Kilwinning Rangers demolition was a 'statement' win for Rutherglen Glencairn

Joe Pryce admits Rutherglen Glencairn’s 4-0 demolition of Kilwinning Rangers was a ‘statement’ win in the West of Scotland First Division.

Glens were 3-0 up and cruising by the interval thanks to strikes from Danny Connor, Roan Fitzpatrick and Ryan McManus, with the latter adding a clinching fourth three minutes after the break.

That kept Glencairn second in the table, two points off an Arthurlie side with a 100 per cent record so far – and heading for the Hamish B. Allan Stadium on Saturday.

Connor fired Glencairn ahead from an Allan Woodhouse set-up in four minutes, and Fitzpatrick curled a 30-yard free kick into the top left corner in 16 minutes.

Fitzpatrick turned provider as McManus fired a low shot past former Glens keeper Mateusz Miller in 28 minutes, and completed his double in 48 minutes from a 22-yard volley.

Pryce said: “It’s a bit of a statement. Against Kilwinning we started the game really strongly, we were 2-0 up inside 15 minutes, Ryan McManus managed to get his customary goal again, so we were 3-0 up and playing well.

“We continued in that vein and it was a really dominant performance.

“You never get things easy at Kilwinning, they’re a huge club at our level and we know that, and to come away from there with a 4-0 victory was really pleasing.”

That followed up a convincing 4-2 midweek win at home to Kilbirnie Ladeside.

A Ryan McManus first-half double was added to by a Scott Jarvie penalty two minutes into the second period, with Oli Black sealing the points in 54 minutes.

Pryce said: “We had Kilbirnie in midweek there as well and managed to win 4-2 against a really tough side.

“I thought we played really well against Kilbirnie, got ourselves 2-0 up, then conceded right on half-time and there was a wee