ARTHURLIE manager Chris Mackie has backed forwards Michael Daly and Marc McKenzie to keep up their scoring run and fire Lie to a title challenge this season.

The pair shared Lie’s goals in the 4-3 win over Kirkintilloch Rob Roy at Dunterlie Park on Saturday, Lie’s first Premier Division win of the season following on from the draw at Girvan.

The braces takes former Clyde striker McKenzie’s tally for the season to six and former Pollok hitman Daly’s to five.

The duo had Lie cruising, netting a goal each before half-time before three Rob Roy goals early in the second half saw the Barrhead side staring at defeat.

But McKenzie brought them level before Daly’s header 12 minutes from time wrapped up the points. Mackie has been delighted with what he has seen from both players since they arrived in June.

He said: “I thought we were excellent in the first-half, at half-time I was delighted. Then we’ve made three individual errors for each of their goals, it’s not normal that you’d be punished for every one of them.

“The players took responsibility from there and we scored two good goals. Overall I can’t be disappointed with four points from the first two games.

“Michael just seems to have something in the box, he has a knack of popping up in areas that hurt teams. He scores big goals as well, over the last two games he’s had four chances and he’s scored three goals, that’s prolific.

“Marc McKenzie has scored six goals as well, that’s as many as our top scorers got in the whole of last season. They’re both experienced players, they are working hard and won’t get carried away this early.”

Meanwhile centre back Jordon Chisholm has re-signed at Dunterlie Park.

Mackie revealed Chisholm turned down interest from several clubs to rejoin Lie and his manager is adamant the club have secured one of the best defender’s in the Premier Division.

He said: “We tried to get Jordon to stay at the club earlier in the summer, but he was over in Italy for a month for his wedding. He contacted me when he got back, four or five clubs were after him but Arthurlie was his first choice.

“In my opinion he’s one of the best in the league. I started him on Saturday and you seen the difference, and that was him having had no pre-season.”