GLENAFTON Athletic boss Ryan Caddis has vowed his side are "ready to go" in the battle to retain their Premier Division place...despite having one of the toughest run-ins in the top flight.

The Loch Park side secured a crucial three points against basement boys Irvine Meadow on Saturday, with the 4-2 win at Meadow Park seeing Caddis's men climb out of the drop zone.

Jack McDowall had given the home side an early lead before Michael Moffat struck to send the teams in level at the break.

Dylan O'Kane put Glens in front midway through the second half, only for Medda debutant Thomas Cruden to level it up at 2-2 with 15 minutes left.

However, a penalty from the newly returned Hugh Kerr and a late clincher from Gary Fraser secured all three points for the visitors.

The New Cumnock side are now 12 points ahead of Meadow and four clear of third-bottom Arthurlie, with two games in hand on both.

The final relegation spot is currently occupied by Rob Roy, who are three points behind Glens, with both teams having eight games to go.

The win over Ben Carson's side at Meadow Park was Glens' second successive victory on the road, following their derby triumph over Cumnock at Townhead Park on March 23, and means Caddis's men are now unbeaten in four.

Caddis said: “It was a tough game on Saturday to be fair but I thought we deserved it.

“They equalised about two minutes after we went 2-1 up, and I thought that was going to be a problem for us, but the boys regrouped and were brilliant.

“Medda are a decent side, Ben's taken over in a similar situation to myself - a team at the bottom end of the table trying their best to survive.

“It was a tough one but we deserved it. It’s a massive three points as well.”

And while his players have hit a much-needed vein of form as winter turns to spring, Caddis couldn't have it much tougher as they look ahead to the final few weeks of the season.

First up are local rivals and title hopefuls Auchinleck Talbot at Loch Park this Tuesday, April 2, with fellow championship challengers Darvel, St Cadoc's and Beith (twice) also on Glens' fixture list in the relegation run-in.

“We’re coming to a tough run of fixtures against teams that are trying to win the league," Caddis admitted.

“The games are coming thick and fast which isn’t ideal.”

But off the back of that recent good run, the Loch Park boss says he has confidence in his side to get the results they need - not least because of the additions Caddis has made to the squad in recent weeks, with midfielder Cammy Crooks arriving from Johnstone Burgh and Cammy Ross making the switch from Meadow in addition to Kerr's return to the Glens ranks from Pollok.

"That was a big week there," he said. "We beat Cumnock last Saturday, drew with Arthurlie during the week and won at Meadow. That's seven points from the last nine, eight out the last 12.

“It’s a game at a time now. We’ve added to the squad well in the last week or two and I’m confident going into every game but there’s no hiding how hard it will be.

“I’m hoping we can put a wee bump in their road, but one thing's for sure the boys will be ready to go, ready to work hard, and hopefully we can get something.”

Tuesday night's game with Talbot kicks off at 7.30pm. Glens supporters are being asked to gather on the stand side, with Talbot fans on the terracing opposite the stand.

Following Tuesday's derby clash, Glens welcome St Cadoc's to Loch Park on Saturday, April 6 (KO 1.30pm), before defending champions Beith complete a run of three home games in a row for Caddis's men on Tuesday, April 16.