YOKER ATHLETIC bowed out on goal difference in the Sectional League Cup after passing up several good chances in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Maryhill at Holm Park.

Whe-Ho gaffer Steven Reilly handed a full debut to centre half Kerr Allan while Jamie Carson and Gary Arbuckle made their first competitive starts of the season.

Reilly was without 10 players for the final match of the group.

Arbuckle looked liveliest early on with his movement giving Andy Banks and Eddie Walton in the visiting defence a torrid time, but the striker’s two early efforts were comfortable enough for former Whe-Ho keeper Gareth Watson between the sticks.

Striker Ryan Hynes then pulled a shot wide when it looked like he should really have squared for the ball for Carson.

Liam Campbell in the home goal was a virtual spectator in the game with the Hill’s only real venture forward culminating in Kieran Furay’s offside effort.

Watson made a fine stop from Hynes just before the interval to keep the game goalless despite Yoker’s vast domination.

Yoker continued to press forward after the break and Richard Henry smashed the ball off the crossbar from close range before Arbuckle had another effort stopped by Watson.

Mark Maxwell replaced the more defensively-minded Andy Campbell in midfield after 65 minutes as the home side continued to seek a breakthrough.

It was from a Maxwell corner that skipper Gary Bissland rose highest to head at goal only to see his header blocked on the line by the hand of Hill winger Jamie Docherty, who was dismissed by the referee for the infringement.

Hynes stepped up to send Watson the wrong way and break the deadlock.

Hynes, Maxwell and Arbuckle all passed up further good chances as the game drew to a close, with the latter striking the post before Hynes was harshly adjudged to have been offside with the rebound.

The missed chances proved costly for the Whe-Ho as they went out of the section to Holm Park tenants Clydebank by two goals.

But they will take plenty positives having gone undefeated and integrated several new players to the group before the real action begins this Saturday when Irvine Vics visit for the first league match of the season. Kick-off at Holm Park is 2pm.

YOKER ATHLETIC: Campbell, Bailey, McGillion, Allan, Ross, Campbell (Maxwell), Carson (Hadden), Henry, Arbuckle, Hynes, Bissland.

Primext Ltd Man of the Match: James Ross