TEENAGE striker Lewis Morrison hopes Kilwinning Rangers can end the season on a high after scoring a vital goal on Saturday.

The 18-year-old hometown boy netted in the 1-0 home win against Pollok with victory - barring a dramatic nine-goal swing - taking Buffs into the Premier Division playoff for the second year running.

He had been on loan from Kilmarnock from late March but was released by the Rugby Park club after eight years last week, making just one first team appearance at Celtic Park earlier in the season.

Morrison told Sportscene: "To be honest I wasn't surprised I was released by Kilmarnock but I had eight great years and it was great to make my debut against Celtic. I am now looking to get back into senior football and hopefully I will have an opportunity. But I am with Kilwinning until the end of May.

"It was an important win on Saturday and we can look forward to the playoff. I am hopeful we can win the tie and keep our Premier Division place. Also we have an Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup semi-final tie at home to Auchinleck, hopefully we can come through and go on to win a trophy."

Manager Chris Strain is delighted for the young striker and said: "Lewis has been through a tough time and for him to come and score a goal I am dclighted because he is a great lad and has a big future in the game but while things have gone against him he needs to dig in and work hard. Martyn Campbell was also different class."

Looking ahead he said: "We are hopeful we can win the playoff as we are the Premier League team so we should go into the game confident. We haven't played badly but have not had the required number of results to get us safe so we have to do it the hard way. We also aim to to beat Talbot in the semi-final."

Added Campbell: "We are good enough to beat anyone so we must make sure we are up for it in the playoff."

Defender Isaac Kerr, meanwhile has left Buffs to join District League club Whitletts Victoria.

He said on his Facebook account: "Two consecutive promotions and a cup final, had a great three plus years with the Buffs. Onto a new challenge next season with Whitletts."

Irvine Vics boss Stevie Wilson was encouraged with his side as they defeated Shettleston 4-3 in a Super First Division match.

He said: "We battled hard and deserved to win, Shettleston applauded us off the field. I feel we were good enough to stay in the league but we will work hard to get back up again."