Jags hit four to climb into fourth spot
EASTERHOUSE ....................................... 2 EAST KILBRIDE THISTLE ....................... 4
Aaron Connolly admits he had to read the riot act to East Kilbride Thistle at half-time, but he was pleased with how his players responded to come back from 2-0 down to edge out Easterhouse.
The Jags moved up to fourth in the West of Scotland Fourth Division, courtesy of a 4-2 win over their second from bottom hosts, but it was far from plain sailing as they extended their unbeaten run to five games.
Trailing at the break, Connolly needed to fire a half-time rocket to spark his side into life, and goals from Adam Edgar, Mitchell Rooney, Jamie Scullion and Michael Blues managed to turn the game around.
The Showpark gaffer said:“It was a good win in the end, but I thought we made heavy weather of it in all honesty.
“We didn’t start the game well at all and Easterhouse were far more aggressive than us. They gave much more energy to the first half than us and we found ourselves 2-0 down.
“Although we created some good chances in the first half, I don’t think we played particularly well.
“I reminded the boys at half-time about the expectations here, with some choice words, and the kind of team we want to be – and have been – in recent weeks.
“And all credit to them, because they went out in the second half and blew Easterhouse away, for most parts.
“We scored four good goals and we probably could have had a few more for our efforts.
“It is a little reminder that this league is very competitive and if you don’t apply yourself in the right way, you can find yourself in a precarious position.
“In fairness to Easterhouse, I don’t think their position in the table is a fair reflection on them.”
Connolly now hopes they can end 2023 on a high by extending their unbeaten run further, when they host BSC Glasgow in their final game of the year.
The sides fought out a thrilling 4-4 draw last time and Connolly expects another tough encounter against a side sitting eighth in the table.
He said:“We are five games unbeaten now, with four wins, so we are in a decent vein of form and we want to keep that going.
“BSC pose another challenge this weekend. They are doing well themselves this season and we had a bit of a thriller with them last time.
“We know they are capable and they can hurt us, so we will need to tidy up some aspects defensively.
“But we know, on our day, we are an exciting team and we can go and score goals. That will be the aim on Saturday.”