NEILSTON'S attacking talents have been stealing the show in recent weeks, but co-manager Derek Carson believes goalkeeper Grant Hay was to thank for his team’s latest win on Saturday.

The Farmer’s Boys maintained their 100 per cent record in Conference B of the West of Scotland Football League with a thumping 5-1 victory over Vale of Clyde.

Kieran Brophy netted twice, alongside strikes by Conor Bolger, Dylan Fletcher and Michael MacNeil, to secure the points but Carson praised his shotstopper for keeping his side in the game at an important time.

Speaking to Barrhead Sport, he said: “It’s taken a while for the defence to get used to the way we play because we don’t just class it as a back four, we need to defend from the front, which we’ve now been doing really well.

“Grant had nothing to do in the first half on Saturday – he actually came off and said he was freezing.

“There was a chance on Saturday and everybody thought the boy was a mile offside and Grant is the only one who has kept his concentration and pulled off a tremendous save at 1-0.

“We’re on the attack quite a lot in these games, so it’s up to him to try and keep his mind at it and that’s what good goalkeepers do.

“I can’t speak highly enough of him since he came in.”

Fletcher got Neilston off to a flyer with a well-taken goal in the early stages but they were made to wait for the second as Bolger made an immediate impact after coming off the bench by winning a penalty and then picking himself up to extend the lead.

Martin Welsh pulled a goal back for the visitors before Brophy was in the right place at the right time on two occasions to score goals three and four and secure the points for Neilston.

MacNeil then added a fifth to add some gloss to the performance.

Carson’s players now turn their attention to this weekend’s top-of-the-table clash with Greenock.

The two teams are undefeated so far, with Greenock only dropping points on one occasion, and Carson expects a tough game.

He continued: “They are a very well-organised team and they’re on a great run.

“We’ll have two good training sessions this week and go into the game with a lot of confidence. They’ll probably go into it as favourites in my eyes because they are the home team but I think it’ll be a tight game.”