Luncarty manager Robbie Holden admits the next game “can’t come quick enough” after a gutting midweek defeat on the road.
The Bleachers went down 4-3 away at fellow promotion pushers Newtongrange Star having led 2-0 and 3-1 in the contest.
Holden is counting down the minutes until his players return to First Division action on home soil against Dunipace.
“Saturday can’t come quick enough now, they are all huge games and we need to give ourselves a lift against a team that I thought were as good as anyone we have played this season,” he said.
“It was a very tough game down there earlier in the season and we know they have a lot of good players and one of the best strikers in the league in David Grant. It’s now about characters and picking ourselves back up.”
Rhys Davies (2) and Ben Scarborough were Luncarty’s scorers midweek.
“It feels like a case of one that got away,” Holden reflected.
“The first half we were very dangerous and went two up and looked like scoring every time we went forward. We have conceded a penalty which was a very poor decision from the ref and it gave them a lift.
“Unfortunately it set the tone for the official’s performance and we then didn’t get two fouls in the build up to their next two goals.
“That said, the second half we dropped off and Newtongrange deserve credit for the energy they put into it. We didn’t defend well enough all night.”
