EXPERIENCED Kilwinning Rangers midfielder Ben Lewis is hoping to crown his testimonial season by helping the club regain the Scottish Junior Cup.

Buffs blasted into the last 32 (fourth round) with a 2-0 home win against Bellshill Athletic.

The 1999 team will mark the 20th anniversary of their success next summer and Lewis hopes to give the punters some further cause for celebration.

He said: "The main thing is we're through to the next round. We should have been considered one of the favourites to win the trophy before we even beat Beith and with teams going out in our league that opens it up. We need this cup run financially for the club. A few years ago we got to the semi-finals so we will see how far we can go this time.

"The Scottish Cup is a big competition for the fans and we will put a lot into it, we must be in with a chance. It would be great if we could win it in this season with the anniversary coming up. I think me must be due an away tie as we have had two home ones.

"Some of the boys are right good footballers but we know we can do better."

Buffs are away to Hurlford United in the league on Saturday and Lewis added: "We did well to beat Glenafton 4-3 in our last league match. Now we need to improve on our league form."

Boss Chris Strain was encouraged with the display but feels his side have more to offer.

He said: "It was a tough enough game but the important thing was to get us into the hat. We could have been better in the second half but there is more improvement to come. We're not considered favourites but if we get ourselves on song we can beat anyone on our day. Hopefully we will get a home tie.

Meanwhile Irvine Meadow manager Brian McGinty was sorry to see his team crash out of the Scottish Junior Cup as they went down 2-0 away to Kilsyth Rangers.

He said: "It's a huge disappointment for everyone at the club to be out of the Scottish Cup. But to be honest we didn't deserve to take anything out of the game as we didn't play well."

Now Meadow will switch their attention back to the league campaign on Saturday, as they face Cambuslang Rangers away. They have won three league games on the spin.

McGinty added: "We have been on a good league run and Cambuslang have lost their last couple of league games but we will be going there to win."