Cumbernauld Colts boss David Proctor "proud" of players for pushing East Kilbride close this season

David Proctor says his Cumbernauld Colts players should be proud of their efforts in pushing big-spending East Kilbride close in the Lowland League this season.

The Broadwood side fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat against the league leaders in a game that has likely killed off their hopes of catching the pacesetters, who now sit nine points clear of nearest challengers Hearts B and 10 ahead of third-place Colts, who have played a game more.

Goals from Kilby's new signings John Robertson and Robert Thomson, either side of a Billy Mortimer equaliser for Colts, saw Mick Kennedy's men walk away with all three points.

And that result came after another close game at K-Park in November when EK needed two second half penalties from Liam Brown to see off their rivals 2-0.

But as Proctor - who won the Lowland League twice as a player with EK - sees his side's title hopes drift away, he reckons they can hold their heads high and try to finish the season as strongly as possible.

He said: "Over the two games with EK this season, we've certainly given a good account of ourselves as a group and a club.

"They've represented Cumbernauld Colts with the right level of workrate, endeavour and values that sums up what we are trying to do here.

"I am certainly proud of the boys and to see what they've done over the last two games with East Kilbride - we've made them work really hard for the three points.

"At times, you couldn't tell who was top of the league and who was third.

"It is just one moment of quality that has undone us, with Flanagan's ball in and Robert Thomson getting the header on target.

"It is important we don't feel sorry for ourselves.

"We just need to lick our wounds and go again.

"East Kilbride have got a wealth of attributes to