Glenafton manager Ryan Stevenson reacts to Junior Cup semi-final loss

But the current Glens boss still says last Friday's 4-2 defeat to rivals Cumnock Juniors in the semi-final of the Scottish Junior Cup is "probably the lowest I’ve been in football".

A rather dejected Stevenson spoke to the Chronicle after the match, which he felt just summed up their season.

He said: “In big games you’ve got to take your chances, we’ve had three or four proper good chances in the first half, we don’t take them, and you get punished for it.

“That’s pretty much been the story of our season, we’ve played that way 95 per cent of games.

“At the other end, I can’t actually remember a team scoring an amazing goal against us – the goals we give away are just ridiculous.”

The former Hearts and Ayr man was rightfully left frustrated as Jamie Barclay made two good saves from Michael Moffat efforts, and Alex McWaters, possibly the smallest player on the park, found himself on the end of two great headed chances - neither of which hit the target. All this while the match was still poised at 0-0.

Two great headed chances fell to McWaters - neither of which he could convert. (Image: Charlie Gilmour Photography)

Stevenson's side had been the better team for much of the first half - though momentum swung when a rash challenge from Adam Caldwell, who brought down Jared Willet on the stroke of half time, conceded a penalty.

Findlay Frye duly converted the spot kick to put Cumnock 1-0 up.

And when Ollie Rowe scythed down Jordan Moore in the second half - Frye had the chance to make it two.

Glenafton seemingly knew the writing was on the wall, when Frye seen his effort saved by Glens keeper Markey - only for a retake to be ordered as the goalkeeper had come off his line. Frye converted at the second time of asking.

A goal for Jordan Moore and an own goal followed shortly after, leaving Glenafton in a periless position.

Manager Stevenson commented: “It’s probably the lowest I’ve been in football.

“First half we played really well, gave away a penalty, which can happen, second half we never really got started.

“Again we give away another penalty, Markey gets us a bit out the wood and then, whether it’s the right or wrong decision, they retake and go 2-0 up.

“The game was inevitably dead at that stage, but to go 4-0 down was disappointing.”

Manager Ryan Stevenson said Friday was the lowest he has been in football. (Image: Charlie Gilmour Photography)

Late goals from Hugh Kerr and Michael Moffat made the scoreline more respectable, but Stevenson took no consolation.

He said: “I don’t really take our two goals because it’s easy when you’re three and four nothing down."

Now, he wants his players to bounce back, both immediately, and in this same competition in future.

Stevenson told the Chronicle: “They’ve got to a semi final, which is fine, but I said to them, you don’t want this to be a one off anymore – we don’t want it to be another three, four years before they’re back in this situation.

“We’ll see how they react, we’ve got to stick together as a team and as a unit and dust ourselves down and get back on with it."