Non-league cracks Irvine Meadow kicked off their pre-season marketing campaign yesterday with a 5-2 defeat at dwelling to Stranraer.
The Ayrshire outfit stayed in contact with their League Two opponents for one of the best a part of an hour at Meadow Park.
Twice they pegged The Blues again - from 1-0 and 2-1 down - due to a Callum Graham penalty and David Ramsay strike.
However Stranraer - who're three weeks forward of their preparations - made their superior health and sharpness depend to internet thrice in a dominant 17-minute second-half spell and seal victory.
Jamie Hamill's males had been deserved winners however the scoreline was a tad harsh on a Meadow aspect that featured 9 new faces over the course of the 90 minutes.
And Meadow co-boss Colin Spence was something however downbeat regardless of the defeat.
He stated: "I feel the primary half was a great recreation, it was a great battling efficiency from us.
"We confirmed up fairly effectively contemplating there was loads of boys making their debuts.
"Stranraer's health and their sharpness greater than something had a giant say within the second half. They took management of the sport and made it tough for us.
"However I stated to the boys earlier than the sport that it was a health train for us and that is precisely what we received out of it.
"We'll not come up towards the standard of Stranraer each week."
With common goalkeeper Marc Waters unavailable and understudy Adam McLean finishing a transfer to East Kilbride on the eve of the match, Meadow had been pressured to area Maybole stopper Ally Semple as an emergency trialist.
Begins had been handed to 3 new signings - defender Paul Byrne, wideman Ronan Kearney and Ross Smith who partnered one other trialist, Conor O'Donnell, in central midfield.
The hosts greater than held their very own in a reasonably even - if uneventful - opening half hour, however they fell behind in 35 minutes when Josh Walker beat Semple with a bobbling strike from 20 yards.
Parity was restored a minute earlier than half-time when Medda striker Graham was caught by a careless problem within the field then dusted himself right down to rifle dwelling the resultant spot-kick.
Semple made manner for trialist Blair Cousar on the break and simply 4 minutes after the restart the previous Largs goalie was choosing the ball out his internet after Grant Gallagher completed of a flowing transfer to fireside Stranraer again in entrance.
Meadow instantly changed frontmen Graham and Connor Boyd with new signings Kieran Boubekri and David Ramsay.
And the duo made an instantaneous affect, Boubekri offering the help and Ramsay the cool end because the hosts drew degree for a second time.
Stranraer, nonetheless, appeared to seek out one other gear after skipper Gallagher hooked dwelling a 3rd purpose on the hour mark.
Gallagher accomplished his hat-tick in 73 minutes with an beautiful chip from the sting of the field and Anton Brady rounded off the scoring with 13 minutes left on the clock.
Do not miss the most recent Ayrshire headlines – signal as much as our free every day e-newsletter right here