Arthurlie boss Colin Reilly believes his side’s improved fitness levels were crucial to moving a huge step closer to top flight survival.
The Barrhead club knew a win against Kirkintilloch Rob Roy on Saturday afternoon could be pivotal to staying in the WoSFL Premier Division.
After an edgy opening 20 minutes at Dunterlie Park, the hosts took the lead as Gary Smith netted his 99th goal for the club from the penalty spot.
A spanner was quickly thrown in the works, with Lewis Magee harshly handed a straight red for a high boot while trying to clear a long ball.
Despite reshuffling the team and looking like they’d hold on until half time, Rob Roy levelled just before the break through Derek McNab’s close-range header.
Even though they were down to ten men, it was hard-working Arthurlie that dominated the second half and retook the lead.
Gary Carroll first capitalised on some poor defending to slot past the keeper, before Jordan Leydon added a third from the penalty spot to give the hosts some breathing space.
James Scott kept out a late penalty for Rob Roy as Arthurlie picked up a precious three points, with manager Reilly delighted his players’ hard work in the gym and on the training ground paid off on the pitch when it mattered.
He told Renfrewshire Live Sport: “It certainly wasn’t a good game for the nerves. The first 20 minutes were definitely edgy but eventually we settled down and started playing how we wanted.
“We went ahead but the sending off changed the dynamic of the game completely. It was a frustrating one because Lewis is a lot taller than the other boy, who has stooped down to try and head the ball. There was no intent whatsoever.
“We had to change the shape completely and did so again at half-time to mark their number 10 out of the game. We put Lewis Warnock on to man mark him and that worked brilliantly.
“The boys executed the plan we had at half-time perfectly and I’m delighted we played for 65 minutes with 10 men and still won what was a very important game.
“We came in six weeks ago and the fitness levels of the boys immediately stood out as something we could improve. The boys would say that themselves, they just weren’t fit enough at that point for this level.
“The boys wouldn’t have had the fitness levels to do what we did on Saturday when we first came in, and that’s credit to them. They might have crumbled late on without that extra in the tank.
“They’ve worked so hard on that and I’m delighted that improvement has made such a difference. That win meant so much to the club going forward.”
Arthurlie know their relegation escape is almost secured, with Petershill and Cambuslang Rangers both already consigned to the drop.
Kilwinning Rangers, who sit eight points behind Arthurlie with two games in hand, are the only team that can catch Reilly’s resurgent side.
And the manager is confident ’Lie can finish the season strongly to stay in the division, starting with the visit of Hurlford United this Saturday.
Reilly said: “Kilwinning need to win at least three of their next four games and that is dependent on us not picking up any other points either.
“When we came in the club were second bottom and it looked a daunting task. A few people asked me what the hell I was doing taking the job!
“But I always believed in my own ability to turn things around and the boys have been excellent. It’s a brilliant club.
“We’ve got four wins from seven and only lost to Talbot and Beith. There’s a great squad here and if we stay up it will be something to be proud of.
“We need to keep making Dunterlie a hard place to come and I’ll always set this team up to play on the front foot and allow the players to go and express themselves.”
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