Rutherglen Glencairn assistant boss Joe Pryce admits a draw was fair against Gartcairn on Hogmanay – but says the loss of two points feels like a defeat.
Jack McIlveen put Glencairn ahead from the spot in 20 minutes, but Gartcairn turned that around to lead 2-1, only for McIlveen to scramble in a leveller and then hit the post.
But the Airdrie side forced a good save from Matt McGinley late on, as they sought a winner, too.
Pryce said: “At the end of the game both teams will probably feel they could have got three points.
“Certainly in the first half you could see we were rusty, we hadn’t played since December 10, so that was three weeks without a game.
“Gartcairn came out, they were the better team, but we managed to get our noses in front, against the run of play, and we tried to settle into the game.
“But we lost two quick goals and that set us back on our heels again.
“We came in at half-time probably quite fortunate to only be 2-1 down, sat the players down, and just told them what we expect from them.
“Credit to them, they came out in the second half and were by far the better team.
“Jack scrambled in the equaliser and then hit the post straight after it. There were another couple of chances, and it looked at one point as if we were going to win the game.
“But to be fair to Gartcairn they stuck in it, and though we were the dominant side, they were dangerous on the break, and Matt McGinley had to pull off a good save late on.
“Both teams will feel they could have won it, so the neutral would probably say the draw was the fair result.
“We’re obviously biased, but we were disappointed to only get the one point out of it.”
Pryce added: “It’s disappointing, because that’s another draw in the league. We’ve had six draws, and with three points for a win, a draw feels like a defeat.
“We need to start turning these draws into victories and get ourselves up the league again.”
Glencairn host Thorniewood on Saturday to see in the new year, and Pryce hopes it goes well.
He said: “Thorniewood on Saturday will be another tough game, but at least we’re at home and I think it’s the first game we’ve had at home in about five or six weeks.
“It will be good to get back to our own home ground, and hopefully start the year off with a good victory.”
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