East Kilbride Thistle co-boss hopeful after strong Neilston performance provides promise

East Kilbride Thistle co-boss Alan Paterson has given his side stick in the past – but he couldn’t fault their efforts against Neilston.

The Jags suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to the West of Scotland League Conference’s third-placed team, courtesy of a Darren Jones goal.

Thistle sit 11th in the 15-team division and host Vale of Leven on Saturday, as four of their last five league games for the season are played at The Showpark.

It’s been a tough spell for Thistle, who have won just twice since December, but Paterson says more performances like the one they turned in on Saturday will see results change.

He said: “We were excellent on Saturday at Neilston. That is the best we have played in a long, long time. One mistake has cost us the game and that is it.

“We fought, we won every first ball and every second ball. We actually took the game to Neilston and managed to create loads of good chances.

“But we just couldn’t put the ball into the back of the net. I have said for weeks that we have been really poor but on Saturday the boys battled really well.

“Neilston have been battering teams at times this season but we really took the game to them. We battered them both halves.

“If we can perform like that in future matches, then we will be ok.”

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