TEAM boss George Grierson has hailed his Muirkirk proteges for pulling of what he terms as the “biggest upset “of the ETHX Energy Scottish Junior Cup third round…even though the lowly Ayrshire outfit never actually secured a place in the last 32.

The feats of Troon bundling out Bo’ness United, Kilwinning Rangers giving Sauchie the heave-ho and Petershill’s elimination of Musselburgh Athletic were all arguably put in the shade by a Kirk side eking out a 0-0 draw away to East Super League outfit and three times former Holy Grail winners Tayport.

“I’m proud as punch yet at the same time feeling more than a trifle disappointed that we never managed to win the tie,” admitted Grierson last night after preparing his playing charges for this coming Saturday’s played-to-a- finish replay joust against the Taysiders at Burnside Park.

“On another day we could easily have bagged a couple of goals as Graham Condon has struck the underside of the crossbar and two other efforts have been cleared off the goal-line.

“In saying that, our goalkeeper George Scott has produced a couple of fantastic stops so maybe I should feel content in the knowledge this young team of ours - everyone with the exception of Gary Russell is a teenager - have more than matched up with a team of Tayport’s standing and great cup tradition.

“We’ll need more of the same energy and battling qualities at our place … much more really … because the surprise element is now gone and you can bet Tayport will be affording us the utmost respect on the back of our first game showing.”

Muirkirk currently sit fifth bottom of the Ayrshire District League pile with two wins from seven games, however there are signs of real progress being made under Grierson and backroom team lieutenants Kevin Deeney and Russell.

The former Darvel and Kilwinning Rangers gaffer said: “Taking charge of a team that won only one game in the whole of last season got us thinking we had to start from scratch and completely rebuild.

“But not having the finances to compete on the transfer market forced us into rearing our own players and the upshot is we now have a squad comprising mainly of guys with a decent grounding from having played at pro-youth level.

“Admittedly, they are still adapting to the Juniors but valuable lessons are being learned and the very fact we are in with a shout of turning over Tayport speaks volumes.”

Yet another Ayrshire club hosting replay opponents on Saturday are Beith who will be looking to account for Girvan at the second time of asking while heading further afield are Kilbirnie Ladeside after failing to make home advantage tell in playing out a 0-0 Valefield stalemate with Dundee Violet.

Neilston and Wishaw are through East to face Arniston Rangers and Armadale Thistle respectively while St Roch's face a testing contest up in Fife against a Kennoway Star Hearts side who were leading 1-0 nearing the final whistle at the James McGrory Stadium on Saturday until Candy Rock substitute Jordan Logan came off the bench to snatch a last gasp equaliser.

Team boss Andy Cameron said: “Kennoway are a very good side and could have put the result out of sight in the opening 25 minutes.

“But their failings in front of goal along with a huge improvement from our players made it a different game from that point on and we enjoyed the better of things second half so overall a draw was probably a fair result for both teams on the day.

“That’s us now without a victory in the four games played since our Scottish Cup second-round defeat of Ellon United and we must get out of this mini-slump and back to playing at our best to stand any chance of going through to the next round.”

St Roch’s dreams of cup glory are not helped by a hat-trick of injury blows which sees Kenny Jarvis (ankle ligaments) Robert McGuire (dislocated shoulder) and Keiron Martin (damaged ribs) rated non-starters for the replay encounter.

Cameron added: “Keiron was in our starting line-up but injured himself during Saturday’s warm up and has an outside chance of being passed fit but the other guys are facing lengthy spells on the sidelines.

“Thankfully we have Martin Shields, John Connor and Dominic Febers on the way back from injury and they will come into contention for jerseys if they come through this week’s training sessions with no ill effects.”

SATURDAY'S FIXTURES

(Kick-Offs 1.45pm)

ETHX Energy Scottish Junior Cup Third Round: Coupar Angus v Hermes, Blairgowrie v Darvel, Stonehaven v St Anthony's, Hill O’Beath v Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Scone Thistle v Saltcoats Vics, Kinoull v Auchinleck Talbot, Lochee Utd v Penicuik Athletic, Carnoustie Panmure v Livingston Utd. Third Round Replays: Muirkirk v Tayport, Rosyth Juniors v Glenrothes, Dundee Violet v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Arniston Rangers v Neilston, Beith v Girvan, Kennoway Star Hearts v St Roch's, Armadale Thistle v Wishaw.

McBookie.com Super Premier Division: Pollok v Shettleston, Arthurlie v Irvine Meadow, Rob Roy v Petershill, Hurlford Utd v Troon.

McBookie.com Super First Division: Greenock v Bellshill Athletic, Rutherglen Glencairn v Clydebank, Kilsyth Rangers v Largs Thistle, Yoker Athletic v Maybole, Blantyre Vics v Cumbernauld Utd, Cumnock v Shotts Bon Accord.

McBookie.com Central First Division: Lesmahagow v Vale of Clyde, Maryhill v Johnstone Burgh, Rossvale v Dunipace, Larkhall Thistle v Thorniewood Utd.

McBookie.com Central Second Division: Gartcairn v Vale of Leven, Ashfield v Lanark Utd, East Kilbride Thistle v Benburb, Port Glasgow v Newmains Utd, Cambuslang Rangers v Royal Albert, Forth v Glasgow Perthshire.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League: Dalry Thistle v Lugar Boswell, Whitletts Vics v Irvine Vics, Annbank Utd v Ardeer Thistle, Kello Rovers v Craigmark.