A BELATED hats off is due to Kello Rovers for clinching promotion into the Super First Division at the weekend thanks to a 5-0 thrashing of Muirkirk.

A four-goal blast from top-scoring marksman Greg Miller added to a rare counter by Liam Weir…his first goal for the Kirconnel based club in three years…sealed a notable victory that enabled Kello to move atop the standings but even more crucially ensured their points total cannot now be overhauled by strongly fancied step-up rivals Ardrossan Winton Rovers and Whitletts Vics.

Admittedly the likelihood is Darvel, currently two points behind Kello but with two games in hand, will end up being crowned Ayrshire District League champions but that should not in any way detract from the outstanding achievement of Giffnock-based team boss Ross Wilson’s young side.

It’s a further positive sign of the progress made during the 27-year-old manager’s first season at a Junior helm is for Kello to be sitting fully 16 points better off than last season even before they play their final league game of the season away to Annbank United.

However, he and No.2 John Quinn are refusing to rest on their laurels and are quietly going about the business of making plans for their next Junior campaign.

Ross said: “People within the club are not giving up on title dreams but Darvel are so physically strong and consistent that I would reckon the title is only theirs to lose now.

“Stranger things have happened but they have Muirkirk to play this week followed by home and away games against Maybole and all we can do is watch from afar and try to make their points target as difficult as possible by overcoming Annbank.

“I do believe the two best teams have been promoted and if Darvel go on to pick up the necessary points then thy fully deserve to take the honours.”

Many promoted Ayrshire District League sides have found it a struggle after stepping up to Super First Division level and the pragmatist in Wilson tells him that his Kello players will be challenged to keep their heads above water.

He added: “It’s a tougher league where you come up against bigger clubs and of course better players, however who’s to say we cannot emulate what last season’s champions Girvan and Kilwinning Rangers before them have achieved.

“I’m under no illusions that bookmakers and pundits everywhere will have us earmarked as favourites to go straight back down, however we will try to make ourselves hard to beat and see where it takes us.

“Kello Rovers as a club are planning to enjoy the whole experience and I’m looking forward to the different perspective of managing the team while rated underdogs in just about every game we play.”

One-time Queen of the South signing Weir finding the net against Muirkirk has left Geoff Patterson as the only Kello Rovers outfield player yet to score a goal this season but Wilson has totally refuted the idea of the seasoned defender assuming spot-kick duties for the Annbank United clash.

He explained: “Graeme Ramage is our regular penalty-kick taker so I cannot see him being best pleased given there is currently a three-way contest going on for our top goalscorer award between him Greg Miller and Declan Hill.”

Meanwhile, a 53rd minute red card for centre-back Danny Boyle was instrumental in Super Premier Division frontrunners Rob Roy having to settle for a 1-1 Newlandsfield draw against Pollok last night.

A first-half strike from Kevin Watt – his fourth goal in two matches – had the Rabs 1-0 ahead when towering stopper Boyle’s aerial challenge that saw him appear to head Lok midfielder Liam Rowan on the back of the head going for a high ball had whistler Graham Grainger immediately reaching for his back pocket.

A clearly dazed Rowan was replaced by the more forward going Del Hepburn as Pollok went searching for an equaliser against their 10-men opponents and Gary McCann came up trumps with a volleyed shot after visiting goalkeeper Jordan Brown spilled the ball in a crowded goalmouth.

Rob Roy team boss reflected on his side’s share of the spoils in saying: “Only time will tell if it was a point gained or two lost but it’s difficult not to feel as if this was a game we should have won.

“The guys were terrific first half and my only disappointment was from not scoring further goals and the game has then swung on the red card decision by the referee who has called it an elbowing offence when it has been nothing more than a clash of heads albeit Danny’s challenge was badly mistimed.”

Points were also dropped by all the Super First Division leading lights with Shettleston going down 1-0 at home to city rivals Maryhill for whom Dale Clark bagged the only goal of the game, while Irvine Meadow suffered the exact same reverse as Paddy O’Keefe proved to be the match-winner for Renfrew who were reduced to 10 men for the closing half hour at Meadow Park following the double yellow carding of Anton Heffron.

And table-topping Kilsyth Rangers can count themselves fortunate not to suffer a defeat of their own after twice coming from behind against Cumbernauld United to earn a 2-2 draw.

LAST NIGHT

McBookie.com Super Premier Division: Pollok 1 Kirkintilloch Rob Roy 1.

McBookie.com Super First Division: Irvine Meadow 0 Renfrew 1, Blantyre Vics 2 Shotts Bon Accord 3, Shettleston 0 Maryhill 1, Cumbernauld Utd 2 Kilsyth Rangers 2.

McBookie.com Central First Division: Vale of Clyde 1 Larkhall Thistle 2, Lesmahagow 0 St Roch’s 0, Thorniewood Utd 4 Greenock 1, Wishaw 4 Forth Wanderers 2, Neilston P Benburb P.

McBookie.com Central Second Division: Ashfield 0 Dunipace 1, Royal Albert 1 Carluke Rovers 3, East Kilbride Thistle 1 Gartcairn 2.

WEDNESDAY

(Kick-offs 6.45pm)

McBookie.com Super Premier Division: Auchinleck Talbot v Glenafton.

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

McBookie.com Central First Division: Larkhall Thistle v Thorniewood Utd, Forth Wanderers v Lesmahagow, St Roch's v Neilston.

McBookie.com Central Second Division: Newmains Utd v Carluke Rovers, East Kilbride Thistle v St Anthony's.

Ayrshire Cup.Second Round.Kilwinning Rangers v Darvel.

SATURDAY

(Kick-offs 2pm)

McBookie.com Super Premier Division: Troon v Beith, Arthurlie v Glenafton, Hurlford Utd v Auchinleck Talbot, Rob Roy v Kilbirnie Ladeside.

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

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

McBookie.com Central Second Division: Newmains Utd v Port Glasgow, Gartcairn v Ashfield, Dunipace v Lanark Utd, Glasgow Perthshire v East Kilbride Thistle.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League: Craigmark v Maybole, Dalry Thistle v Annbank Utd, Darvel v Muirkirk.

Central League Cup second round: Carluke Rovers v Rossvale.