Arthurlie’s perfect start to the season was brought to an end on Saturday, however Andy McFadyen’s side remain unbeaten and top of Conference A of the West of Scotland Football League. 

The Dunterlie Park side picked up a comfortable midweek win over Saltcoats Victoria with goals from Lee Roulston, Dale Simeon and a brace from Gary Carroll securing three points in a 4-0 victory. 

The ‘Lie looked to be heading for another three points on Saturday as they had a two goal lead heading into the closing stages only for Muirkirk to hit back and snatch a point. 

It was the visitors who struck first when Calum Bryan headed in from a corner but Carroll responded from the penalty spot. 

Arthurlie started well in the opening stages of the second period and got their reward when Dale Simeon teed up Jordan Leyden to put his side ahead.

There were still warning signs from the away side and they received a further boost when Kris Gebbie was shown his second yellow card and the hosts were reduced to ten men. 

The ‘Lie were able to make it 3-1 despite being a man down when Simeon’s strike was diverted into the net by Leyden and it looked like their 100 per cent record would continue. 

But Muirkirk pulled one back through Andrew Coyle and, with their tails up and a man advantage, Craig Peck equalised in stoppage time. 

Boss McFadyen wasn’t in attendance on Saturday with assistant George Fotheringham overseeing proceedings and he remains upbeat despite the winning run coming to an end. 

Speaking to Barrhead Sport, he said: “We’re disappointed because we should have seen the game out.

“It could have been prevented but we’ll learn from it. We’ve got a really young squad so it’s a learning curve for a lot of the boys.

“I thought we dealt with the red card well and should have seen the game out. We just need to learn from it.

“It’ll make us stronger and come together. If you said at the season we’d have seven wins and one draw from the first eight games then we’d have taken it.” 

Arthurlie conclude their run of midweek fixtures this evening when they travel to Maryhill before the Scottish Junior Cup gets under way on Saturday as McFadyen’s troops face a long trip to Aberdeen where Whtehills are the opponents at School Park.