ARDROSSAN Accies coach Andrew Duncan says he's "beyond proud" of his players after watching them clinch the West Division One title at the weekend.

A 40-12 win away to Kilmarnock on Saturday extended Accies' 100 per cent league record to 15 games.

And when news filtered through that Oban Lorne had lost away to Lenzie, champagne corks were popping in the Accies camp as the league title was confirmed.

It completed an amazing turnaround for the Memorial Field men, who just 12 months ago avoided relegation to the west region's second-bottom tier only on points difference.

It's Accies' first league championship title for 21 years - and it has all been wrapped up with three matches still to play.

And it vindicates the decision Duncan, a former Accies player and club legend, made last summer to return to Ardrossan after a spell away from the club.

He commented: "There is a lot of mixed emotions. I’m not fully sure it’s sunk in yet.

"I'm beyond proud of what the club has worked towards and achieved. It has been incredible to be a part of."

Accies have had things almost all their own way in the league this season, with try bonus points chalked up in 12 of those 15 games.

But Duncan admitted he was particularly pleased at the way his players bounced back after the agony of defeat in the quarter-finals of the National Shield seven days earlier, when a final-phase try condemned Accies to a 22-20 loss away to Moray.

"We knew the cup wasn’t going to be easy," he said. "A long bus trip and night away out of routine always upsets pre-game preparations.

"It was difficult to take but we had to focus on the main goal of winning the league.

"Yes, we could mourn the loss of a chance to play at Murrayfield, but but we had to look forward to securing the league win."

And the head coach credited a change in culture for aiding his side in completing their remarkable - the exact goal he set out at the beginning of the season.

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"From the minute I agreed to be head coach," he continued, "my main focus was creating a club culture that everyone wanted to be around, that people wanted to work hard for the badge on their shirt and no matter the role they played, everyone felt part of it."

Now, he is inviting all to celebrate in the club's success when the Division One trophy is handed over after Accies host East Kilbride at the Memorial Field on Saturday, April 6.

"We want to complete the season unbeaten, continue to build a good culture and have that bleed through the rest of the senior teams," Duncan added.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: Ardrossan Accies secured league title success following their victory over Kilmarnock at the

"The real presentation happens this weekend coming at our final home game, and we will see what it means to everyone.

"With the people that supported last weekend and all the other games before now, it’s been a long time coming."