REJUVENATED Muirkirk JFC are closing in on promotion after chalking up another vital weekend win.

And boss Kevin Muirhead praised his squad after they defeated Vale of Clyde 2-0 at Townhead Park to move within five points of their weekend opponents, League Two leaders Vale of Leven with SIX games in hand. Muirhead, who has been in charge of the East Ayrshire side for two-and-a-half years is encouraged by their consistency, which has seem them win 13 games out of 17.

He said: “When we took over, we were bottom of the league and struggling but Muirkirk are a well-run club with a good committee and that’s why I came here. The bigger clubs dominate but in our first full season in charge we beat Cumnock in the Sectional Cup and people sat up and took notice.

“Our aim from day one has been promotion and hopefully we can achieve it. That was an important result on Saturday and if we can beat Vale of Leven we will be two points behind them. This is a big game and hopefully the fans will turn out and get behind us. We have a good squad and recently signed ex-Benburb striker Aidan Ferris.”

Auchinleck Talbot boss Tommy Sloan is desperate to get back into action as his team host Hurlford United in the Macron Scottish Junior Cup quarter-final. He said:

“It’s a huge game and difficult as Hurlford are a strong side. We then have a West of Scotland Cup tie against Kilwinning and hopefully we can get back to league business as there are a lot of games to be played.”