KILWINNING Rangers co-boss Chris Strain reckons his side are back on track for a promotion challenge after emerging from an early season dip.

A horrific start to their Super First Division campaign saw the Buffs suffer losses in their opening four matches.

But they have recovered on the back of a 10-game unbeaten run in all competitions which has the Abbey Park men sitting third top of the standings ahead of next week’s ETHXenergy Scottish Junior Cup fourth-round clash at home to East Region cracks Arniston Rangers.

Yet another Rangers - of the Kilsyth origin - are next up opponents today and Strain does not have to search for reasons to be urging his playing charges to continue their winning ways.

He said: “Kilsyth were coincidentally the last team to give us a beating so we owe them one over and above our looking for a massive confidence boost going into next week’s cup tie.

“And spiking their guns may prove pivotal as the promotion push wears on because I believe Keith Hogg’s men will be there or thereabouts in the reckoning and I want the guys to make the most of having a bit of momentum behind us with a win on Saturday.

“They deservedly beat us 3-2 at their place and had top notch players in the winger Nicky Prentice and the lad Ross Hepburn anchoring their midfield, so it can only help us that Hepburn has since been transferred back to Rossvale.

“That said, Hoggy has brought back his former winger Phil Dolan who can be a match-winner on his day, so chances are we will need to bring our best form to the table if we want to open up what could be a crucial a four points lead later in the season.”

Strain’s pride in the stats showing the two-time Junior Cup winners are just two games short of going through the past four calendar months unbeaten is tempered by him recalling early season events,

He added: "I'm loathe to say we were not fully prepared, but what’s undoubtedly true is we took time to adjust to the sheer physicality of this league.

“It didn’t help that we were playing two games per week because our squad could not cope with the mix of injuries, holidays and work commitments to the extent that we were forced to field a patched up line-up more often than not.

“The difference since getting everyone back has been astonishing and a lot of the younger guys have stepped up to the plate with their performances.

"However, a special mention must go to our old-stager Ian Cashmore who I brought here thinking his experience would rub off on others around him.

“I saw him as no more than a bit-part player, but truth is Cashy has been a revelation since working his socks off to lose two stones in weight and he’s now banging in the goals and looking as sharp as he ever did in his prime.”

The experience gap also has former Irvine Meadow midfielder Strain and co-manager Colin Stewart believing recently-released Ayr United stopper Martyn Campbell could be the missing defensive link that have desperately been looking for.

He added: "Joe Coleman, Isaac Kerr and Robert Boyd deserve great credit for helping turn our season around and we think it’s our turn to help their development by bringing an experienced head into their midst.

“Martyn undoubtedly fills the bill however he’s someone in demand with Auchinleck Talbot keen to get him on board as a replacement for his injured brother Mark so it may take a lot of persuasion to tie him up.”

Strain is not alone in considering the option of team strengthening moves as one hears another Ayrshire outfit, Kilbirnie Ladeside, are close to completing a deal to sign speedy winger Caolan McAleer from Airdrie.

Junior followers may recall the Northern Ireland born frontman from an impressive 2012 playing stint with Arthurlie whom he had joined on loan from Partick Thistle.

The Barrhead club are making transfer news of their own after releasing full-back Craig Palmer and taking striker Gary Smith off their open to transfer list while at the same time being linked with an approach to land experienced central defender Gary Wild following this week’s surprise announcement that the 28-year-old had bought out his own transfer from Pollok.

Yet another ex-Lok defender making waves is Jamie Darroch, whose close-season move to Irvine Meadow has been blighted by work commitments that have now culminated in a parting of the ways from the Ayrshire big guns in order to join Central Second Division title challengers Port Glasgow.

And deemed surplus to requirements and put up for sale at Petershill is ex-Clydebank striker Scott Davidson.