Whitburn boss Darren Wilson says the club are ‘flying’ after an unbeaten start to life in the East of Scotland’s third tier.
The newly-promoted Burnie made it seven games without defeat to start the league campaign thanks to an emphatic 4-1 win over Syngenta at the weekend.
Last season’s EoS Division Three winners now occupy third spot in Division Two, six points behind leaders Dalkeith Thistle but with two games in hand. Despite the results going their way, Wilson admits it’s been a challenging start to the campaign.
But he believes the fact they are still picking up the points proves they have talent right through the squad.
Wilson said: “We’re doing really well just now but it’s actually been a very difficult start to the season with holidays and injuries.
“I don’t believe there was a long enough gap between the two seasons so you’re a few weeks into the new season and guys are still getting their holidays sorted.
“We’re only really now starting to get to the stage where we have a full squad available, but it shows the depth and talent we have at the club. If someone steps in, they’re just as strong as who they have replaced and the under-20s guys who have played have really shown their value to the team as well.”
He added: “The young lads will make some mistakes but that’s part of the learning process for them and we’ll get our rewards from those players. We’re not scared at all to play them and give them a chance.
“The club have been brilliant to set up the 20s and we have got a really strong connection between them and the first team that I think is vital for the club.
“They’re playing really well and are a huge part of what we want to achieve at Whitburn.
“I think we’ve recruited really well and we basically kept the team completely together – there were only two guys who moved on.
“The club have backed us with everything we’ve asked for and it’s really exciting times just now. I think we’re all just enjoying being part of it.”
The clash against Syngenta got off to an explosive start as the visitors’ keeper Lewis Duffy saw red after he was adjudged to have brought down Reece Duncan inside the box inside two minutes.
The Burnie man duly slotted home the penalty before Darren Liddell’s cross was deflected into the path of Ross Crawford to fire the hosts two in front. Liddell went from provider to finisher just before the break as he turned a Reece Boyle cross home just before the break.
Whitburn made it four in the closing moments through Jack Henderson before the Dyes instantly replied with a consolation from Andrew Johnston.
The suspended Wilson, though, heaped praise on his coaching staff as well as the players after the victory.
He said: “It was really tight between ourselves and Syngenta for the title last season so to
get those three points is huge for us.
“It was a good performance, the players were excellent and we want to be up there challenging at the top end. To do that we need to be picking up points in these sort of games.”
He added: “Scott Woodhouse, Robert Lee and Martin Hubbocks are brilliant to work with. They’re first class.
“There was no nerves at all from me in terms of not being able give the team talk or not being in the dugout.
“We all collectively work really well together and are on the same page. They deserve a huge amount of credit for the performance on Saturday and where we are as a team just now.”
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