EXPERIENCED defender Barry Fleeting revealed that two challenging training sessions helped Kilwinning Rangers pull off another cup giant-killing on Saturday.

Buffs defeated Premier Division rivals Beith for a second time this season, winning the New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup tie 3-1 at Bellsdale Park to progress to the quarter-finals of the top competition.

The win came four months after they defeated the Garnock Valley club in the Scottish Junior Cup.

They can now look forward to a last eight showdown with Central League team Benburb next Wednesday, May 13 as well as gearing up for a return to the Super First Division next season.

Fleeting, who re-joined Buffs last summer was delighted with the weekend performance and said: “We got our game plan right and totally deserved the win. We played really well and it’s great to beat a Premier Division team again although I think Beith’s main priority has been to make sure they were safe.

“It was disappointing not to win the District League title, especially since we had it in our own hands. but we let ourselves down by losing at Whitletts. But the coaches organised a couple of good training sessions, which were a bit like pre-season and those were a big help because we played really well against Beith and at Lugar the week before that.

“Hopefully we can come through against Benburb and make the semi-finals but they will be thinking the same thing and will also fancy their chances. It’s good to do well in the West but it’s just a pity it’s tagged on to at the end of the season as it’s the second top cup competition.” The defender, meanwhile is optimistic that his team can do well next season and said: “The club keep moving upwards and the target again will be promotion.” Co-manager Chris Strain Jnr was encouraged with the weekend result and said: “It’s up there with our best victories. We went at Beith right from the start and I would say we controlled the game. We took our goals well and look forward to the quarter-finals. Benburb are at a similar level to us but facing a relegation battle although they will be playing without pressure. There’s no point getting carried away. We beat Beith in the Scottish but then went out at home to Fauldhouse. Hopefully we can come through.” Irvine Meadow manager Stevie Rankin praised his team for ending a disappointing run with a 2-1 West of Scotland Cup win against Shotts Bon Accord. But he warns they face a tough task in next Wednesday’s quarter-final away to an Ardrossan Winton Rovers side, who pulled off a shock win away to former winners Auchinleck Talbot on Saturday.

Rankin has brought striker Michael Hughes back to Meadow Park after impressing in the West tie and has signed him for the rest of the season along with unattached left midfielder Keiran Maxwell.

He said: “It was a good win for us considering I had to bring in three guys on Saturday morning because of injuries. It was good to see Paul Maxwell scoring but we have still to see the best of him. It will be very difficult away to Winton, who have had a great season and it was some result at the weekend, not many teams go to Auchinleck and win, Meanwhile Irvine Victoria co-boss Stevie Wilson was pleased with his team’s midweek penalty shootout win against Winton which took them through to an Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup quarter-final clash at Troon next Wednesday.

But his team’s focus is solely on survival as they end their Super First Division campaign away to relegated Ardeer Thistle tonight (Wednesday) before hosting title favourites Pollok on Saturday.

Wilson said: “It was good to beat Winton as it keeps the confidence going. We have lost only three of our last 12 games. But we are only thinking about the Ardeer match and must look to take three points. That would put us in a good position. Our aim is to stay up and it’s between us, Largs, Neilston and Yoker.” In other Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup quarter-final action next Wednesday, Saltcoats Vics host Talbot.