Beith’s players may have felt they were entitled to a few hearty backslaps after Saturday’s 4-2 victory over Petershill saw the Ayrshiremen bring the curtain down on their pre-season preparations with a 100% winning record  from five warm-up games.

Impressive stats, however a harsh post-match critique dished out by gaffer Bryan Young once again underlined how high he has set the bar in terms of the playing standards he expects (and demands) from his Bellsdale charges.

Asked to sum up his feelings on the performance, Youngy insisted: “I’m a bit deflated if truth be told and that’s probably the most disappointed I’ve felt after any of the games we’ve played up to now.

“Petershill could and should have scored several more goals and I have to take full responsibility for the positional changes and tweaking of our formation that left us far more open then we should be.

“Nevertheless, we brought a lot of problems on ourselves with needlessly giving away possession and not tracking runners which is simply not good enough at this level and we have to learn from these mistakes…and quickly with league games starting next week."

The former midfield playmaker added: “That said it’s a victory, and though  a messy one, the boys have seen it through and there are numerous positives to be taken from our performance not least of all the displays of Larry McMahon at the heart of our defence and Del Hepburn in midfield .

“Yet another pleasing aspect is the depth shown by our squad in overcoming a few late-in-the-day call offs so I’ve no doubts we will be so much better once everyone is fully fit and available for selection.”

The visiting Peasy started on top, with busy midfielder Ronan Sweeney at the heart of their early attacking ventures and he created a clear cut opening for team mate Roddy Patterson that was foiled by a blocking save from Beith goalkeeper Dale Burgess prior to the home team forging ahead in 25 minutes against the run of play after Jay Shields played a lovely weighted pass into the path of teenage winger prospect Josh Fowler and he buried a low shot under the advancing Scot Law for 1-0 .

Chances came and went at either end but there was to be no further scoring before the interval however what few visiting supporters were in attendance did not have many second half minutes to wait for the Springburn outfit to get back on level terms.

A 47th minute corner kick saw left back Jordan Scott, who had previously given an indication of his aerial prowess, rise highest in a crowded penalty box to power a header beyond Burgess from around eight yards out.

This even-steven scenario did not last long, all of three minutes to be precise, before a dazzling run forward by Beith full back Jordan Duffy led to a sclaffed clearance breaking for former Clydebank and Pollok ace Hepburn, fully 25 yards out, and his well-struck shot was a certain score from the minute  it left his foot.

Parity between the teams arrived again just short of the hour mark when Peasy midfielder Steven Docherty atoned for missing a point blank scoring chance by regaining possession in an ensuing penalty box scramble to tuck  home a low shot and make the scoreline read 2-2.

Petershill substitute Kieron Campbell then contrived to pass up a glorious scoring opportunity when left with only Burgess to beat and he was left ruing that miss when Beith bench replacement Callum Watt showed him how it should be done when his head flick from a Jordan Hood cross dropped over Scott and into the net .

The visitors threw caution to the winds in search of a third equaliser and were cruelly exposed and left outnumbered by a swift Beith breakaway that resulted in  a near-certain 86th minute goal being denied by deliberate handball and bringing a penalty kick award,  duly tucked away by veteran front man Kenny McLean to seal a 4-2 triumph.

The sounding of the final whistle was followed by obligatory handshakes before Peasy boss Martin Lauchlan was pinned down for his thoughts.

“Thought we played with great energy and were excellent from start to finish so I couldn’t be more delighted", he lauded.

“Small margins so often dictate how things  pan out and today we have lost out because of a failure to take our chances in front of goal so to lose 4-2 is probably not a true reflection of the game.

“To come here and play in that manner is so encouraging and more so when you think we were late into our pre-season which has  been severely disrupted by matters outwith our control and has left us behind the cue ball in terms of preparation .

“The best of this Petershill team will not be seen for maybe another three weeks so judge us then.”

Matters were nowhere near as friendly through in the Garngad where the meeting of St Rochs and Kilbirnie Ladeside had to abandoned at half time and Police Scotland called to attend after fighting broke out between supporters.

WoSFL beaks will almost certainly order an investigation into the James McGory Stadium rammy which could lead to censures and good behaviour bonds being imposed on both clubs.

Elsewhere, Kyle Lochhead and Jamie McKenna netted as Ardrossan Winton Rovers beat Ashfield 2-0 , Vale of Clyde lost 4-1 away to Cumbernauld United  but there was better luck on their travels for Drumchapel United as Martin Grehan’s brace of goals helped in chalking up an emphatic 3-0 defeat of Irvine Vics.

Clydebank had Nikky Little and Ciaran Mulcahy scores to thank for a 2-0 success over Dalbeattie Star, Scott Adam, Lawrie McMaster and Trialist were on target as Largs Thistle ran out 3-0 winners over Bonnyton Thistle while Auchinleck Talbot had a handful of marksmen, Jack McDowall, Kier Samson,

Bryan Boylan , Willie Lyle (pen) and Kieran Healy in a 5-2 trumping of Penicuik Athletic.

RESULTS: Auchinleck Talbot 5 Penicuik Athletic 2, St Rochs 1 Kilbirnie Ladeside 0 (match abandoned ), Cumnock 2 Gretna 2008 1, Blantyre Vics 2 Neilston 1, Bo’ness Utd 2 Rutherglen Glencairn 0, Girvan 2 Creetown 1, Cumbernauld Colts 3 St Cadocs 1, Luncarty 3 Kilsyth Rangers 1, Largs Thistle 3 Bonnyton Thistle 0, Muirkirk 5 St Peters 1, Wishaw 0 Whitletts Vics 4, Maybole 2  Hurlford Utd 5, Forth Wanderers 0 Lanark Utd 1, Gartcairn 0 Rossvale 3,Irvine Meadow 2 Kilwinning Rangers 4,  Clydebank 2 Dalbeattie Star 0, Renfrew 0 Troon 0, Johnstone Burgh 4 Kello Rovers 0,Irvine Vics 0 Drumchapel Utd 3, Cumbernauld Utd 4 Vale of Clyde 1Vale of Leven 1 Rob Roy 0, Beith 4 Petershill 2,Glenafton 9 Glenafton AFC 0, Ardrossan Winton Rovers 2 Ashfield 0.