Cambuslang Rangers co-boss Billy Campbell admits he felt for his players after their hard work against Auchinleck Talbot wasn’t rewarded.
The Somervell Park side played host to the Premier Division giants on Saturday and a Kier Samson goal for Talbot 12 minutes from time was all that separated the two sides.
It leaves Camby joint-bottom of the division with Petershill after zero points from their opening three games and Campbell was left gutted for his side after pushing Talbot all the way.
He said: “It was tough. I feel a bit more positive about it now than I did on Saturday.
“I think we have to put a bit of perspective on who and what we are up against just now.
“We competed very well, pressed well, had about half a dozen corners in the first half, hit the crossbar.
“But the sad stories don’t mean anything.
“In the cold light of day we are challenging at a far higher level than we have been for a number of years.
“We certainly don’t deserve any luck, but with 15 minutes to go on Saturday we’d have taken a 0-0.
“We were standing there thinking we’ve worked hard to get something out of the game.
“But we lose a free-kick outside the box and we are punished for it.
“We tried to make changes after that – we went three at the back and put another striker on as well – but we just couldn’t get the goal back.
“We weren’t distraught by that but I was disappointed for the players because of the work they had put in.”
So far Camby have tasted defeat to Talbot, Cumnock and Beith but the next two weekends off respite from the league, with a trip to Gretna 2008 in round one of the South Challenge Cup this Saturday, followed by Dundee East Craigie away in the Junior Cup on August 27.
And Campbell hopes that break from the intensity of the top flight will do his players some good.
He added: “Getting a wee breather from the league will give us a chance to build confidence up.
“It’s not that we are low on confidence because we are creating numerous chances against Auchinleck and Cumnock before that, so we are up there punching with the big guys.
“What is very much in our mind though is that we need that wee bit of luck now just to kick us off.
“Hopefully we can get a goal or two in these cup games, get some results and get the heads up a bit.”
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