Chris Aitken insisted he would focus on the positives after Kilwinning Rangers lost out at Auchinleck Talbot in an all-Ayrshire clash on Monday night.
Midfielder Ben Lewis wiped out Ross Taylor’s opener at Beechwood Park but goals from Keir Samson and Ross Smith earned ‘Bot the points.
Aitken said: “I can’t ask for much more than the players are giving me.
“They are battered and bruised but to come down here and play the way they played – they need to take the positives and I’ve told them that.
“We could have scored four goals in the first half. We’re creating chances so we’re doing something right.”
Talbot chief Tommy Sloan added: "We always looked a threat and we created plenty of opportunities. We managed to score a few goals and it was a good night for us.
"We showed a good response after it went to 1-1 and it was a good header from Keir [Samson]. He's been working hard and I'm delighted for him.
"We don't like playing every two or three days but we have had a lot of it in recent years.
"You try and freshen it up when you can - but that means picking someone who hasn't played for three days! It is what it is."
Buffs made an encouraging start in this vital West of Scotland League Premier Division clash but it was Talbot with the first real chances. Samson dragged his effort wide then an Ally Boyle snapshot flew past.
In the 21st minute, Buffs poured forward and really should have opened the scoring as Ally McColm charged into the area.
The striker’s cutback struck a Talbot defender who watched as the ball bounced off the post. Taylor cleared as far as Lewis who had time to pick his spot but blazed over.
Six minutes later, Kilwinning’s profligacy continued when a low cross from Lewis was fired wide by McColm.
Talbot responded with a counter attack in the 32nd minute and Michael Wardrope’s shot after good work by Samson brought out a good save from keeper Ally McInnes.
Smith then cut inside and blasted over the bar for the home side who eventually took the lead a minute before the break.
Despite Buffs appeals for offside, it was Taylor who unleashed a low effort which squeezed in at the near post.
However, Buffs equalised in the 55th minute when a fantastic cross from Jonathon Kavanagh was headed into the top corner of the net by Lewis.
Parity lasted barely a minute, though, with Talbot restoring their lead when Samson converted at the back post.
Buffs continued to carve out opportunities. McColm fired wide before a Jordan Stuart effort stung the palms of keeper Andy Leishman in the 70th minute.
The hosts wrapped up the points a minute later with a rapid counter which resulted in Smith firing home.
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