LUGAR Boswell Thistle boss George Wallace says he will be putting thoughts of promotion to one side.

Instead, the Jaggy Bunnets gaffer wants his side to "concentrate on playing well" as they look to establish their place in the West of Scotland Football League Third Division.

The Rosebank Park side have adapted to promotion well since their ascent into the league last campaign.

The East Ayrshire outfit have proved a tough nut to crack, losing just three of their 12 matches so far - alongside four wins and five draws.

At the end of last month, Wallace said his team's next three fixtures would go a long way in deciding the fate of their season - as they prepared to face the league's bottom three sides.

After a disappointing 5-5 draw with Irvine Victoria, a strong 3-1 win away at Girvan, and a last-minute heartbreak in a 1-1 draw with Wishaw on Saturday, November 16, Lugar have cemented their place in mid-table.

They sit five points back from the promotion places - having played one game more than sides ahead of them - and eight points above the drop zone.

Wallace now feels that focus should shift from thoughts of promotion and on to consolidating their league position - and seeing where that may take them.

He commented: “We’ve had two draws and a win, the Irvine game we just got slack, we had a chat and upped our training a wee bit.

“We had a decent win at Girvan then on Saturday we didn’t play well but it was a last-minute goal – it feels like you’ve lost the game.

“Promotion is probably out the window now, it’s just about getting a good wee run going and establishing ourselves in the league.

“We need to just concentrate on playing well, that’s what we did last year before we went on a great run.”

Before they get back to league action, the Jaggy Bunnets have the Scottish Junior Cup to contend with.

Lugar caused an upset to get into the last 32 of the competition, defeating Cambuslang Rangers at Rosebank Park.

They are now looking to do the same when they host Larkhall Thistle for a place in the last 16 on Saturday, November 23, with kick off at 1.30pm.

Wallace commented: “We are concentrating on this week now, the cup game, Larkhall had a good result at the weekend. The cup run would be a bonus.

“We will be the underdogs but at home I fancy us against any team. For a wee club like us if we get through this it’s massive.

“I’ve had three or four starters missing on Saturday but they’re back this weekend, we are full strength.

“It’s going to give me a big headache but that’s what it’s all about – and they all want to play in the big game.”