ARTHURLIE favourite Paul Stewart has issued a rallying call to his Dunterlie team mates after the side slumped to their second successive defeat away to Beith.

A hat-trick from former Neilston striker and Barrhead boy Darren Christie proved to be the difference at Bellsdale Park as ‘Lie succumbed to a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Premier League new boys following on from their opening day defeat to Irvine Meadow.

Stewart admitted he and his Arthurlie team mates haven’t been at their best and stressed that they need to get going quick, starting this weekend at home to Jim Kirkwood’s Troon.

He told Barrhead Sport: “It has been a very poor start by all accounts.

“We haven’t been able to defend and it is costing us goals and games — but that’s not just the defenders that is starting from the front.

“We haven’t been sharp enough and I’ll put my hands up and admit that I haven’t been at my best, I need to get my sharpness back and I know it.

“We play Troon this weekend and they are no means going to be easy, hopefully I can keep my place in the starting line up and prove I deserve to stay there.” Arthurlie suffered a similar start to the season last campaign, only managing to grab safety in the closing stages of the season at the expense of rivals Pollok.

Stewart insisted last year’s nail-biting finish isn’t at the back of the squad’s minds. adding: “We just need to get back to the belief we showed in the final few months of last season.

“I don’t think the thought of last season’s struggle plays a part because at the end of the day the majority of this season’s squad is new and we are all here to prove to everybody we are better than the side that has been dragged into a relegation struggle the last few years.

“We want to show people that we can be a mid-table side or even further, but we need to get going as soon as possible or we run the risk of being left behind.”