AFTER a hectic first few weeks of league action, Saturday saw nine of Ayrshire’s sides take their first foray of the new campaign into knockout cup action as the South Challenge Cup got under way.

Auchinleck Talbot are the only Ayrshire side to have lifted the trophy in the past, and Tommy Sloan’s men made a successful start to their bid to repeat that 2022 triumph, with Kyle McAvoy’s first-half strike enough to see off the challenge of East Premier side Hutchison Vale at Beechwood Park and earn a second round trip to Bo’ness Athletic.

Troon also put East Premier opposition to the sword, with Jimmy Kirkwood’s men securing a second round tie at home to Dunbar United thanks to an impressive 4-0 win away to  Dundonald Bluebell; Callan Veitch and Dale Moore set the Seasiders on their way before Dale Fulton’s double rounded off a fine day’s work in Fife.

Arguably the most impressive Ayrshire result on Saturday, though, was the 5-2 win for First Division Kilbirnie Ladeside away to Luncarty, with Graham Boyd, Ryan Connelly (2), Scott Lewis and Sam McCloy all finding the net for Colin Spence’s men in Perthshire as the Blasties won through to face East Kilbride Thistle in round two.

Alessandro Savarese and Andrew Heaney each bagged a double as Irvine Vics put their winless league start aside to record a 5-0 win away to Pumpherston; Jamie McBrearty was also on target, scoring his first goal for the club, as Vics secured a second round tie away to St Cadoc’s.

Darvel also picked up their first win of the campaign, with their 4-1 victory away to Petershill enough to earn a home game against Whitletts in round two, while Hurlford will host Penicuik Athletic after Darren Henderson’s men won 2-1 away to Kilsyth Rangers, with all three goals at Duncansfield coming in the final five minutes.

 

 

Ardrossan Winton Rovers gave Lowland League Broxburn an almighty fright at Valefield Park, with Gavin Friels’ men taking last season’s East of Scotland League champions to extra time before Nick Locke’s header won a thrilling tie by a 4-3 margin for the West Lothian side.

Maybole also ran Lowland League opposition close, with Cammy Breadner’s second-half header enough to earn Caledonian Braves victory at Ladywell, but West Premier leaders Clydebank were too tough a nut for Ardeer Thistle to crack, Callum Graham scoring a hat-trick in the space of six first-half minutes to see Gordon Moffat’s men through.

With the rest of Ayrshire’s West of Scotland Football League clubs having been given a bye into the second round of the tournament, Saturday also saw plenty of league action across all the WoSFL’s divisions, with the biggest league crowd of the day in Ayrshire turning out at Bellsdale Park to watch champions Beith end Largs Thistle’s unbeaten start to the new campaign.

Carlo Monti scored both the goals for Chris Strain’s men, the first in the opening minute of the match and the second just before the hour mark, and though Lewis Davidson set up a grandstand finish with a fine 20-yard effort late on, Beith held on for a win that sees them climb to seventh.

 

 

Kilwinning Rangers let a 2-1 lead slip through their fingers in the final quarter at home to Cumbernauld United; Mark Lamont’s free kick in the second minute got Buffs off to the perfect start, with Adam Caldwell putting Kevin Kelly’s men in front at the break, but John Cunningham and Adam Watt pounced in the final 16 minutes to leave the home side empty-handed.

Irvine Meadow had keeper Jamie Barclay to thank after their 1-1 draw away to Ashfield; Lewis Neilson gave Medda the advantage on 42 minutes, only for the hosts to draw level through Nat Black before the break, with the former Cumnock stopper keeping out a penalty kick from the home side 15 minutes from time to ensure the points would be shared.

Dalry Thistle moved to within a point of the Third Division summit after a tremendously entertaining 5-3 win at home to Girvan, with Fraser Cowan netting two penalties for the hosts.

The Merksworth men are now one of three Ayrshire sides tied on 10 points, one behind leaders Thorn Athletic; Lugar Boswell Thistle could have gone clear at the top if they’d beaten Glasgow University, but the Jaggy Bunnets missed their chance after slipping to a 4-1 defeat.

And Kello Rovers’ promising start to life in the Fourth Division continued, with Mark Armour’s double earning the Nithside Park men a 2-0 win at home to Campbeltown Pupils.