GOAL hero Ross McKenzie and boss Brian McLuckie hope Saturday's shock win away to high-flying Whitletts Vics will give their survival push a huge boost.

McKenzie, in his first season at the Westenders, netted the victory-clinching goal late on in the 3-2 win away to the Ayr side, who were promoted with them to the McBookie Championship last season.

The match winner said on Saturday: "We were confident going into the game and that has to be one of our best results of the season. The aim be must to make sure we don't get relegated. I like playing here, we have a good bunch of boys. We are all starting to gel well."

McKenzie heads to home town Barrhead to face Arthurlie on Saturday and expects a tough test.

He said: "It will be a very difficult match, I know quite a few people up there. But hopefully we can get a result."

McLuckie was impressed with his team's display and said: "I felt it was a good game to come and watch with a lot of decent football played. They have a bit more physicality than us so we told the boys to keep it down on the deck, I felt we played very well. We came here thinking we could pick up points."

"I would have been disappointed if we had only taken a point. We have not hard a draw all season. Ross scored a good goal, it was an inspired substitution and Hamish McKinlay put over a cross for the goal."

The boss firmly believes his team are progressing well and said: "We have a target and that is to stay in the league. Bearing in mind we only had one player on the pitch from last season - Jordan Craig then it takes time to build the team. We can enjoy tthe game as there have not been many enjoyable afternoons recently. It will be an education on Saturday when the boys face Arthulie away but we can learn from it.

"If we can pick up points from the teams round about us and don't lose them we will be there or thereabouts. Everyone of the players were excellent - even the substitutes we had great team spirit."

Meanwhile Vics suffered a blow when they had three points deducted for failing to fulfil their fixture at home to Neilston on December 29. The match will be played at a later date to be confirmed.