NEILSTON co-boss Derek Carson was delighted with his team’s performance as they laid down a marker in Conference B of the West of Scotland Football League by hitting Lugar Boswell Thistle for six.

Euan Clark started proceedings before goals from Dylan Fletcher, Stef Stirling, Robert Wilson and a brace from Kieran Brophy sent The Farmer’s Boys to the top of the league.

Clark headed home the first goal in WoSFL history with a header after just 72 seconds to send Neilston on their way.

Fletcher then added a second before Brophy got his first of the afternoon.

Stirling notched a fourth just a few minutes into the second half with a composed finish at the end of a mazy run and this was followed by Brophy’s second of the afternoon.

Wilson completed the rout with a left-footed strike.

Carson believes securing all three points in their opening league fixture was vital as Neilston head into two games against teams he believes will have title aspirations of their own.

He told Barrhead Sport: “We told the boys to go out, be ruthless and put a marker down for the season going into two really tough games coming up.

“We’ve got St Cadoc’s this Saturday and the Glenafton manager has taken over there. We’re hearing rumours he has brought 14 players with him, so it looks as if we’re facing Glenafton really.

“The boys are buzzing about that. We want to go and win the league by facing the bigger teams, so we play them and I think we’ve got a free week and then play Gartcairn, so it’s two really tough games against sides I fully expect to be up there challenging for the league title.

“We had to go out there and put a marker down and the boys have done that.”

Brophy was a thorn in the side of the Lugar defence all afternoon and Carson doesn’t think they will be the only ones to struggle against the ex-Morton youngster.

He added: “Kieran is a breath of fresh air up there and his energy levels are through the roof.

“His pace is frightening and is going to cause a lot of problems this year for defences.

“He just loves playing football, never misses a training session and just loves being on that football park. He was outstanding on Saturday.

“You can’t really complain with a 6-0 victory on the opening day.”