Shotts boss delighted to be out relegation zone ahead of Rutherglen Glencairn test

Shotts Bon Accord John McKeown was delighted to climb out of the West of Scotland First Division relegation zone after taking four points from a possible six last week.

The Hannah Park outfit backed up last Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Neilston, courtesy of a Taylor Evans double, with a 1-1 draw away to Whitletts Victoria on Saturday, where Peter O’Donnell’s first-half equaliser earned a point.

It has helped Shotts move up to 11th in the table and two points clear of the bottom three going into another double-header this week.

And McKeown said: “It has been a decent week for us. Last Wednesday was an important one where we played well and deservedly won the game, while Saturday was a hard-fought point down in Ayrshire.

“A draw was a fair result on reflection. They took the lead with a screamer of a goal and then we had quite a few chances before half-time.

“We managed to take one of them and maybe could have been in front at half-time, but then the second half was a bit of a nothing game.

“They had a half-hearted cry for a penalty and, having seen the video afterwards, the referee got it spot on for not giving it.

“I’d say going to Ayrshire and getting a point, after the amount of games we’ve had, isn’t bad.

“It’s good to get out of the bottom three.

“We have been playing well and we felt unfortunate to lose to Blantyre the previous Saturday, so the response this week has been massive.

“I don’t want to set a points target for safety because this league has been mental.

“We just need to try and win as many games as we can from our last five matches, and make sure we are on it.”

McKeown’s men now travel to Lanarkshire rivals Rutherglen Glencairn tonight at 7.30pm before hosting bottom of the table Rossvale on Saturday,