NEVER-say-die Beith striker Keir Milliken is refusing to give up hope of winning the Premier Division title - despite suffering defeat at the hands of leaders Kilwinning Rangers.

The 2-1 loss at Abbey Park rounded off two bitterly disappointing weekends for the Bellsdale Park club and came a week after they crashed out of the Scottish Junior Cup following a 4-1 home quarter-final defeat against Lochee United.

Milliken is used to success, having won five Premier Division titles - four with Auchinleck Talbot and one with Irvine Meadow - and two Scottish Cup crowns with he Beechwood Park side.

But he hopes to enjoy more with Beith and said: "It will be a big ask to win the league now after Saturday, but we are not out of it yet and still have nine games to play. Kilwinning still have to play Talbot and Pollok. If we were to win our two games in hand then we would be six points behind Kilwinning. I think we played well on Saturday and missed some chances. The aim now is to get as many wins as possible in the league. We were poor in the cup and lost some bad goals. We get a break from the league on Saturday with a West of Scotland Cup tie against Neilston so hopefully we can win that."

The mood could hardly be more different in the Buffs camp.

Ardrossan man Michael Wardrope, who scored a wonder goal from the halfway line to seal victory said: "It was the best goal of my career. I saw the Beith goalie off his line and as soon as I hit it I knew it was going in. It was a big win for us. I think we can now go on to win the league."

Boss Chris Strain added: There were pieces of individual brilliance from Michael Wardrope and David Winters for their goals. Bryan Boylan scored another perfectly good goal and it was perfectly onside. But it was chalked off."

Meanwhile Kilbirnie Ladeside boss Budgie McGhie heaped praise on striker Jon Scullion, as he scored a double in the 3-0 win against basement side Arthurlie at Dunterlie Park.

The former Morton target man is top scorer and has made an impression since signing last summer.

McGhie said: "Jon played well and was unlucky not to get a hat-trick with a chance near the end, he is a great finisher and his lead-up play is also good. It was our first league win since October and we now want to finish as high up the table as possible."

Ladeside on Saturday host near neighbours Johnstone Burgh in the opening round of the West of Scotland Cup.

The boss added: "We won't treat them lightly. They recently brought a new manager, Jamie McKim and will be up for it. But the West is an important competition, it's a home tie and hopefully we can go through."