United finish season with imperfect ten
East Kilbride Thistle 1 Newmains United .... 0
Michael Temlett
their league position suggests.
He said: “We wanted to cause an upset and didn’t want to watch another team celebrating promotion right in front of us and we came close.
“We highlighted after the match the fact that they were lucky to beat us and they have just won promotion – so it shows we’re not far away.
“But the game sums up our season because barring three or four games we’ve always been competitive.”
In the early stages, John Craig’s corner found Ross McKinnon in the Newmains box and he powered a header that was touched over the bar by United keeper Paul McKane.
Thistle had their number one to thank late in the first half when Chris Treacy thwarted Darren Muldoon and then turned a Neill Carslaw shot away to safety.
But on 61 minutes the hosts sealed promotion with the much needed goal.
A curling free kick from Craig to the back post found the towering presence of Ross Gillan and he powered a header beyond McKane to spark wild celebrations from the hosts and their supporters.
Thistle held on to secure promotion despite pressure from United in the closing stages.
United’s points haul of 10 means it is their second most successful season behind last year’s effort from Thomas McGualey and John Fallon.
But boss Muirhead admits he is expecting to be busy during the next month.
He said: “The boys will return to preseason on June 17 but for me the real hard work starts now.
“I’m expecting a few changes and I’ve already marked out a few players I would quite like to bring in.
“I felt we turned the corner in the last half of the season so hopefully we can improve on that for next year.”
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