DEJECTED Girvan FC coach Steven McCreadie admitted his team's schedule of tough games had caught up with them as they suffered relegation to the Championship.

The Hamilton Park team last Wednesday went down 4-2 on aggregate to South Ayrshire rivals Troon in the Premier Division play-off at Hamilton Park. They had trailed 2-1 from Monday night's first leg at Portland Park.

Coach Steven McCreadie, whose son Steven is part of the Troon squad, said: "We scored an early goal which is what we asked them to do but all of a sudden we sat back and let Troon get back into it. When you score an early goal most teams lose a goal. I like to get the ball back and score another one. But Troon scored another one, we fell out of it and lost our way. Troon came right back into the game and the goal before half-time killed us a bit.

"The boys have had a lot of tough games in the last few months against Pollok, Hurlford, Talbot and Beith and I think it was just a game too far for us. To go down was a big disappointment after working so hard to get up. We will have a rest, get the players together and take it from here for next year. I have a lot of fond memories of being at Troon as a coach, I wish them all the best. Over the last two games they have been the best team. I wish them all the best."

McCreadie admitted it has been a testing few months and added: "We will dust ourselves down, we have a few injuries, our goalie had to go to hospital with an eye injury. I feel sorry for the players because at the beginning of the season they were settled. Peter Leonard and his guys left quite early on and Lawrie Dinwoodie and Jamie McCrae came in and then Paddy (Scott Dinwoodie) came in but that didn't work and myself and Lawrie took over the team.

"We will try and the spirits lifted, see who is staying. The main aim will to be come right back up again. Over the summer we will take it from there, we will look at out contacts in terms of bringing in players. I'm not one for moping around."