Tommy Sloan insists it was vital Auchinleck Talbot laid down a title marker as his side edged this afternoon's top-of-the-table showdown at home to Pollok.
An early first-half winner from Craig McCracken sealed a vital victory for 'Bot at Beechwood Park.
Auchinleck are now eight points behind leaders 'Lok in the West of Scotland League Premier Division with five games in hand.
'Bot boss Sloan was delighted to nab the win but vowed not to get carried away with so much football left to be played.
He told Ayrshire Football News: "I felt we had to try and get the three points. Nothing was going to be won and lost but it was important we tried to peg Pollok back a bit.
"The early goal took a bit of pressure off us but, over the piece, we had a number of chances to score and I thought we certainly deserved to win the game.
"We were strong when we had to be and we coped with a lot of high balls. Pollok have certainly got a threat there.
"We move on to Wednesday night and we'll be taking nothing for granted."
It took the home side just eight minutes to open the scoring with the Pollok rearguard not covering themselves in glory.
Jamie Glasgow's corner found McCracken whose header crashed in off the underside of the bar despite the presence of keeper Jordan Longmuir and defender Ryan McGregor.
Midway through the first half, 'Bot hit the visitors with a quickfire counter attack but Aaron Mason's effort was well saved by Longmuir.
Auchinleck piled on the pressure and, in the 34th minute, Aiden Wilson's delicious ball picked out Bryan Boylan but his header was off target.
Glasgow's deliveries from wide areas caused 'Lok all sorts of problems and, four minutes later, another one found Chris Stafford but Longmuir pulled off a smart stop.
Despite their dominance, Bot still only had one goal to show for it and they survived a scare a minute before the interval when 'Lok squandered a golden chance to equalise.
A rapid counter saw Matthew Grant fly down the right flank and provide a low cross which was dummied by Stuart McCann and then skewed wide by Jonathan Lyon.
Mason blasted a couple of shots over for 'Bot in the second half which degenerated into a largely scrappy affair although the match was still absorbing and retained a nervous tension given the scoreline.
'Lok applied more pressure which 'Bot's defence soaked up although, in the 76th minute, they forced an opening when Shaun Fraser's volley at the near post flashed wide.
In the third minute of injury time, Pollok's disappointing day was capped when substitute Grant Evans received a straight red card for a lunge on Boylan.
It's back to business on Wednesday night for 'Bot who welcome Kilbirnie Ladeside to East Ayrshire with the games coming thick and fast over the coming weeks.
Sloan added: "This is where it becomes tough for the part-time guys and we're well aware of that. It's a hard shift."
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