Neilston recovered from a first-minute sickener to fire themselves back into the thick of the First Division promotion race.
The Farmer’s Boys had hardly settled into Saturday’s clash with Thorniewood United at the Brig O’Lea Stadium before the visitors headed themselves in front through Alastair Small.
The hosts battered at the door for the remainder of the first half but couldn’t find a way through the stubborn defence, led by an impressive display between the sticks by Thorniewood’s No 1.
Determined Neilston continued to push for an equaliser in the second half and grabbed it when Dylan Fletcher blasted in a fine finish.
And club captain Euan Clark rose highest to power home a winning header from a corner, a rare goal from the centre-back proving crucial to picking up all three points.
Neilston co-boss Chris Cameron was delighted with how his players reacted to their early setback.
Cameron told Renfrewshire Live Sport: “All of our prep seemed to have gone out of the window when they scored in the first minute. It was a well-worked goal to be fair to them, but the boys reacted very well.
“We got on the front foot again and we battered them for the rest of the first half. I’m not sure how we weren’t four or five up to be honest.
“To give the boys credit it would have been easy to think it just wasn’t going to be our day, but they kept plugging away and we got over the line in the end.
“Euan is one of the biggest boys in the division and he’d say himself he doesn’t score enough goals. It was a big moment from him when we needed it.
“It shows we’ve got some guts and character in this team.”
The battling win moved the East Renfrewshire club to within just three points of current league leaders St Cadoc’s.
With the top three clubs earning promotion to the Premier Division at the end of the season, Cameron wants his players to grasp the opportunity presented to them – especially with rivals elsewhere still facing cup distractions over the coming weeks.
Cameron said: “We’ve had a lot of disappointments this season, in terms of dropping points we shouldn’t have and conceding late goals.
“The last four to six weeks we’ve played well but not always got the rewards we deserved.
“We’re sick of saying that though and now it’s about trying to finally put a consistent run together.
“It’s been frustrating, but we’re not in a bad position at all. The opportunity is there for us but we need to grasp it.
“There’s so much happening in this league, especially with a lot of clubs going deep in the cup competitions.
“We’ve got Bonnyton and Rossvale in our next few games and they’re both nearer the foot of the table.
“If we can get positive results in those then we’ll be full of confidence heading into the new year.”
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