THOSE supporters heading out today to take in the array of Kilmarnock Pie West of Scotland League Cup games dominating the fixture card couldn’t be more wrong in thinking the competition is yet another re-designation of the former West of Scotland Cup.

That particular piece of once coveted silverware,last held aloft by a Johnny Millar steered Beith following the Ayrshire outfit’s pre-Covid penalty kick shoot-out victory over Rob Roy,  appears to have pretty much passed into footballing folklore as “the second biggest cup prize in the Juniors”.

Certainly in these parts, it was only transcended by the Scottish Junior Cup whose own importance has become more than a tad diluted in recent times, yet though hopes are harboured of a Holy Grail resurrection somewhere in the grand scheme of things, the same cannot be said about prospects of the “West” ever being played for again, not when Beith club officials were reputedly informed the 87 year old trophy was “theirs for keeps” after that 2019 Final success.

Into the void created has come Ayrshire based sponsors Brownings the Bakers whose marketing people have tagged the name of their most famous product onto the new competition though terracing diehards everywhere are not thought likely to be ever heard talking of Cup ties as their steak and gravy in the same way as league games are oft spoken about in bread and butter terms?

However what is undeniable is the very death or glory nature of Cup football (no second chances) making for a hyper-real experience where upsets habitually occur and seasons can be kept alive by stirring cup exploits on top of the opportunity being laid bare for bolstering both club and player reputations by virtue of going deep into a competition’s latter stages.

The format for the Kilmarnock Pie West of Scotland League Cup  undoubtedly allows for all these circumstances and its first round today  abounds with contests where so-called Davids and Goliaths are to be found taking to the same stage.

Bellsdale Park where Beith await the visit of Wishaw could easily have been regarded as one of those  potential banana skins  were it not for the determination  shown by Mighty gaffer Bryan Young in looking forward to the clash.

“Anyone thinking I might use this game for a bit of squad rotation is in for a rude awakening “insisted Butch .

“Thoughts of giving a run out to fringe players will simply not be entertained, firstly out of respect to Wishaw but also because we as a club have our sights set on doing well in the Cup competitions.

“And  proof if ever it was needed of what can happen if attitudes are not right on the day then  our 6-0 Scottish Cup embarrassment against Gartcairn, on the last occasion we faced Conference League opposition , should act as a vivid and   painful reminder to everyone. “

Certain to get the nod to pull on starting jerseys are Beith striking duo Kenny McLean and Josh Fowler,  scorers of three goals apiece  in last Saturday’s 7-2 rout of Premier Division rivals Rossvale.

Butch revealed: “Kenny and Josh delivered everything I have been crying out for as a manager in terms of being more clinical and taking our chances however they would be first to admit a huge debt of gratitude is owed to Connor McGlinchey for their hat tricks.

“He was the other marksman against Rossvale and is our nominated penalty kick taker but he unselfishly stepped aside to allow Kenny to notch his  treble strike and then threw the ball to Josh when another award was given in our favour.

“It’s pleasing to see this camaraderie in the camp but you can take it as read that I‘d have felt decidedly different had either of them missed from the spot.”

Meanwhile, the prevalence for a shock upset is arguably greater some 12 miles or so from the Ayrshire village at Brig O’Lea which hosts a  head to head between high flying Conference Division C side Neilston and Cumbernauld United.

The Farmers Boys having  lost out in the South Challenge Cup by the odd goal in three against  Beith and recently tumbling  out of the Strathclyde Demolition Cup on penalty kicks to Rutherglen Glencairn, will be hopeful of chalking up a third time lucky victory over top flight opponents.

Further inland , Benburb are strongly fancied to get the better of Kilsyth Athletic while arguably  the biggest mismatch of the Kilmarnock Pie Cup is promised by the Newlandsfield meeting of Premier Division title challengers Pollok and  minnows Campbelltown Pupils .

The visitors currently occupy rank bottom place  in the Fourth Division and therefore hold the unwanted tag as the worst team in the WOSFL so a potential goals feast is on the cards even though team boss Murdie McKinnon is thought likely  to ring the changes.

