Arthurlie turned in a performance unrecognisable to the one seven days earlier to defeat Kirkintilloch Rob Roy.

Following the cup defeat to Bellshill Athletic, manager Stevie Kerrigan demanded a response – and certainly got one as the Barrhead side saw off the league high flyers at Dunterlie Park.

Early on there were claims for a goal when Ryan McGregor’s header was cleared off the line.

Chris Mackie had another cleared off the line soon after and with Ian Nimmo pulling the strings in the middle of the park, Arthurlie were dominant. The only real surprise was that it took them 14 minutes to go ahead.

Craig Palmer sent over a great inswinging corner that saw Gavin Rushford rise highest and bullet a header home from the penalty spot, giving visiting keeper Jordan Brown no chance.

Six minutes later Arthurlie were handed a golden opportunity to double their advantage. Mackie raced inside the Rob Roy area and tried to go around the keeper but was hauled down by Brown, giving referee Craig Naper no option but to point to the spot and send off the Rabs’ number one.

Jon Murdoch came on between the sticks for the visitors and immediately touched Gary Carroll’s penalty onto the post and clear.

Seven minutes into the second half a ball in from the left saw David Barr adjudged to have climbed on Mackie and referee Napier once again pointed to the spot.

Mackie took this one and hit a high effort that went in off the underside of the bar to double the home side’s lead.

Many expected Arthurlie to kick on but there was a sting in the tail two minutes later as the visitors got a goal back.

A ball in from Paul Finnegan on the right was met by Reece Pearson and although falling backwards, the midfielder still fired home to reduce the deficit. Arthurlie went further ahead though after another great delivery from Palmer.

Rushford again got his head to the ball for his second and Arthurlie’s third goal of the game.

Scott Gair was given his marching orders at the other end when conceding a penalty but the Rob Roy effort from the spot came back off the bar.

In the dying minutes Barr was sent packing for hauling down McGregor as tempers started to get frayed. No more scoring took place and in a game of three penalties and three red cards, the most important three were the league points Arthurlie secured at the final whistle.

The Barrhead News man of the match was Nimmo.

Arthurlie: White, McGlinchey, Palmer, Rushford, Gair, Nimmo, McTernan, Devlin, Mackie, McGregor, Carroll. Subs: Blakey, Tart, Young, Convery, Nugent.