IT took all of five minutes into a conversation with Troon ace Colin Spence before the inevitable question was asked in the light of his side’s under-performing form…What has happened to the club widely expected to be challenging for the Junior game’s top prizes this season?

One thought his response might lead to a circling of the wagons but Spenny has always been someone who tells it as it is and he didn’t even attempt to defend Troon finding themselves way down in eighth place in the table after marking the halfway point in their Super Premier Division campaign being reached with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Kilbirnie Ladeside last weekend.

This sixth reverse in 11 league starts is hardly the fillip that Spenny and his team-mates needed to dispel the gloom that appears to have settled over their Portland Park dressing room ever since a shock Scottish Junior Cup first round elimination by lowly Haddington Athletic.

The experienced midfielder said: “We as a group of players have to hold our hands up and admit the blame for results lies with us.

“It would be easy to hold up the excuse cards of injuries and the unavailability of key players but the simple fact is our displays…particularly away from home…have not been good enough.

“None of us can put the finger on why we have picked up a solitary point on our travels (six games) but we need to come up with answers soon or else risk being dragged into a relegation dogfight.

“That would be a real slap in the face for the progress made at this club in recent seasons and each and every player must get the finger out to prevent that happening.”

Troon have certainly not had their woes to seek with former Stranraer defender Dale Keenan suffering cruciate ligament damage as well as new striker signing Ross Robertson being laid low with a recurring ankle problem on top of work commitments severely curtailing the appearances of talisman winger Dale Moore.

And now the influential Spence is himself facing a spell on the sidelines on account of having to serve a three-match suspension which rules him out of tomorrow’s vital home game against second top of the standings Glenafton.

He insisted: “With the way our fixtures are panning out I won’t play again until the New Year and it’s only in Junior football that a sending off in November puts you out of action until mid-January.

“Worst thing is I was sent off after merely jumping for a ball in a recent game against Largs Thistle only for my wrist to be headed by one of their players.

“The referee deemed it an elbowing offence and unfortunately the guys who normally film our games were elsewhere that day or I’d have used the footage to mount an appeal to show it was nothing more than an unintentional collision.

“I missed the Kilbirnie game last week which marked Ross Robertson’s return to action for only his second league match and hopefully getting 90 minutes under his belt will have him better prepared for going up against the Glens who are emerging as one of the title challengers this season.

“We have home and away games against them and the other fancied pair of Auchinleck and Beith yet to play so putting points on the board would provide a huge confidence boost that might just kickstart our season.

“Cutting out the individual errors that have cost us dearly would help in this respect and there is no doubt we have it in us to match up with the best teams after winning 1-0 against the league leaders Rob Roy.

“Unfortunately we followed up that victory with a 3-0 loss at Arthurlie and it’s the story of our season that every good result leads to a defeat in our next game.”

Relishing the prospect of a return to bread and butter fare tomorrow is Beith skipper John Sheridan who is adamant the mood in the Mighty camp is buoyant despite last week’s 6-0 Scottish Cup hammering by Morton.

Shez insisted: “We started well but the gulf in class was all too apparent after they scored in their very first attack and there’s no shame in admitting their passing and movement proved too much for us.

“Tomorrow’s head to head with Kilwinning should be much more to our liking and we’ll head through there looking to continue our unbeaten league record.

“We won 9-1 at Abbey Park earlier this season on a day when everything went right for us but we are preparing for a much tougher contest this time around.”

Beith are close to full strength with team boss Johnny Millar reporting a clean bill of health other than full-back Nikky Docherty.

In other games, reigning champions Auchinleck Talbot look a good bet to take the spoils at home to Kilbirnie Ladeside as do Hurlford United when hosting the visit of bottom markers Largs Thistle, however home advantage may not help Cumnock prevail against a Pollok side determined to get back to winning ways on their trip down to Townhead Park.

SATURDAY’S FIXTURES

(Kick-offs 1.45pm unless stated)

Scottish Junior Cup Third Round Replays (1.30pm): Culter v East Kilbride Thistle, Bonnyrigg Rose v Thorniewood Utd, Greenock v Stonehaven.

McBookie.com Super Premier Division: Arthurlie v Rob Roy, Auchinleck Talbot v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Hurlford Utd v Largs Thistle, Cumnock v Pollok, Kilwinning Rangers v Beith, Troon v Glenafton.

McBookie.com Super First Division: Yoker v Shotts Bon Accord, Maryhill v Petershill, Irvine Vics v Shettleston, Kilsyth Rangers v Blantyre Vics, Cumbernauld Utd v Clydebank, Girvan v Irvine Meadow, Renfrew v Rutherglen Glencairn.

McBookie.com Central First Division: Lesmahagow v Wishaw, Neilston v Bellshill Athletic, Benburb v Cambuslang Rangers, St Roch’s v Forth Wanderers, Johnstone Burgh v Vale of Clyde, Larkhall Thistle v Rossvale.

McBookie.com Central Second Division: Ashfield v Port Glasgow, Gartcairn v Royal Albert, Glasgow Perthshire v Lanark Utd, Dunipace v St Anthony’s, Newmains Utd v Carluke Rovers.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League: Maybole v Kello Rovers, Muirkirk v Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Lugar Boswell v Whitletts Vics, Annbank Utd v Craigmark, Darvel v Dalry Thistle.