Dougie MacDuff watched his Irvine Vics side notch their ninth goal in two games – then insisted they’ve not been ruthless enough.
The Westenders came from behind twice on Saturday as they drew 3-3 at home to Lanark United.
Justin Smith, Alessandro Savarase and Steven Gaffney got on the scoresheet to add to the goals Vics scored in last week’s remarkable 7-6 West of Scotland League Cup defeat to Thorn Athletic.
But frustrated boss MacDuff reckons they could have matched that tally had they taken their chances after Gaffney made it 3-3 with 20 minutes still to play.
He said: “Second half I thought we were by far the better team.
“It was wave after wave after our third goal went in. It could have five or six, without blowing our own trumpet.
“We just didn’t have our shooting boots on. It’s that old story - sometimes you just need a wee bit of luck.
“We’re a forward thinking, positive team. One of the things I say to the boys every week is attack, attack, attack. That’s all we should be doing.
“We never lost the game so it’s not all doom and gloom.
"Lanark are a good side who will cause teams problems. They would probably say they deserved it on their first half performance. They had a couple of chances near the end too."
The fans certainly got their money’s worth in an entertaining, hard-fought contest that yielded three goals inside the opening half hour.
The hosts broke the deadlock with just seven minutes on the clock, Smith firing home from the edge of the box, perhaps aided by the slightest of deflections.
However, Lanark were back on level terms just three minutes later when Callum Anderson headed home Con Boyle’s free-kick.
The visitors then got their noses in front on the half hour mark with the award of a contentious penalty kick.
Vics defender Gaffney was adjudged to have handled the ball as he dived to block a shot but referee Chris McLaughlin didn’t appear to have the best view.
Goalkeeper Owen McCallum saved Boyle’s effort but was powerless to prevent the frontman ramming home the rebound.
The action was end-to-end with a few tasty challenges thrown in for good measure but it remained 2-1 to Lanark at the interval.
Vics had McCallum to thank for keeping it that way courtesy of an excellent double save just seconds into the second half.
And it would prove to be a vital contribution as the hosts pulled level with their next attack, Savarese beating the offside trap and keeping his cool to slot past Yowes goalkeeper Craig Mudoch.
The momentum now appeared to be with the hosts but they were dealt a body blow in 50 minutes when Fraser Allan found the top corner with stunning, swerving strike from 25 yards to restore Lanark’s one goal advantage.
Murdoch made a fine save with his feet to stop Kevin Adam restoring parity but the keeper was at fault when Gaffney out-jumped him at a free-kick in 64 minutes to head home and make it 3-3.
Vics’ tails were up and Smith and Adam both fluffed their lines with just Murdoch to beat before appeals for a handball were waved away by whistler McLauglin.
Both sides could have won it in the dying minutes, McCallum making a couple of smart saves before Adam glanced a header from a corner kick inches wide of the target.
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