Finishing with a fine flourish

0 - 0 • Published 17 Jun 2009 18:07

AN excellent performance saw Neilston wind up their season with a fine result against the Scottish Cup winners.

Neilston"s shot shy troops had netted just 13 times in the league before Monday night, which led to the inevitable relegation from the Premier Division.

But gaffer Colin Lindsay reckons results like this - coupled with a heartening 6-5 friendly win over rivals Arthurlie - will give his team the confidence to bounce straight back up.

He said: 'That"s nine goals in our last two games, so we"ve been doing well, but it"s a bit late coming.

'The boys have been great for me this season and to be fair to them every single one of them has given me a shift. They have worked hard, but it has been difficult for everyone, including the management team.

'We have just got to look forward, get all the boys back in for pre-season and take things onwards and upwards. We know we are going into a very difficult league with some smashing teams, like Glencairn and Ashfield, proper good teams who will get right in about you.

'There are also the big spenders like Cumnock who we will be up against, but we will be there and we will be battling our corner.'

Neilston started the game the livelier of the two sides and took an early lead after quarter of an hour when St Peter"s U21 winger David Armour, on trial at the Brig O"Lea, went on a mazy run down the left which ended with a neat slide rule finish from the edge of the box.

Having faced a glut of fixtures in recent weeks, Talbot looked tired and Neilston took full advantage of lacklustre defending to go two up just before the half hour.

There seemed to be no danger for the Bot defence when Paul Gable closed down Paul Gaughan, who under pressure scooped the ball over his own goalkeeper and into the empty net.

Talbot quickly pulled one back when a deep cross from the right by David Gillies found veteran striker Stevie Mallan at the back post and he headed past the helpless Brian Hewitt.

Talbot had further chances before the break and after, but it was the Farmer"s Boys who added to their tally with 15 minutes left.

A long ball from Hewitt put Matthew Shields through on goal and the striker took his time to cooly slot past Adam Strain in goal.

After the game, Colin revealed he has re-signed seven players and admitted he will be scouting as many players as possible to start next season with a strengthened squad of 18.

He said: 'Some of the players here have got a smashing attitude towards the game and some of them have come on leaps and bounds from what we had at the beginning.

'Some of the young ones are new to junior football, but they have taken to it and will learn from it.

'I know its going to be difficult next season and I will have to chop and change it at times, but I am hoping to get some boys in who will help us get back up into the big league.'

Neilston: Hewitt, Byres, Trialist, Whiteford, Trialist, Gable, Blair, Fleming, Shields, Murray, Trialist. Subs: McLafferty, Chesney, McMenemy, McFarlane, Bonnar.

Tweet

This article appeared in Barrhead News 17 Jun 09

Follow @barrheadnews

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.