ROB ROY boss Stewart Maxwell was delighted with his side’s “scintillating” 4-1 win over Cumbernauld United as they chalked up their first WOSFL victory of the season.

“We have been very unfortunate to lose our opening two league games in my opinion, so I always felt a display like today’s was coming and I’m just glad to get the monkey off our back against what is a very good Cumbernauld team,” Maxwell said.

“The vast majority of our re-built squad need time to integrate at this level and by no means are we the finished article. However the manner in which we worked the ball from middle to front today, particularly in the opening 45 minutes, was a joy to behold.

“Going in only 3-1 up at the half-way stage was an injustice because the game could easily have been out of sight but for a string of outstanding saves from the Cumbernauld goalkeeper, Darren Hill.”

A tentative start from both sides saw little in the way of goalmouth action but it was apparent from the opening exchanges that United’s central defensive pairing of Jack Breslin and Jordan Kennedy were struggling to cope with the aerial threat posed by Rabs striker Scott Gold.

Yet when the opening goal arrived in the seventh minute, it came from the front man’s younger sibling Ian after he latched on to a loose ball just outside the penalty area and scored with the game’s first shot on target and the aid of a deflection.

The early lead did not last long as United hit back after Rabs defender Danny O’Halloran slipped while making a tackle and was left grounded and helpless as Tom Neil skipped by him to rifle a well-struck 22-yard shot into the far corner of the net.

The game’s next goal in 19 minutes was a personal disaster for home team skipper Paddy McCabe as an attempted cross-field pass went straight to Rabs' Alex Cassells, whose threaded through-ball picked out Craig Truesdale’s clever run and he slotted home past the out-rushing Hill

Rob Roy’sadvantage was all too quickly stretched to 3-1 with United’s goalkeeper having to shoulder most of the blame as he stayed rooted to his line when an O’Halloran free-kick from almost halfway landed at the feet of Scott Gold, just four yards out, and he touched the ball home.

Cumbernauld heads were understandably down and a further bodyblow looked on the cards when full-back Lee Duncanson's handling of a cross from Rabs skipper Scott Walker resulted in referee Gary Handvidge awarding a spot-kick.

However, Hill atoned for his previous gaffe with a terrific reflex stop to deny Cassells and with confidence boosted the 38-year-old keeper went on to prevent certain goals by saving a point blank Gold header as well as net-bound shots from Cassells and Connor Bell.

It seems reasonable to assume United boss Kieran McAnespie did not spare his players a tongue-lashing during the interval break because it was a far from dispirited United that resumed and their improvement brough a couple of goalscoring chances for hit-man Scott Thomson. However, he was wasteful, most notably when put through on goal only to drag his shot wide of Rabs keeper Matty Kerr’s upright.

Maxwell’s response to his side falling off the pace was to turn to his substitutes' bench and his introduction of former St Rochs midfielder Anton McGuigan proved a telling change after he went clear down the left to send over a peach of a cross that Cassells buried with a downward header from six yards.

Cumbernauld’s hopes of a comeback were ended at that point even though they continued to stay on the offensive.

McAnespie said: “Bad mistakes cost us goals in the first half and we only started playing at 1-3 down so overall we can have no complaints and Rob Roy deserved it today.

“The big lad Gold was a handful and Maxi’s team certainly played to his strengths. However, too many of our guys are still adapting to the demands at this level of the game and don’t possess the necessary experience to handle him as we should have.

“Rolling up our sleeves and playing at a higher tempo saw us gain the initiative second half but it counted for nothing because of our failure to put the ball in the net during our spell on top.

“All told, this is a league where you need to be street-wise because only then will we be at our most effective.”

Elsewhere, Darvel’s 1-0 defeat at home to Kilwinning Rangers, with Jamie Whyte the scorer, allowed Clydebank to go top thanks to a brace from Nicky Little as they clinched a 2-1 comeback win over Bonnyton Thistle, who had led through Kyle Gilroy.

Troon overcame Rossvale 2-1 and Beith thumped Benburb 5-0 with Calum Watt, Odhran Markey, Paul Frize, Darren Jones and Kevin Watt on the mark, while Irvine Meadow were reduced to nine men but held on to a first-half Andy McLaughlin free-kick goal to beat Largs Thistle 1-0 .

Rutherglen Glencairn’s belated start to their WOSFL campaign did not go well at Blair Park after Hurlford United recovered from falling behind to a first-half Liam Gormley counter to seal a 2-1 victory with second-half strikes from Michael Wardrope and a Lewis Morrison penalty.

At Conference level, Bellshill Athletic enjoyed a 7-2 mauling of Ardeer Thistle, with Ciaran Lafferty scoring four.

Glasgow Perthshire ran out 6-0 winners at home to Newmains United thanks to doubles from Davie Kirkwood and two penalties from Connor Clarke along with scores from Ryan Gemmell and Craig Smith, while two from Donald Thomson and a Ian Last goal gave Glasgow University a 3-1 victory over St Rochs on an otherwise poor day for results for city clubs after Ashfield, Maryhill and Vale of Clyde also succumbed to defeats and St Anthonys could only eke out a 2-2 draw at home to East Kilbride Thistle.

A four-goal scoring burst from Josh Cooper helped Port Glasgow continue their winning ways in a 5-2 win over the Tin Pail and there was an eye-catching 3-0 victory for St Cadocs away to Gartcairn where veteran Joe Andrew was among the scorers.

WOSFL Premier Division: Troon 2 Rossvale 1, Benburb 0 Beith 5, Largs Thistle 0 Irvine Meadow 1, Cumbernauld Utd 1 Rob Roy 4, Darvel 0 Kilwinning Rangers 1, Bonnyton Thistle 1 Clydebank 2, Hurlford Utd 2 Rutherglen Glencairn 1.

WOSFL Conference League A: Maryhill 0 Annbank Utd 2, Bellshill Athletic 7 Ardeer Thistle 2, Muirkirk 2 Ashfield 1, Glasgow University 3 St Rochs 1, Kello Rovers 1 Renfrew 1, Craigmark 2 Maybole 2.

WOSFL Conference League B: Wishaw 0 Johnstone Burgh 2, Carluke Rovers 6 Vale of Leven 0, Greenock 4 Forth Wanderers 1, Gartcairn 0 St Cadocs 3, Irvine Vics 2 Lugar Boswell 1,Vale of Clyde 2 Port Glasgow 5.

WOSFL Conference League C: St Anthonys 2 East Kilbride Thistle 2, Glasgow Perthshire 6 Newmains Utd 0, Lanark Utd 0 Kilsyth Rangers 2.