PROUD Kilwinning Rangers boss Chris Strain heaped praise on hotshot striker Ryan Nisbet after he took his tally to four goals in three games on Saturday.

The former Ayr United target man scored both goals in the 2-0 win away to Cumnock, which followed hot on the heels of festive victories over Petershill and Kirkintilloch Rob Roy.

This has left the Abbey Park side in fourth spot with 30 points

Strain is impressed how Nisbet is pushing himself to a higher level as he bids to help improve the team's fortunes and said: "Ryan is a very talented player, there's no doubt about it, he is still a young lad. I asked if I could get a wee bit more out of him in the last couple of weeks and we definitely have. He has scored four goals in the last three games and his attitude has been great.

"I'm delighted with the recent run of results and our league form has been good. We shouldn't be in any danger but the aim in the league must to be to finish as high as we possibly can. The secret of our run has all been down to hard work, as simple as that."

Buffs have lost just one of their eight previous league games but the manager is looking for more of the same as they head to Lochburn Park to face Maryhill on Saturday.

He said : "We were turned over by Clydebank in August, losing 2-0 at Abbey Park and that sparked a poor run of form so I will be looking for a much better performance although they are going very well and are second in the league."

Added the manager: "January is a very important month for Kilwinning Rangers. We have game at Clydebank and that will be followed by the derby match against Irvine Meadow and then the Scottish Junior Cup tie against Thorntoun Hibs."

Meanwhile Irvine Victoria will be looking to back after another disappointing weekend loss.

They went down 5-0 away to runaway leaders Rutherglen Glencairn, conceding all four goals in the first half, the defeat coming two weeks after they lost 2-0 at home to Dalry Thistle.

Now they make the short trip on Saturday to Ayr to face mid-table and District League rivals from last season, Whitletts Victoria, hoping they can take something from the game in their quest for survival.