MUIRKIRK Juniors boss Ross Cusick says he is delighted to see his players earn their rewards after learning from prior mistakes.

The Burnside Park club got back to winning ways in the West of Scotland Football League Second Division on Saturday, September 28, with a comeback win away at Lesmahagow.

It was the second straight week that the East Ayrshire outfit came from behind to win, after they overcame a 3-0 deficit to beat Banks o' Dee 5-3 in the Scottish Junior Cup last weekend.

This week was not quite as spectacular, though equally pleasing at they won 3-2 at Craighead Park.

Cusick's side led 1-0 early thanks to Ryan Milne's strike but found themselves behind after 25 minutes when their opponents notched a quick-fire double.

The score remained 2-1 until the 88th minute when James Hazlett levelled the game, only for Daryl Airdrie to score the winner on the 90 minute mark.

“The scenes in the dugout and the pitch afterwards were great, it was a special win," Cusick commented.

“The week before, in the Scottish, we were 3-0 within half an hour – then we got our act together and ended up winning 5-3.

“At the weekend, we were just hoping to be more robust, because we’ve been conceding goals. The more dogfights you get into with big scorelines they will start not falling for you.

“We hoped to have a clean sheet but the way the game panned out it was very difficult to do that.”

(Image: Muirkirk Juniors)

Despite the game plan going a little out of the window, the Burnside Park boss was pleased with how his team stuck to the task - particularly after he felt this wasn't the case when his side were last in league action, losing for the first time this season against Forth Wanderers.

He added: “What was pleasing, if we go back to the game we lost, it was a similar situation where we found ourselves behind.

“We lacked the composure to create anything clear-cut, because we were behind we were rushed and panicked.

“The fact we have been in that situation now and come through it, we really controlled the game in the second half.

“We never got frustrated, we moved it side to side, and eventually we got our reward and the two goals. It was much deserved.

“That was pleasing from my point of view, we are learning from mistakes and we’re getting our rewards.”

The win helped Muirkirk maintain there lead atop the Second Division table - and Cusick says it could prove vital with a tough run of fixtures coming up.

He said: “I was delighted for the players more than anything because they put so much into the game.

“The points put is into a good position as well, because we’ve got a tough run of fixtures coming up.

“It was really important, after our first slip up of the season, we bounced back right away.

“It was really important to get back to winning ways at the earliest opportunity – which is what we done.”

(Image: Muirkirk Juniors)

Next up for The Kirk is a home fixture against Knightswood in the West of Scotland League Cup - with kick off at 2pm on Saturday, October 5.