STEVIE SWIFT reckons his Kilbirnie Ladeside squad can cope with a player selection crisis and qualify for the Ardagh Glass Cup quarter-finals.

Last weekend proved a low point for Swifty and his playing charges when a last-minute goal from Beith midfielder Richie Burke consigned the Blasties to a 2-1 home defeat against their arch rivals and deflated the feelgood factor being felt at Valefield on the back of an impressive run of pre-season performances.

Ladeside bounced back in midweek with a 2-0 victory over Kilwinning Rangers thanks to goals from Eddie McTernan and trialist Liam Gormley, ex-Celtic and East Fife, who is currently on the books of Lowland League outfit East Kilbride.

And hard to please gaffer Swifty is now urging his players to chalk up another three-points haul at home to Largs Thistle today to ensure the clinching of a last-eight place will be in their own hands over the coming week.

He insisted: “Obviously last Saturday’s result was a massive disappointment not least because we were sloppy and hit the depths with arguably our worst display since coming back after the summer break.

“That’s not to take anything away from Beith who worked harder on the day than us and showed a greater mental strength whereas nothing we tried was coming off for us and our decision making, particularly in the final third was poor to say the least.

“We needed to up the tempo, especially in the speed of our passing but just couldn’t do it when needed and paid the ultimate price.

“What made the defeat harder to take was the upbeat mood around the camp after we went up to Fife and played out a 0-0 draw against a very good Kelty Hearts side in what was a very competitive friendly match.

“I was happy with how preparations had gone despite our being stretched on the playing front and that only made my disappointment all the greater in the Beith game.

“Thankfully we responded like a wounded animal to see off Kilwinning, but we must now guard against Largs doing the same to us after they suffered a defeat to Ardrossan Winton Rovers in midweek.”

Skilful winger Ciaron McElroy, signed close season from Petershill, continues to miss out through a four-game suspension, while Ian Gray is unavailable after undergoing surgery and Swifty also has to contend with the injury enforced absence of his regular central defensive picks Mick O’Byrne and Mark Staunton.

However, he is boosted by the likely return of fit again striker Martin Grehan from a thigh strain.

He added: “Playing Eddie McTernan up front alongside Stevie Meechan against Largs gave us an extra dimension even though Meechy was only playing his first game after a ban so I would not hesitate to set up along similar lines again, however Martin is a great leader of the line and his ability to take the ball to feet makes him a great outlet for the team so he’s very much in our thoughts.

“What is pleasing is the strength in depth demonstrated by our squad being able to handle the absence of so many key players at one and the same time so it augurs well for when we have everyone fit and champing at the bit for a starting jersey.

“That situation will undoubtedly bring another set of problems but we’ll worry about it at the time and not before.”

In other Ardagh clashes, Hurlford United will be desperate to get back on the rails when making the short hop to face Darvel while Girvan may be hard pressed to contain a Troon side on the crest of a wave after hammering in 10 goals without reply against luckless Maybole last Wednesday night.

Auchinleck Talbot’s involvement in the Scottish Cup (away at Wigtown & Bladnoch) opens the door for Glenafton to move top of the Section 4 pile with a resounding victory at home to Muirkirk.

On the comings and goings front comes word of West Region champions Auchinleck Talbot dipping into the transfer market to snap up ex-St Mirren and Kilmarnock Youths forward Dylan Pooley, while Neilston have strengthened their defensive hand with the signing of Euan Clark from Beith.

A date on the calendar for all Junior fans to circle is Thursday, August 25, which is when SJFA chiefs intend to stage the First Round draw for this season’s ETHXenergy Scottish Junior Cup at Hampden Park (6.45pm).

Glasgow clubs will be hoping their names don’t come out of the hat given that first round ties are scheduled to be played on Saturday, September 24, which is the traditional Autumn Holiday Weekend in these parts.

It’s an all-in draw with the exception of the six Junior clubs who have qualified for the William Hill Scottish Cup proper … Auchinleck Talbot, Beith, Girvan, Linlithgow Rose, Banks O’Dee and Bonnyrigg Rose.

SATURDAY'S FIXTURES

(Kick-offs 2pm)

Exsel Group Sectional League Cup Section One: Forth Wanderers v Lanark Utd, Larkhall Thistle v Lesmahagow.

Section Two: Gartcairn v Shotts Bon Accord, Wishaw v Newmains Utd.

Section Three: St Roch's v Thorniewood Utd, Shettleston v Petershill.

Section Four: East Kilbride Thistle v Cambuslang Rangers, Rutherglen Glencairn v Vale of Clyde.

Section Five: Neilston v Arthurlie, St Anthony's v Benburb.

Section Six: Glasgow Perthshire v Maryhill, Ashfield v Yoker Athletic.

Section Seven: Port Glasgow v Greenock, Renfrew v Vale of Leven.

Section Eight: Rob Roy v Kilsyth Rangers, Rossvale v Dunipace.

Ardagh Glass Cup. Section One: Dalry Thistle v Kilwinning Rangers, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Largs Thistle.

Section Two: Saltcoats Vics v Irvine Vics, Irvine Meadow v Ardeer Thistle, Darvel v Hurlford Utd.

Section Three: Maybole v Craigmark, Girvan v Troon, Whitletts Vics v Annbank Utd.

Section Four: Lugar Boswell v Kello Rovers, Glenafton v Muirkirk.