Many in his shoes would settle for resting on his Scottish Junior Cup laurels and looking to do no more than consolidating their club’s position in the grand scheme of things.

But not Gartcairn Juniors manager David Greig, who was again touching the rainbow last Saturday in steering the lowly Central Second Division side into the New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup quarter-finals on the back of a shock 4-1 Portland Park victory over Troon.

The Super Premier Division big guns had no answer - other than a late consolation score by Mark Curragh - in response to Gartcairn goals from John Henderson, Liam McShane, Barry Canning and Jordan Love.

That triumph ensured a last-eight trip through to Duncansfield to face Kilsyth Rangers.

“Even if we do nothing else this season there’s a fairytale to tell," said the proud gaffer who was unstinting in praise of his playing charges.

“To a man they deserve every bit of credit going as I thought they outfought and totally outplayed a team packed with quality Juniors and let’s not forget from fully three divisions higher up the standings.

“And nobody should be thinking this was a fluke result or that the scoreline flattered us because probably the only disappointing aspect was the fact we conceded a goal just a few minutes short of the final whistle.

“Willie Kinniburgh has worked tirelessly to make us solid at the back and I know he and our defenders were bitterly disappointed at missing out on a clean sheet.”

He went on: "A lot of people expected us to crumble when our Scottish Cup hammering by Linlithgow Rose was followed by a number of players opting to move out to pastures new but the exact opposite reaction has occurred with three wins on the spin.

“Putting together this run says everything about the character inside our dressing room as well as the quality of young players coming through the ranks from Gartcairn’s Youth Academy.

”We are away to Dunipace on league duty this week which is an entirely different type of test for the guys but they have shown themselves capable of raising their game when the occasion demands and I’m confident they can do so again.” third round ties were settled on Saturday to leave the quarter-finals shaping as Darvel or Kilwinning Rangers v Auchinleck Talbot, Cumnock v Rob Roy, Pollok v St Roch’s, Kilsyth Rangers v Gartcairn.

One can make an argument for St Roch’s as a surprise name in the last eight, but there is no disputing Gartcairn are far and away the team punching above their ranking weight even if Greggy is not harbouring high expectations of winning the prestigious West Region tournament.

He said: "This will be my tenth appearance in a cup quarter-final spanning Junior managerial stints with St Roch's, Blantyre Vics and Gartcairn - and I’ve never come out as a winner yet.

“I’d like to believe the dice might spin in my favour this time but reality tells me Kilsyth Rangers are top of the Super First Division for a reason and we are facing a really tough game through there.”

“And remember it’s not just a matter of getting past this hurdle because whosoever comes out on top will be away from home against Pollok or St Roch’s in the semi-finals.”

The challenge, as Greig, Andy Cameron and five other managerial counterparts in the latter stages are well aware, is to prevent the Pollok v Auchinleck Talbot conclusion identified by their respective supporting throngs as the likely showpiece finale ever since the latter stage pairings kept the two Junior rivals in opposite halves of the draw.

And if pressure is the price you pay for being the home team boss then the heat has been undoubtedly cranked up on Lok boss Tony McInally as it goes without saying that the Southside giants will be advantaged by hosting St Roch's and (if successful) the winners of Kilsyth v Gartcairn prior to Newlandsfield's staging of the final.

By the same token, cup holders Auchinleck seeking a third New Coin Holdings trophy triumph in four years have to contend with the huge level of expectation from their demanding legions despite having very formidable opposition to overcome in the shape of Kilwinning Rangers and either Cumnock or Rob Roy.