Arthurlie’s recent poor run of form continued at the weekend as they crashed out of the Scottish Junior Cup after a disappointing 5-1 loss at home to Beith.
On the back of a shock defeat to Craigmark Burntonians and a draw against Petershill, Lie welcomed the Premiership side to Dunterlie on Saturday with boss Duncan Sinclair hoping the cup would provide welcome respite.
However, the Cabes came flying out of the blocks with Lie keeper Craig Gordon having to be alert to keep it level in the opening minutes.
The Ayrshire side didn’t have to wait long for their opener, edging ahead just 10 minutes in thanks to Sean McIlroy.
READ MORE: Duncan Sinclair blasts ref as nine-man Arthurlie fall to Craigmark loss
Arthurlie had Gordon to thank for keeping it at just the one as the visitors continued to pile forward, but the keeper’s resolve wilted 25 minutes when James Wilson doubled the lead.
Beith’s dominance continued in the second period as Paul Frize added a third to all but secure safe passage into the third round.
Tam McGaughey managed to pull one back for Lie with 25 minutes remaining but it was little more than a consolation for the home support with Ross McKenzie immediately restoring Beith’s three-goal lead.
It was one way traffic as Gordon tried to keep it at four but the Premiership outfit grabbed a fifth in the final minutes to round it off.
Lie boss Sinclair was gracious in defeat while insisting his side failed to turn up.
He said: “To be fair to Beith, they came out and were all over us from start to finish. They just didn’t let us get it down and play our game.
“We trained well all week and were raring to go after a poor couple of weeks but we just gifted them three or four needless goals which you can’t be doing against the top sides in the junior game.
“The best way to sum that match up is the team who wanted it most won it. Regardless of them playing well, the most disappointing aspect has to be that we just didn’t turn up on the day - something that can be said for our last few matches.”
Currently sitting seventh in the West Championship table having played two games less than the majority of those above them, Sinclair is adamant that his side’s ambition must still be to secure Premiership football next season.
And while he recognises improvements must be made over the course of the campaign, he admitted Saturday’s heavy loss was a reality check.
READ MORE: Lie boss laments dropped points as Peasy take share of the spoils
He added: “The result itself and the performance over the 90 minutes was very much an eye opener. It shows everyone at the club how much we need to improve if we want to move up to the next level.
“I said to the boys before the match that this is the level we all really want to be operating at next season.
“We want to be in the top league and mixing it with the best teams in the country, but we just couldn’t find a worthy performance to match that ambition unfortunately.”
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