JUNIOR BOSS SET FOR HOT RETURN

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Girvan will throw down the welcome mat for Peter Leonard and then try and pull it from under his feet.

Leonard led the Hamilton Parkers into the Premier Division for the first time in their history before quitting for Cumnock last month.

And on Saturday, in only his third game for his new charges, he leads ‘ Nock back down the coast.

Girvan, who are set to have Lawrie Dinwoodie in charge, crashed from the Scottish Cup when they lost 3- 2 at home to East Kilbride Thistle.

Michael Reilly and Jack McDowall pulled them level at 2- 2 before the visitors bagged a late winner.

Secretary Tam McCreadie said: “Peter was here for more than two and half seasons. One thing for sure – we’ll have to play an awful lot better to stand a chance against him.”

Leonard admitted: “I’ll be facing a lot of the players who I coached. My boys will be warned that they will have to be up for it.

“Girvan are above us in the league and will want to put one over us.”

AUCHINLECK will close to three points on leaders Beith with two games in hand if they beat them at Beechwood.

Talbot crushed Forres 8- 0 in the cup with goals from Graham Wilson ( 2), Jamie Glasgow ( 2), Dwayne Hyslop, Stevie Wilson, Sean McIlroy and Gordon Pope.

Holders GLENAFTON try again to play Dalry in the cup with the tie switched to Abbey Park, Kilwinning.

TROON visit Rutherglen in the First Division looking to build on their 3- 1 cup win over Stoneyburn.

Fraser Chisholm nodded in a Scott McLean corner and then Steven McCreadie powered home a McLean cross for a 2- 0 interval lead.

The visitors pulled one back but Evan Maley finished off a sweeping move to seal it.

Ay r s h i re Le a g u e l e a d e r s CRAIGMARK try to bounce back from their 5- 0 Scottish Cup defeat by Cumnock when they host Whitletts. The injury hit Dam Park side had 50- year- old boss Neil Duffy on the bench as they lost 2- 1 to Jeanfield Swifts. Josh Sloan cancelled out an early Rhys Davies goal but the East Superleague side won it through a Keith Dewar strike early in the second- half.

ANNBANK will hope for a dry week so that New Pebble Park can host their Scottish Cup visit of Colony Park.

MAYBOLE entertain MUIRKIRK after winning 4- 1 away to Saltcoats. Former St Mirren youngster Mitchell Ewing hit a hat- trick after Aidan Connor opened the scoring.

Boss Carlo Walker quipped: “Ally MacLeod’s grandson Jamie was a standout. We’re the team for big names - we had Craig Brown’s grandson last season before he joined Stirling Uni.”

With top scorer Chris Allan now working in Ireland, Walker is trying to to beef up his squad this week.

LUGAR, who lost 3- 1 at home to Linlithgow, host Ardeer.