A much changed Yoker Athletic side suffered a disappointing defeat away to Glasgow Perthshire on Saturday.

Craig Winslow, Mark Maxwell, Michael Bailey and Jamie Gallagher all made their first competitive starts of the season while John Harvey, Shaun Kelly and Gary Arbuckle were among seven players not available for selection for player-boss Steven Reilly.

With some playing position the Whe-Ho found themselves more than a little disjointed in the opening exchanges and Shire’s Ross Cameron took advantage of being afforded far too much space in midfield before finishing well from 25 yards to open the scoring after 12 minutes.

The Whe-Ho failed to take this as a warning and were thankful for Winslow denying both JP Craig and Davie Kirkwood as the home side looked to extend their lead. Darren Jones then had the ball in the net for Yoker but his effort was ruled out as he was needlessly in an offside position from Davie Crerand’s ball across goal. Gallagher then went close for the Whe-Ho when he skipped past two home defenders but his shot went narrowly side as half-time approached.

The visitors were much more assured after the break with Maxwell and Bissland dominating the midfield area and it seemed only a matter of time before the equaliser arrived, it did so just after hour mark when Crerand nodded home from a Maxwell set-piece delivery.

Maxwell, Crerand and Gallagher all went close before Jones blew an excellent chance to put the Whe-Ho in front. Yoker were now the only team who looked like winning the game as the second period progressed but an inability to turn their possession into chances and failing to take what chances they did make would see them punished in the last minute.

After a quickly taken Yoker free-kick was intercepted, Shire striker Peter May was the only outfield player in the Yoker half as the ball came forward yet the match official bizarrely allowed play to continue which resulted in May poking the ball past Winslow to give the home side the win.

The Sectional League Cup has been a useful exercise for a Yoker side going through a transitional period but the real action starts this Saturday and they’ll be looking to get off to a good start this Saturday when Kilwinning Rangers visit Holm Park in the first league fixture of the season. Kick-Off at Holm Park is 2pm.

YOKER ATHLETIC 5 ASHFIELD 1 YOKER Athletic enjoyed a comfortable victory over Ashfield last Wednesday night at Holm Park.

Richard Henry made his first competitive start of the season while Darren Jones partnered David Crerand in the Whe Ho attack.

The home side enjoyed most of the early possession, with the front pair of Crerand and Jones both spurning good early chances.

At the other end, Liam Campbell was sharp off his line to deny McBride for the visitors. The opening goal came after 20 minutes, John Harvey and Greig Maitland linked up on the left before the latter squared the ball inside for trialist Alan Muir who rifled home from 22 yards.

Moments later Jones should have doubled the lead but managed to miss from close range after superb wing play by Maitland. Skipper Gary Bissland was then denied from a rebound. Another Muir strike from distance was spilled by the visiting keeper.

Jones did eventually make it 2-0 when he blocked a clearance from Ashfield keeper McGovern and tapped into the empty net. Crerand then shot high over the bar from close range and it was beginning to feel like missed chances could come back to haunt the Whe Ho.

Ten minutes after the restart, Bissland’s header from a Maitland corner made it 3-0. Mark Maxwell replaced the impressive Muir in midfield whilst player-boss Steven Reilly made way for Richie Chang which meant a reshuffling of the pack.

This seemed to interrupt the flow of the home side and they lost some of their attacking threat for a spell before Shaun Kelly added a fourth with a well taken goal with 22 minutes remaining.

The visitors then got a goal back when Gavin Goodall finished well leaving Campbell with no chance, but the home side will ask questions about the space allowed to him.

Greig Maitland added a fifth late on to round off the win for the Whe-Ho.