Kilwinning Rangers assistant manager Gavin Friels applauded the buffs for avoiding a potential upset as they thrashed Ardrossan Winton Rovers 7-0 in the South Challenge Cup.

A double from Calin Kemp, a ten-minute hattrick from Ally McColm and goals from Thomas Collins and David Ramsay set up a second round tie against Irvine Meadow.

Speaking to the Times, Friels said: “We are delighted with the way we went about it, it could have been tricky going against a lower league side.

“But we showed our class with the level we have got to recently and a couple of the goals were straight off the training ground, which pleased me.”

Next up for the buffs is clash in the Premier Division against Pollok, a club Friels says he knows well.

“I played there for two years so I know the club well and they are always looking for high standards.

“They have wavered a bit in the past couple of years but it looks as if they are coming back.

“I think we are a better side than them on paper, so we should be dominant but they are at home and have some momentum.”