Team boss Stevie Mooney has hailed Morton loan signing John Mitchell’s outstanding debut performance for helping Greenock clinch a place in the last 32 of this season’s Scottish Junior Cup.

The lowly Central First Division outfit made the most of battling their way to a 1-1 first game draw away to the title challenging North Region cracks to run out 3-2 winners in last weekend’s Ravenscraig replay thanks to goals from Ryan Craig, Craig Brown and Colin Gailey.

Mooney was not slow to pay tribute to a terrific team performance.

However, he reserved special praise for 18-year-old Mitchell and indeed Morton boss Jim Duffy for agreeing to let the teenage centre-back prospect turn out for the local Junior side.

He said: "We were down to the bare bones last Wednesday night and had striker Willie McLure earmarked to play at the heart of our defence against Stonehaven when I received a telephone call from former player Warren Hawke who is nowadays on the board at Cappielow.

“He said that Jim Duffy was willing to let young Mitchell play with us for the next couple of months, which is a marvellous gesture given the lad is considered one of Morton’s top prospects and on the verge of their first team.

“And after watching him in action against Stonehaven, I can only agree that John is destined for far greater things as he showed himself to be an aggressive ball winner who is both strong and quick with it but also confident enough to play passes out of defence when the opportunity presents itself.

“He did us a real turn and the hope is he’ll still be around the place when our fourth-round tie against Renfrew takes place in mid-January as it’s a very winnable tie though I’d imagine Renfrew’s management team of Colin Clark and Martin Ferry are probably having those exact same thoughts.

”We will be giving everything to try and win that game, however some of the club’s old-stagers have been saying it’s over 20 years since Greenock were in the last 32 of the Scottish so getting there is a great achievement for the guys."

Mitchell's arrival in the Ravenscraig Stadium dressing room is balanced out by the departure of another loan signing Andy Biddulph, who has been recalled by parent club Clydebank and Mooney also revealed further defensive comings and goings.

He added: "Barry McLaughlin is now suspension free and comes back into the scheme of things albeit for no more than a couple of months before he requires surgery to sort a hip problem that will rule him out for the rest of this season.

“And his absence will be all the more sorely felt because of family commitments restricting the availability of Alan Williams so we are looking to make strengthening moves in central defence which maybe explains why we are currently in talks with the former St Anthony's stopper Abu Mansare who works in Greenock.”

Meanwhile, the seasoned gaffer is urging his playing charges to put league points on the board in this weekend’s scheduled contest away to Larkhall Thistle in order to make strides away from the First Division basement area.

He said: “Fourth bottom spot even with games in hand over clubs immediately above us is not a comfortable place to be in given that three teams are relegated so I would like us to try and get up to mid-table before our Scottish tie."

There were mixed replay results for the West Region’s other Scottish Cup hopefuls after Thorniewood United were beaten 4-0 away to East Region big guns Bonnyrigg Rose however East Kilbride Thistle fared considerably better on their travels as goals from Liam McLaughlin, Alan McFadden and Aaron Connelly helped the Jags overcome Culter by a 3-1 scoreline.

Proud as punch gaffer Billy Campbell said: "To be sitting in the last 32 of the Cup is a dream come true and the players are already looking forward to testing themselves against Glenafton who are regarded as one of the favourites to win the trophy.”

The full fourth-round draw as it now stands is Renfrew v Greenock, Kelty Hearts v Hill O’Beath, Carluke Rovers v Irvine Meadow, Girvan v Penicuik Athletic, Beith v Auchinleck Talbot, Fauldhouse Utd v Maryhill, Kilsyth Rangers v Bonnyrigg Rose, Dunbar Utd v Benburb, Edinburgh Utd v Kilwinning Rangers, Linlithgow Rose v Blantyre Vics, Petershill v Haddington Athletic, East Kilbride Thistle v Glenafton, Cumbernauld Utd v Luncarty, Gartcairn v Hermes ,Rob Roy v Musselburgh Athletic, Broughty Athletic v Sauchie.