UPBEAT Girvan caretaker boss Lawrie Dinwoodie has praised the players for giving him a response at the end of a testing week, despite suffering defeat.

The Seasiders on Saturday went down 3-1 at home to Premier Division champions Glenafton Athletic in what was their first game since last week's sacking of Scott "Paddy" Clelland.

Dinwoodie was previously in charge briefly in October when Peter Leonard took over the reins at Cumnock.

He said. "I asked the players for a reaction and they certainly gave me that. We might have lost 3-1 but the players showed great character. It was difficult when suddenly they were left without a manager. I felt sorry for Paddy since I recommended him for the job but things didn't work out and that's football.

"We faced an uphill struggle when we went down to 10 men but kept battling. At 2-1 down Stevie O'Donnell missed a good chance with a header.

"It's tight at the bottom and Clydebank got a boost with their win against Talbot but that shows you what can be done. We still have Talbot, Rob Roy and Beith to play so it's a very difficult run-in but the aim is to finish third bottom and avoid the playoffs. If we do end up bottom or second bottom we will have gone down fighting."

Girvan on Saturday host St Anthony's in a West of Scotland Cup tie.

Dinwoodie added: "I might play some guys who have not featured much but will have to keep the rest of the squad happy. The league is the be all and end all, but we want a result in the cup."

Dinwoodie and coach Jamic McCrae are in charge for the rest of the season at Hamilton Park.