ARTHURLIE assistant manager Tam McLaughlin admitted the Barrhead side have been disappointed by their stop-start season – before challenging his players to show up against Cambuslang Rangers. 

The Lie’s clash with Whitletts Victoria at Dunterlie Park was called off on Saturday due to a waterlogged pitch, despite the club’s best efforts to ensure the game went ahead. 

It’s been a frustrating season for McLaughlin’s men so far as they have had two games postponed and another abandoned, with only four league fixtures played – the lowest total in the Championship.

But Arthurlie still sit in fifth place and McLaughlin is expecting a difficult game this weekend when his team travel to Cambuslang Rangers, who are just one place behind in the table. 

He said: “I didn’t see the pitch in the morning but I saw it in the afternoon and the groundsman was saying that it was really heavy in all four corners, so the referee made the decision.

“We’d have preferred for the game to be on because we’re on a good run and we don’t want to be getting caught up with missing games.

“We had prepared properly and were looking forward to trying to win another three points.

“You always want to keep that run going, especially when you’ve had a couple of good results, but it’s been stop-start for us, which is disappointing.”

McLaughlin continued: “We just need to keep focusing and concentrating on what we’ve got to do and now look ahead to Saturday.

“When you go to Cambuslang, they’re always well organised and a difficult side to play against.

“They’ve had a few good results since coming down from the Premiership, so we know it’s going to be hard.”

The signs of improvement have been there for the ‘Lie on the park when they have been able to take to the field. 

Having played just four league games, Arthurlie have conceded the lowest number of goals in the division. 

In games against Kilsyth Rangers, Irvine Victoria, Shotts Bon Accord and St Roch’s, they have let in just four goals, keeping one clean sheet. 

McLaughlin hopes his team can continue to produce dominant defensive displays with games against Cambuslang Rangers, Petershill and Craigmark Burntonians to come. 

He said: “It was something that we had spoken about (at the start of the season). 

“We conceded quite a lot last year and we’ve been working with the guys to try and stop it.

“We know that we’re always going to score goals, so it’s just a matter of keeping the backdoor shut.

“If you keep a clean sheet then you can always nick a goal here and there.”

Kick-off for Arthurlie’s showdown with Cambuslang Rangers at Somervell Park is at 2pm.

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