Kinnoull manager Alan Cameron hopes Friday night’s defeat to Spartans can be a valuable learning experience.
The Perth men realised their Challenge Cup task at Ainslie Park would be a tough one but battled well despite going down 4-0.
Lowland League Spartans opened the scoring on five minutes through Sam Jones and were playing plenty of neat passing football.
But Kinnoull almost levelled proceedings when Cammy Robertson turned a Kyle Woolley cross goalwards. Goalkeeper Blair Carswell reacted to save.
The hosts added their second on the stroke of half-time, Blair Atkinson the scorer, who then claimed the third after the break.
Spartans rounded off the scoring in the latter stages of the game when Archie Meekison turned the ball beyond Lukasz Osinski.
Kinnoull boss Cameron was not too disheartened and reckons his Conference B players can take plenty from the fixture.
He told the Perthshire Advertiser: “I felt we competed extremely well against a top quality side.
“We were obviously disappointed to lose the game but I was pleased to see the boys express themselves and give it a go rather than sit back and defend.
“We conceded early but probably should have taken the lead prior to this with an excellent chance which David Gray narrowly headed over.
“Hopefully we can learn from the experience and continue to work hard and hopefully keep improving and progressing as a team.”
