NEILSTON co-manager John Paul Dow praised his team’s powers of recovery after they survived an early Forth Wanderers onslaught to claim victory in Saturday’s league opener.

The Farmer’s Boys won 3-1 at Brig O’Lea against the newly-promoted side as Derek Kennedy grabbed a brace and Robbie Cameron also found the net.

But Neilston had to negotiate a difficult opening period as Forth piled on the pressure early in the match.

Dow said Neilston’s defending during that spell gave them the platform to go on and take their first points in this season’s Central District First Division.

He said: “The performance was very good after the first 15 minutes. Forth started well and had us pinned back. They must have had five or six corners in that time.

“They could have taken the lead if it wasn’t for some great defending from us to keep it at 0-0.

“After that initial period we came back into it and finished the game strongly.

“The whole pre-season was geared towards getting three points in the first game and we deserved it but we will treat every game in the same way and see where we go.”

Despite some impressive results in the Sectional League Cup and an opening league win, Dow said he was still looking to strengthen their squad.

Neilston want to add to their options in midfield and will have two players in training this week with a view to a move to Brig O’Lea.

He said: “We’ve got two boys training this week so we can have a look at them. They were in last week and showed up quite well. Ralph Gamba, a right-sided midfielder from Benburb, and Lee Lockhart from Glasgow Perthshire who can play centre and left midfield.

“We need more depth in midfield without a doubt. On Saturday, Alan Diack was out injured and Robert Storey was away on holiday and those two would probably have started the match at the weekend.”