper hand and this increased when subs Joe Bradley and Andy Reid came on 10 minutes in. The visitors also made changes and continued to try to keep a high defensive line but this tactic looked increasingly risky and Beith got the important breakthrough to give them some breathing space when a quick attack created a chance for Joe Bradley in the box and he kept his cool to find the net after goalie Hutchison made an initial block.

Rob Roy were now struggling to contain Beith with Bradley pulling strings in midfield and a clever pass sent Collins through for his own hat-trick and the hosts' fourth when he shot confidently past the exposed keeper.

Beith replaced Collins with young Peter Haggarty and his pace kept beleaguered-looking Rob Roy under pressure,

With the outcome in no doubt Beith went on the search for more goals and playing with real momentum down the slope captain, John Sheridan added a fifth, heading home a Bradley corner with 11 minutes remaining.

Enthusiastic Beith sub Haggarty was now also causing problems for the visiting defence an showed fine individual skill when he took them on from just over the halfway line and jinked past several defenders before guiding a shot into the bottom corner. Goal number seven duly followed a minute later when Reid headed home another Bradley delivery in the box.

Roy Roy to their credit continued to try to attack when they could and Stephen Grindlay made a fine stop from Sawyers before the experienced striker found the net in the last minute.

BEITH: Grindlay, R Docherty, Noble, Green, Sheridan, Wilson, McGlinchey, Frize, Collins, McPheron, Milliken. Subs: Reid, Haggarty, Bradley, MacDonald, Christie