Duncan Sinclair insists his new-look Arthurlie side are making moves in the right direction after they shared the points with Neilston at Dunterlie Park on Saturday in what was the proverbial game of two halves.

Lie started on fire and when Josh Payne opened the scoring after 10 minutes it looked like the points would be staying in Barrhead.

But the home side failed to add to their lead and fell out of the game after the break which let Neilston capitalise as Dylan Fletcher restored parity for the Farmer’s Boys in the first period.

The Lie boss said: “We should have been two or three up at half-time if I’m honest. I thought we played really well.

“Getting James Marks back in the team was important for us and Del McNab in midfield. Bringing Reynolds back in at the back made us a bit more experienced and harder to break down.

“They made a tactical change and went three up front [in the first half] and stopped us getting down the flank, so that curtailed us a wee bit and we didn’t play as well as we did in the first half, we looked a wee bit leggy if I’m honest. 

“But fair credit to Neilston they came out after the break and made it difficult for us. 

“The players are working their socks off and we can’t fault them when it comes to the training. 

“The worst game we played was against Glencairn, we were absolutely hopeless a week ago on Saturday, so to get the response we got off of players today was great. 

“We’re making strides forward, still wee steps, but at least we’re going forward that’s the main thing.”

Five minutes from the interval and Arthurlie almost doubled their advantage with James Marks meeting the ball perfectly but Wilson made a fantastic save to deny the Arthurlie man.

Into the second half and Wilson had to get down low to deny Jamie Docherty as Arthurlie looked to seal all three points but it was the visitors who took control. 

Just after the quarter hour a ball into the Arthurlie area was flicked on before Fletcher hit a wonderful overhead kick that gave Digney no chance.

Then with twenty five minutes gone, the Farmer’s Boys almost went ahead as McLaughlin hit a great effort that Digney just managed to touch over.

Hal Bohme and Tony Etherson were brought on for the home side with Payne and Niall Reynolds making way and although it was the visitors who finished on top there was no further scoring and the point were shared.

After the game, match sponsor Tom Wilson of Corals presented the man of the match award to James Marks.

Next up for tenth-placed Arthurlie is a home game with Darvel Juniors at 2pm this Saturday and the Dunterlie Park boss insists his side can kick on against the Ayrshire men - if they show consistency.

Sinclair added: “Darvel are a decent team. They are big and strong and physical. 

“We know what we are are going to get so we need to make sure we get the consistency off players. They have got to do the exact same as against Neilston and if they do that we’ll not be far away from getting the result.”