SATURDAY was a landmark occasion for Kilwinning Rangers manager Chris Aitken - but it wasn't a milestone marked in the way he'd hoped.

The Buffs boss was appointed to the role on February 10, 2023, but 365 days on it was anything but a happy anniversary as lowly Thorniewood shocked the hosts with a 2-1 win.

And there were few smiles bigger when the full-time whistle sounded than that worn by the Thorniewood manager - David Gormley, the very man Aitken replaced in the Buffs Park hotseat.

Buffs went into the game off the back of three straight wins, while the Lanarkshire side hadn't won since November - and when Bryan Boylan headed the hosts in front early in the second half, it looked as if Kilwinning were on course to strengthen their push for promotion.

But the game turned on its head when Keiren Wood was sent off for a second bookable offence - and Thorniewood took full advantage of the extra man, scoring twice in seven minutes before holding on for a shock win.

Aitken told KRTV, the club's media team, after the match: "It was very poor. From the first minute we didn't look at it.

"I don't know what it is but we don't seem to play against the bottom teams in the league.

"When you come to games like that and you don't put the work in, you get what you deserve."

Reflecting on his year in charge, Aitken said: "I've loved every minute of it. Results like today aren't exactly what we wanted, but when we've had good results we've not got carried away, and I won't be too despondent about this.

"We've got 10 cup finals to go in the league. We're sitting in a good place. If we win our ten games we'll get promoted, it's simple."

Buffs did take consolation in knowing they weren't the only promotion-chasing First Division club to fall to defeat at the weekend, with Drumchapel United losing to leaders Petershill on Friday before Rutherglen Glencairn tumbled to a shock 5-0 defeat at home to Kilbirnie Ladeside.

Full interviews and match highlights are available on the KRTV YouTube channel.