Cambuslang Rangers may well be unique in having cause to celebrate a season that kicked off with an 8-1 mauling.

Memories of his side’s horror start at the hands of Blantyre Vics brought a wry smile to team boss Paul McColl’s face when the Wee Gers clinched promotion from the Central Second Division at the weekend with a 1-0 defeat of Lanark United.

” We went out and beat derby rivals Rutherglen Glencairn in our very next game back in August and it’s probably true to say we’ve experienced a season of ups and downs ever since,” he said.

“Only last midweek, it looked like we’d totally blown our promotion hopes in going down 2-1 at home to a Royal Albert side that picked up only two league wins in their entire campaign …and incidentally their other success came against another promoted club Benburb.

“”But thankfully our better Jekyll and Hyde nature was to the fore in the nervy final league match against Lanark and the players deservedly came out on top even though they put me through agonies before Jamie McLeod netted the only goal of the game with just five minutes left to play.

“It didn’t help that I was serving a dugout suspension and was forced to watch from the terracings where I must have aged at least ten years in trying to get instructions and encouragement to the guys out on the pitch.

“But getting the club into a higher league makes all our efforts worthwhile not least because I have said ever since coming here that a club of Cambuslang Rangers’ stature should not be in the Second Division.”

Paul reckons his players will revel in heading through to Newlandsfield tonight to lock horns with high flying Pollok in a Euroscot Eng Central League Cup encounter.

He added: "The mood would have been flat had we not won on Saturday, but the guys are in great spirits with everyone looking forward to going up against one of the best teams going the rounds.

“It’s a tough test but the hard work for my preparations for next season starts now so I’ll be looking for my players to give a good account of themselves at this level.”

Yet another third-round clash sees relegated First Division outfit St Anthony's hosting the visit of Arthurlie in what is shaping up as a poignant clash given that long-serving Ants gaffer and renowned Junior football character James McKenna could be taking charge of the famous old Govan club for the very last time after announcing he will step down as team manager at the end of this season.

The never less than positive Cotter, who loves to remind everyone that he was the first Ants manager in 80 years to lift silverware (Second Division Championship) says he has only one or two regrets.

“ Losing to Pollok in the West of Scotland Cup semis after being 2-0 up with 12 minutes left to play will forever rankle as will yielding up a 2-0 lead in the Evening Times Cup semi-final against Larkhall Thistle when Paul Wright scored their winner.

“This season, I’d have settled for keeping us up but the fact we have not been able for one reason or another to field the same team in successive games tells a story.

“Our line-up for facing Arthurlie is just typical with top scorer Willie Duncan struggling to be passed fit while Billy Stevenston is a definite non –starter as is our born and bred Scouser goalkeeper Jack Baker who is away to Switzerland to support Liverpool in the Uefa Cup Final .

“Our former goalkeeper Gary Bishop has signed back on from the amateur ranks to help us out and I’ve also managed to fix up the ex-Benburb pair of Chris and Shane Jackson to help make up our numbers.”

St Anthony's skipper Ronnie McDonald and former player Tony Kane will be co-managers at McKenna Park next season.

In other games, Troon will be going all out to end their season on a high when ETHXenergy Scottish Junior Cup finalists Beith visit Portland park for a meaningless Super Premier Division contest however the stakes are considerably higher at Castle Park where Blantyre Vics prepare to face Super First Division promotion contenders Cumnock who need to pick up the three points on offer to move third top of the standings.

PLAYING TONIGHT: (Kick-offs 7.15pm): McBookie.com Super Premier Division Troon v Beith.

McBookie.com Super First Division.

Blantyre Vics v Cumnock.

McBookie.com Central First Division

Vale of Clyde v Rossvale.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League.

Lugar Boswell v Muirkirk.

Euroscot Central League Cup. Third Round.

St Anthony's v Arthurlie, Pollok v Cambuslang Rangers, St Roch's v Larkhall Thistle, Dunipace v Rutherglen Glencairn, Newmains Utd v Greenock.

Ayrshire Cup, second round.

Kilwinning Rangers v Girvan. Quarter-finals: Irvine Vics v Saltcoats Vics.