UPBEAT Kilbirnie Ladeside manager Stephen Swift praised new signings Darren Miller and Kevin Turner as they helped inspire a first league victory.

And he hopes the Valefield Park club can considerably improve on last season when they narrowly avoided relegation from the Super Premier Division.

Former East Stirling striker Turner and ex-Dumbarton and Irvine Meadow midfielder Miller made their debuts in the 1-0 win against Troon at Portland Park.

They are seen as key players by Swift, who is now in his fourth full season at the Garnock Valley club.

Swift said: “Kevin is an aggressive striker who can hold the ball up well and can also score goals, it’s great to have him on board and I think he will do well. Darren is an attacking midfielder who can score goals and get into the box. His set-pieces are unbelievable and he can score free-kicks as well as float great crosses into the box. I tried to bring him previously but it didn’t work out. That should be the squad complete now. We have some good players on board and it’s now about trying to get results.” The manager meanwhile was encouraged with his teams’s victory against the Seasiders and said: “It was a good win for us as Troon are a difficult side to break down and good to take three points. We played well against Hurlford the previous week and could have won had we taken our chances.” Ladeside on Saturday host an Arthurlie side who top the table on six points and Swift is expecting a tough test.

He said: “Arthurlie are going well but our aim is to take three points. The aim this year is to finish in the top half of the table but we are taking it game by game. We can’t look too far ahead,” Meanwhile Ardrossan Winton Rovers manager Chris Strain Snr hopes his team learn lessons after suffering a second straight defeat in the Super Premier Division.

They went down 2-0 away to Bellshill Athletic a week after going down by the same scoreline at home to Clydebank.

Strain could still take positives from the defeat and said: “Ryan Caddis and John Bradford could both have scored but at least we created chances. But we are really disappointed at the result and it was disappointing to concede two goals. Hopefully we will learn lessons from the defeat.” Winton on Saturday host a Cumnock side who have also lost their opening two games.

Strain is expecting a tough test and said: “Cumnock have not had the best of starts either but it will be a tough test. But we aim to win the game. Four teams go down in this league and we must get points on the board.” Kilwinning Rangers manager Chris Strain Jnr was impressed with his team’s showing as they hammered Blantyre Vics 4-0 in their opening home league match, three days after suffering an agonising penalty shootout defeat against Troon in the Ardagh Glass League Cup semi-finals.

And he is delighted to have his former team-mate Liam McGuinness on board after the midfielder’s joined from Ladeside before the cup tie.

Strain said of the new recruit: “Liam has so much experience, he is a real playmaker who will have a lot of support from the other guys in the middle of the park and can make things happen. Our other new signing Robert Boyd has also fitted in well to the squad and I am happy with the numbers we have now.” The manager was impressed with the weekend showing following the shock 5-1 opening day loss at Yoker Athletic and said: “It was pleasing to score four goals. I felt we played well in midweek and were unlucky to lose the semi-final.” For the full story see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.