DELIGHTED defender Craig Pettigrew hailed his Kilwinning Rangers team-mates as they toppled former team Auchinleck Talbot to blast into top spot in the Super League Premier Division.

And he admitted the 1-0 victory was especially satisfying as it was at his old Beechwood Park stamping ground.

Pettigrew, who joined Buffs early in the season said: "It's a massive three points for us. Our goalie didn't have a save to make in the first half and one was cleared off the line in the second half but we defended well enough, there wasn't a passenger. It feels special winning at Beechwood because I was there for six years. I am enjoying being at Kilwinning. I got some stick from the fans at the end but some of them forget what you did during your time here."

He added: "All the way from the management down the club are on the up and things are being done on the park as well, we are going in the same direction. I have won leagues before so I have experience to pass on to the boys, it's all about helping them along."

Pettigrew had no strong view on the dismissal of home player Jamie Glasgow, despite involved in the incident.

The defender commented: "I nipped my foot in to to get the ball and at the last minute I pulled it away and he has almost made contact with me and went down, it can be given or it's not given. A lot of times you get decisions and most of the time you don't so you just have to take it when you get it. We will try and win as many games as we can and see where it takes us. With the squad of players we've got we have to believe we can win the league."

Boss Chris Strain defended the referee and said: "Talbot blamed the ref at the end. He never got any game-changing decisions wrong. Three or four times they have dived and played on and the referee finally pulled it up. It's sour grapes on their part."