Relegation scrap for EK
Thistle boss up for the battle after latest defeat
East Kilbride Thistle boss Gary Hamilton admits his side look set to be involved in a relegation battle this season after falling to yet another defeat.
Following a humiliating Junior Cup exit to Dufftown last week, the Jags were beaten 3-1 by title hopefuls Ardrossan Winton Rovers on Saturday, with Ryan Barrett grabbing a consolation goal.
The Jags have now won just once in 10 league games.
Hamilton has already conceded the pre-season aspirations of promotion were off the mark, but he believes there is still the makings of a good side at the Showpark to avoid the drop.
He said: “Ardrossan were the preseason favourites for the league, so it was always going to be tough.
“It’s a disappointing result, but I can’t fault the players for their effort.
“After the Dufftown result, we got a reaction in terms or our performance.
“It was much better. But we know how difficult things are.
“If you look at the teams around us, it’s going to be three from the bottom eight teams [who get relegated] looking at how things stand.
“We drew with Greenock and Shettleston - the two teams at the top of the league right now - and we weren’t outplayed in defeats to Ardrossan and Bellshill. We also drew with Lanark, who just lost in the Sectional League Cup final on Sunday [to Auchinleck].
“To draw with teams in the top four and compete with them, it shows we are not a bad side.
“There’s definitely something there, we just haven’t clicked yet. Once we do, I think we will be alright.”
Derek Kennedy gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot after 14 minutes and then doubled his and Ardrossan’s tally four minutes later with a fierce strike past Connor Gaffney.
Peter Haggerty made it 3-0 in 57 minutes with a composed finish before Thistle salvaged some pride when Barrett rifled home from 20-yards into the top corner.
Hamilton added: “We started well and played some nice football, but after 14 minutes we conceded a penalty, then lost another goal soon after. We created a lot of good chances, but we just couldn’t convert them in the first half.
“They got a dubious third goal that looked offside and in the second half I thought we were well on top.
“Ryan’s scored a great goal and that will give him a lot of confidence, but it’s not the result we wanted.
“After the game, [defender] Martyn McLaughlin spoke to the players in the dressing room and told them that last season the team were 3-1 up at half-time, but Ardrossan battered them in the second half, losing 4-3.
“Martyn said he thought we competed with them much better than last season, so that was good to see there had been an improvement.”
Thistle’s cause has been boosted somewhat by Girvan’s three-point deduction for not fulfilling their fixture with Carluke last month.
It lifts the Jags off the foot of the table ahead of huge games with Kello this Saturday and Glasgow Perthshire the following week.
“I think we have to take six points from those games to get us going,” said Hamilton.
“If we win on Saturday we could go above Kello and we will be close to full strength. We have to start picking up points.”
Kick-off on Saturday is 2pm at the Showpark.