Kilbirnie Ladeside boss Stevie Swift insists his side’s exit from the ETHXenergy Scottish Junior Cup doesn’t mean their season is over.

The Ayrshremen are still licking their wounds after succumbing to a last-minute Davie Winters' penalty that saw Pollok go through to the last four.

Swifty admitted the result was “arguably the lowest point of my football career”.

But he is vowing his Blasties players can regroup and get over their lingering sense of injustice.

Ahead of tomorrow’s vitally important trip to face Hurlford United, he said: "I felt the guys deserved better after dominating the game against Pollok and creating a host of scoring chances only to come up against their goalkeeper Jordan Longmuir having the game of his life.

“Even to come away with a draw would have done a disservice to our performance on the day.

"So to then lose out in the final minute was quite honestly tantamount to robbery and I don’t mind admitting to being utterly devastated and close to tears in the aftermath.

“But time is a great healer and having licked our wounds, now comes a massive test of character tomorrow which also doubles as an opportunity to show we can get ourselves up the table to mount a title challenge.

“Going up against Hurlford is always a tough proposition and probably more so with their players brimming with confidence in the wake of clinching their place in the Scottish semi-finals.

"However, we won’t lack for our own motivation in having a point to prove.

“That has to be our goal at Blair Park and in every game we play between now and the end of season.”

The team boss has at least one enforced change to make to his starting line-up, with cornerstone defender Mark Staunton suspended after picking up a red card deep into Newlandsfield injury-time for a scathing verbal blast at whistler Scott Lambie.

But his side’s drawing a blank sheet may spark changes in the forward going areas, particularly as ex-Senior pair Kevin Turner and Adam Forde are waiting in the wings for the chance to impress.

Last night Swifty was not for disclosing his selection hand, but somewhat pointedly said: “This team has produced a whole raft of great displays this season, but converting our outfield play into goals has been a problem that needs solving - and fast.”

Kilbirnie’s ETHX Cup hangover is shared by Super Premier Division rivals Auchinleck Talbot and Arthurlie who are similarly looking to get back on the rails in Super Premier Division encounters of their own.

Reigning champions Auchinleck, sitting fourth in the table just four points adrift of leading lights Pollok, will be seeking to further their hopes of an unprecedented fourth consecutive title success when struggling bottom markers Irvine Meadow make the short hop through to Beechwood Park .

Hard not to imagine Talbot picking up the spoils, however his side’s failings in front of goal - they haven’t netted in either of their last two outings - may provoke gaffer Tommy Sloan into a new forward line permutation.

Second-bottom Arthurlie are at Greenfield Park to face seven points better off Shettleston in what is shaping as a “must not lose” affair for Ryan McGregor & Co if the Barrhead outfit are to climb clear off the relegation trapdoor .

The return of cup-tied duo Darren Gribben and Chris Mackie will inject a bit of freshness into the visiting ranks.

However, team boss Stevie Kerrigan, who has put experienced midfielder Stuart McDonald on the transfer list, may need a goalkeeping replacement for Mikey White, who suffered a bad head gash during last week’s Scottish Cup demise at the hands of Beith.

Johnny Millar’s men are themselves in the thick of the battle for survival and will need to reproduce their Cup form when heading down to New Cumnock for a daunting test against title hopefuls Glenafton.

Word on the managerial front is that Junior new boys Gartcairn are close to announcing a new team boss while Rossvale Juniors are on the verge of announcing either Kirk Forbes (Stedfast Amateurs) or Gordon Moffat (Rob Roy) as their new man at the helm.