for battling Burgh

Murdo MacKinnon has warned his players to keep their foot on the gas after holding off an Arthurlie fightback to clinch a five-goal derby-day thriller.

- Colin Paterson

The Keanie Park gaffer was blown away with his side's first-half performance at Dunterlie on Saturday in this cracking West of Scotland League Premier Division contest.

But he was less than impressed with Burgh's showing in the second period as the Barrhead boys piled on the pressure.

The Junior Cup holders managed to see it out, though, to record a third league win of the season and occupy seventh place in the standings.

MacKinnon told club media afterwards: "I thought we were excellent in the first half. We were 2-0 up and we probably should have had the game out of sight.

"We moved the ball brilliantly and created great opportunities but, if I was being ultra-critical, we maybe took too many touches and didn't pass the ball forward in the right areas quickly enough.

"I've said to the players that I don't think we got started in the second half and there was a bad mentality for us.

"In this league, because we've played that well, their gaffer is going to get in about them and they will come out with a wee spark.