Neilston boss unhappy as Dalry handed league win
Craig Ritchie
Neilston boss Martin Campbell bemoaned his side’s slackness at the back after being stung by Dalry Thistle.
Paul Stewart’s second-half strike looked to have snatched a point for the Farmer’s Boys only for the visitors to hit back late on through Stuart Hannah.
An even first-half saw the two sides match one another across the park.
However, veteran striker Ian Cashmore put Dalry ahead against the run of play as he pounced upon a slack pass at the back.
The former Stirling Albion striker raced clear of Robbie Halliday before coolly picking his spot beyond Robert Tiropoulos to open the scoring.
Neilston were handed a way back into the match from the penalty spot but Craig Patterson failed to make the chance count as Blair Lochead in goals produced a good save to keep the visitors in front.
The Farmer’s Boys started the second half on the front foot and they finally got their rewards through last season’s top goal scorer Stewart.
Alan Frizzell’s ball into the box was head unselfishly back across goal by Dylan Fletcher, with Stewart nipping in to fire home the leveller from close range.
But it wasn’t to be for Neilston as Hannah struck late on to leave them with nothing.
A fru s t rated Campbell insisted his side deserved something from the game but conceded they could have been better.
He told Express Sport : “I’m very disappointed with the result because there certainly wasn’t too much between the sides.
“But we handed them the opener on a plate and we can’t afford to do that at this level.
“Even after going behind I still felt we were probably the better of the two teams.
“The goal was well-worked and at that point I honestly felt only one team was going to go on and win the match.
“For whatever reason our concentration slipped a little bit and we were punished for it, but I certainly wouldn’t say we deserved to lose the game.
“I will be looking for a reaction on Saturday but it shows the progress we are making considering we are disappointed with a win and a defeat from the first two games of the season.”