Kevin Deeney hailed managerless Irvine Meadow's all-for-one attitude after they ground out a priceless three points at Blair Park this afternoon.
Callum Graham's first-half penalty ensured a happy ending to a dramatic day for Meadow that began with the shock news George Grierson had stepped down from the hotseat for personal reasons..
Assistant boss Deeney - Grierson's long-time right-hand man - took charge of team affairs at the 11th hour and admitted he was greeted by a stunned dressing room.
But he reckons a band of brothers spirit fostered by Grierson helped his players triumph in the face of adversity.
He said: "None of the boys knew. They pretty much just found out this morning.
"We spoke about it and I said, I need you all to step up today - we go together, nothing changes. The attitude was, we're just going to truck on.
"I don't know how other teams are but we've got no cliques in the dressing room.
"We just go as one -and that's what we did today. Credit to Geordie - that's the kind of characters he gets and the teams he builds.
"To a man, I can't fault them. I genuinely thought we cruised through the game. Once we get in front we're hard to be pegged back.
"I actually thought we played really well in the first half. My big worry was Hurlford are dogged. They're never out a game."
Both teams went into the West of Scotland League Premier Division clash level on 23 points with Hurlford one place above Meadow in sixth thanks to a superior goal difference.
The visitors fashioned the game's first big opportunity in eight minutes but Graham's effort from eight yards cleared the crossbar.
'Ford responded with a Jack Whittaker strike from the edge of the box that Medda goalkeeper Marc Waters clutched at the second attempt.
Meadow were awarded their breakthrough spot-kick in the 21st minute after striker Connor Boyd was sent tumbling by Robbie McCracken's clumsy challenge.
Graham duly sent home keeper Chris Taylor the wrong way from 12 yards much to the delight of a large travelling support.
The rest of the first half petered out without much goalmouth action and there was very little to keep the crowd entertained after the break.
A fierce Chris McKnight strike that smashed the underside of the crossbar was the closest Hurlford came to an equaliser while Meadow failed to test Taylor again.
The late dismissal of defender Neil McGregor for a second yellow card rounded off a miserable afternoon for Hurlford who are now winless in four games.
Disappointed Ford boss Darren Henderson said: "I don't think we did enough to win the game but I don't think we deserved to lose either. There wasn't a lot in it. I think it was a soft penalty.
"I'm destroyed just now with injuries and suspensions and we're on a wee bit of bad run but we just need to get on with it.
"It's no secret we're struggling to score goals. We lost Lewis Morrison 18 months ago and we've never replaced him for different reasons.
"The players are giving me everything. It's not as if we're downing tools or anything. It was just one of those days."
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