Shotts boss John McKeown admits he was concerned about facing Kilbirnie Ladeside with four key players missing, but his depleted young side delivered a fine display to shock the league leaders on Saturday.
The Bonny came from behind to beat the visitors as PJ O’Donnell and Chris Kelly struck after Jamie Marks had given Kilbirnie the lead.
It was a result that knocked Kilbirnie off top spot in the West of Scotland League First Division and delivered 12th-place Shotts their third league win in seven games.
But it came as a pleasant surprise to McKeown.
He explained: “Kilbrinie were obviously top of the league going into the game and we had been a bit inconsistent so, with the players missing as well, I was quite concerned about the game.
“But we did really well. It was a good result. We played really well and deserved the win.
“We had quite a few injuries and suspensions for some of our more experienced players but the younger ones produced a good performance.
“We had Craig Crawford suspended, Kyle Richford out with a knee injury, with Martin Shiels and Paul McGeough injured as well. These guys are
all regulars so there was some big losses that we managed to overcome.
“I felt we had two really good chances before Kilbirnie scored and their goal came with their first real opportunity.
“I suppose Johnny Murdoch made a good save before half-time to keep us in the game but I don’t think we deserved to be behind at half-time.
“We bossed the game and played really well.
“In the second half we had a good grip of it and fought back well.”
Shotts now take a break from league duty and travel to Rossvale Academy in the second round of the South Challenge Cup.
McKeown admits he will ring the changes but hopes his side can start to build some momentum.
He said: “We will probably give guys who haven’t been playing an opportunity to show us what they can do, and freshen things up a bit.
“We will do our homework on them but we expect them to be young and enthusiastic.
“I want us to get a string of results together because we are winning two games and then we are losing.
“We can’t get three, four, five wins in a row so it’s frustrating for us.
“That’s what can happen with young players sometimes, you can’t get that consistency with them but hopefully that can change.”
Saturday’s clash at Huntershill Sports Club is a 2pm kick-off.
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