Neilston co-manager Chris Cameron watched his side fall to a 4-1 away defeat to league leaders Benburb at the weekend before insisting that both himself and fellow co-manager Derek Carson couldn’t have asked for much more from their side.
The Farmer’s Boys were unable to extend their unbeaten run of five matches which stretched back to February with the Bens running away with it with three late goals.
Cameron and Carson made one change to the starting XI that won 2-1 at St Roch’s last weekend with Allan Diack replacing the injured Chris McLaughlin in midfield as both sides took their time to get going.
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Diack had the first real chance of the afternoon when he headed over from Cammy Haddow’s corner before Kieran McDade was next to try his luck with his header from a Stephen Stirling free-kick going narrowly wide.
It was a tense first 45 with both sides unable to dictate play but the visitors came close to breaking the deadlock when Stirling found himself through on goal only for Bens keeper Ryan McWilliams to produce a top save as they went in level.
Euan Clark replaced McDade at the break for Neilston but it was the Bens who started the second period on the front foot with a bit of luck going their way as they made the breakthrough. David Gordon’s attempted clearance at the back hit a Benburb forward before falling perfectly for Kieran Mulcahy who fired an angled shot beyond the trialist keeper.
The Brig O’ Lea side hit back almost immediately, however, as Paul Stewart remaining composed to slot it home from the spot after Robbie Halliday was bundled over in the box.
Benburb restored their lead soon after with Willie McLaren beating the offside trap and the visitors ran out of steam after that with substitute Callum Dillon adding the third before Mulcahy rounded it off with the fourth.
But, despite his side’s unbeaten run coming to an abrupt end, Cameron admits he was pleased with their efforts and praised their recent form.
He said: “We were well in the game up until it got to 1-1. The third goal knocked the stuffing out of us a bit and we seemed to run out of steam after that but to be fair to our lads, they gave it everything and we can have no complaints with the effort.
“We’ve been on a brilliant run and the dressing room has been absolutely buzzing. Saturday was a marker to see exactly where we are. It was an opportunity to take a step back and see how we managed against the league leaders - we’ve got a bit to go as we want to be in Benburb’s situation this time next year.”
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Neilston’s league campaign rolls on tonight as they welcome title-chasing Rutherglen Glencairn to the Brig with Cameron seeing the match as another chance for his side to test themselves.
He added: “Rutherglen have put themselves in a great position to win the league, but it’s a home game and a great opportunity to test ourselves against a promoted side and possibly champions-elect and show ourselves and the fans that we’re not far away.”
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