DELIGHTED Ardrossan Winton Rovers manager Chris Strain snr and midfielder Ben Carson are hopeful their side can secure promotion following a 2-2 draw away to Kilwinning Rangers.

And after the showdown with his dad’s team ended deadlocked, Buffs co-boss Chris Strain Jnr is targeting Ayrshire District League title success.

Strain Snr was happy to take a point and said: “You could see both teams really wanted to win but the draw suits us. We were slack with their equaliser and we had a stonewall penalty turned down when Jared Willet was brought down. In the second half we gave some territorial advantage by allowing John Bradford to come off the two centre backs and that put us on the back foot.

“We showed good fighting qualities and were short with Ryan Caddis suspended, Gareth Turner injured and Billy Gilmour taken off injured. Kilwinning might feel it is a lost opportunity for them.” Carson added: “I was a hard game, we were on top a bit but overall a draw was a fair result. We are in a good position but our target is to go up and I am quite confident we can do that. We must aim to win all our games. I can’t see any team other than Kilwinning taking points off it would be nice to win the league but promotion is the priority.” Winton take a break from league duty on Saturday as they host Lugar Boswell Thistle in the Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup.

Strain Snr said: “We are on a great run, that’s 22 games unbeaten and we want to keep it going. We have beaten Lugar twice this season and drawn with them once so hopefully we can progress, it would be good to have a cup run, it boosts confidence.” Rovers chairman Dougie Rae, meanwhile has thanked the fans for turning out in force for the game and said: “Saturday’s game was a great advert for Junior football. It was a hard-fought game played in a good spirit by two ambitious clubs wanting to play at a higher level and in front of two sets of supporters turning out in force to support their local club.” Strain Jnr was impressed with the way his side battled back and said: “I felt we played the best football and Winton came with a game plan to restrict us. When we got the first goal we looked like going on to score two or three. But they scored from their first attack with a set play which disappointed me, and momentum swung to them. They scored early in the second half with a goal I felt we could have defended better.

“We fought back very well against a very experienced team and scored a great goal through Willie McLaren and we finished strongly. John Bradford held the ball up so well and Ben Lewis did well, there wasn’t a failure in the team. A draw was the very least we deserved. It’s still very much in our hands, if we win our last two games we win the league and that is the target. If we win one more we will be promoted barring a massive swing in goal difference.” Strain Jnr was also encouraged with the backing given to his team in the top-of-the-table clash and said: “We were so pleased to attract such a good crowd, there were just over 400 there which shows the potential we have and I also felt the referee had a very good game. There was a great atmosphere and hopefully the fans will keep coning back.” Buffs are also in action in the Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup, hosting Darvel and Strain Jnr added: “The league is the top priority for us and the cup tie gives us a break from the pressures of the league. We would like to get through and will take the tie as it comes.” Striker John Bradford, who was on target for Buffs said “It will be a change of mindset for us. We have beaten Darvel comfortably three times this year so hopefully we can progress.”