Adam Forde, Josh Weir  and Callum Graham , all made a significant  impact coming off the bench in last weekend’s 4-0 defeat of Cumnock and are in line for attacking jerseys along with Tommy Coyne while a replacement for the injured Mark Sideserf, could be found among the trio of Grant Evans, Ryan McGregor and Kyle Bradley.

Ashfield will hope to prevail in their all-city showdown against Glasgow University while Petershill’s hopes of clinching a place in the second round at the expense of Kello Rovers has been boosted by the Ayrshiremen agreeing to switch the tie to Springburn amid concerns over Nithsdale Park being declared unplayable .

Catching the eye are a couple of all-Premier Division encounters, namely Hurlford United ,with striker Lewis Morrison is in red-hot scoring form , taking on  much improved  Kilbirnie Ladeside while an intriguing Guys Meadow encounter, which  kicks off at the earlier time of 1PM,  is on the cards between Rob Roy and Auchinleck Talbot.

The Rabs are definitely minus Connor Bell and goalkeeper Reece Murdoch while striker Roddy Patterson is considered 50/50 at best  for facing opponents , deemed to be in “scintlllating form” by gaffer Stewart Maxwell.

He admitted: “It’s the toughest possible tie we could have received but the very same was said when we came up against them in the semi-finals of the previous West of Scotland Cup and won 4-3 down at Beechwood prior to losing out to Beith in the Final.

“No doubts Talbot will again be expected to win however I have every faith in my players rising to the challenge and giving them a game of it.

Maxi added, “Last week’s 3-0 defeat down at Hurlford gives the impression that we were turned over big style but truth is we matched up favourably with a very good side and were only undone by the combination of a wicked deflection for their  first goal followed by a quite unbelievable worldly strike by the boy Morrison.”

Still sidelined for the visiting Talbot is ex-Morton defender Chris Stafford who has been his own worst enemy in looking to attempt an earlier than necessary recovery from a knee injury .

Bot boss Tommy Sloan is nevertheless planning to make personnel changes to his line-up and said: “It’s only natural for players to be a bit flat coming from a big Scottish Cup game against Hamilton Accies to the more mundane fare of WOSFL matches and we touched upon that very subject prior to running out against Benburb last weekend.

“But our precautionary words didn’t do the trick early on because the guys didn’t look up for it during a first 20 minutes totally dominated by the Bens however scoring the opening goal changed the whole complexion of the game.

“The renewed confidence running through the team led to us winning  5-0 and we now have to consider whether an injection of fresh blood could help overcome Rob Roy “

PLAYING TODAY: (Kick Offs 1.30PM unless stated): KILMARNOCK PIE WoSFL CUP. First Round. Petershill v Kello Rovers, Hurlford Utd v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Rob Roy v Auchinleck Talbot (1PM), Ashfield  v Glasgow University, Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Arthurlie, Beith v Wishaw, Dalry Thistle v St Rochs, Renfrew v Lanark Utd, Darvel v Muirkirk, Yoker Athletic v Largs Thistle, Harmony Row v Girvan(Friday 8PM), Royal Albert v Kilwinning Rangers, Shotts Bon Accord v Port Glasgow, Carluke Rovers v Clydebank, Glenafton v BSC Glasgow, Bellshill Athletic v Irvine Vics, Whitletts Vics v Vale of Clyde, Pollok v Campbeltown Pupils, St Anthonys v East Kilbride Thistle, Rutherglen Glencairn v Finnart(Friday 7.30PM), Harthill Royal v Greenock, Benburb v Kilsyth Athletic, Lugar Boswell v Ardeer Thistle, Craigmark v St Peters, Larkhall Thistle v Cambuslang Rangers,Thorniewood Utd v Blantyre Vics, Forth Wanderers v Glasgow Perthshire, Maryhill v Cumnock, Neilston v Cumbernauld Utd, Glenvale v Kilsyth Rangers, Bonnyton Thistle v Newmains Utd, Saltcoats Vics v Irvine Meadow.

PDM Buildbase Premier League. Troon v  Rossvale.

PDM Buildbase Conference League A. Maybole v Johnstone Burgh.

PDM Buildbase Conference League B. Gartcairn v St Cadocs.

PDM Buildbase Conference League C. Vale of Leven v  Drumchapel Utd.