REGROUPING in the wake of a heavy defeat is one of the hardest things in football.

So it would be understandable if Troon’s players have much to ponder about as they turn their attention to the ETHX Energy Scottish Junior Cup head-to-head against Bo’ness United.

The somewhat comprehensive manner of their 4-1 dismantling by Rob Roy on Saturday cannot fail to cast a shadow over preparations for their third-round clash with the East Region big guns even though experienced midfielder Colin Spence insists the time for “licking wounds” is already over.

Spenny, winner of five Scottish medals during an illustrious ten-year playing stint with Auchinleck Talbot, reckons the Seagulls have some way to go if he’s to add yet another gong to his collection but remains optimistic it could still happen next May.

He said: “Yes, we didn’t get the right result on the day, but should we really down in the dumps and feeling sorry for ourselves when right up until the closing 15 minutes we had matched up with Rob Roy and the game was looking like it could go either way.

“They are a more than decent team containing several top Juniors, most notably Willie Sawyers, Paul Finnigan and the lad Chris Duff on the wing, who has the makings of a real talent.

"Yet for long spells we never looked like coming off second best and that has to be a major positive.

“But at the risk of sounding like a broken record, yet again individual errors have cost us dearly and that’s what we as players have to sort if Troon are to continue heading in the right direction.

“Everything about our set up here is professionally geared and losing as we did must have been particularly sore on our management team of Gordon Burns and Neil Duffy.

"So we owe them a big performance against Bo’ness to make amends.

“You can bet their team boss Allan McGonigal will have sent someone to check us out against Rob Roy.

"But everyone in our dressing room knows we can be a lot better than Saturday's showing and we cannot wait for the chance to prove it.”

Word on the team front reckons Troon will be considerably boosted by the return of inspirational skipper and defensive cornerstone Dean Keenan who missed their New Coin Holdings Cup reverse because of work commitments.

And there also remains a 50/50 chance of veteran full-back Neil McGowan being passed fit.

The Portland Park showdown is just one of seven ETHX Energy third-round contests taking place across the Land O’Burns and hopes remain high of a healthy contingent of Ayrshire survivors securing places in the Fourth Round draw.

It’s difficult not to envisage much improved Kilbirnie Ladeside, despite the absence of injured stopper Michael O’ Byrne, getting the better of Dundee Violet at the Valefield.

And you can be guaranteed that free-scoring Whitletts Vics strikers Tony Balfour and Michael O’Connor are likely to prove a thorn in the flesh of visitors Dalkeith Thistle.

Cumnock supporters can be excused for sweating over the fitness of combative centre-backs Paul Murphy and James Lundie ahead of facing strong going Dundonald Bluebell at the Nock’s temporary Rosebank Park home.

However, an arguably tougher prospect awaits Kilwinning Rangers in hosting the visit of Sauchie Juniors while Beith will need Kenny McLean and Andy Reid to be at their striking best to come good away to a confident Girvan side - 7-1 Second Round winners over Cambuslang Rangers – seeking to rack up an eighth victory on the spin when taking on their Super Premier Division opponents.

And no doubt pleased to have a break from going after league points are top flight bottom markers Irvine Meadow whose manager Stevie Rankin is swithering over whether to grant a debut to Stirling Albion loan signing David Sinclair, formerly of Livingston and Ayr United against Blackburn United at Meadow Park.