Gary Carroll insists relegation-threatened Arthurlie will emerge stronger after their week of turmoil as they secured a hard-fought point at Kilwinning Rangers last night.
The Barrhead side were plunged into crisis at the weekend when Johnny Millar, brought in to replace Craig Palmer, quit after one match.
‘Lie hero Millar admitted he let his “heart rule his head” in taking the job and stepped down following Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Largs Thistle.
It was left to Carroll, Callum Nolan and Lance Pearce to run team affairs for Arthurlie’s crunch drop-zone showdown with Buffs in the West of Scotland League Premier Division.
A sense of togetherness was immediately apparent as ‘Lie dominated the first half and led through Dale Simeon’s strike.
However, the adrenalin wore off on a freezing North Ayrshire night and Buffs rescued a point when striker Thomas Collins headed home.
“It’s been a tough couple of weeks for the club with a bit of uncertainty,” stand-in gaffer Carroll said.
“Two weeks ago, we were taking training then the new manager was announced on Saturday and he took the team – by Sunday I was back taking training again for this week.
“It has been a bit of a whirlwind but it has probably brought the boys closer together, as disappointing as the last few weeks have been.
“We’ve had to pull together to get through this sticky patch. It’s up to us to prove we deserve to stay in the league. There’s no one to protect us. It comes down to us as a team.”
‘Lie were outstanding in the opening period and twice could have been ahead through Jordan Shelvey before Simeon broke the deadlock in the 29th minute after showing clever close control to beat Kilwinning keeper Ally McInnes at his near post.
The Dunterlie outfit should have made it 2-0 with the last kick of the half but Ryan McGregor blazed over from Simeon’s back-post cross.
Buffs were a different proposition after the break. Arthurlie No 1 James Scott denied Ally McColm and Dylan Mackin before a Collins effort was hooked off the line by Pearce.
However, the leveller arrived in the 68th minute. Jack MacCalman’s booming long throw was right on the money for Collins who nodded into the bottom corner of the net.
Both sides had great chances to win it. Simeon sprung the offside trap but was thwarted by McInnes while, at the other end, Collins nodded wide.
Arthurlie remain in the relegation zone but are now a point behind Petershill and safety with four games in hand on the north Glasgow outfit.
Chris Aitken’s Buffs stay second bottom – four points from safety – but with four games in hand on Arthurlie alone and plenty of time to turn things around.
“If we came in 3-0 up at half-time then they couldn’t have complained,” added Carroll. “We were very good in the first half.
“In the second half, we just started sitting deeper and deeper. The last few weeks, we would have lost that game.
“We got a bit of luck, we’re creating chances again and would have taken the point before the game.”
Buffs chief Aitken added: "I asked them a question at half-time and in the second 45 minutes they really stepped up to the plate.
"We were excellent in the second half. We were on the front foot and had a right few chances. Is a point a fair result? Probably yes."
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