Linlithgow Rose boss Brown Ferguson praised his side’s fighting spirit as they came back from 3-1 down to claim a 3-3 draw away to Musselburgh Athletic.
He was less than pleased about the first half display, though, that saw them concede three times after Paul Willis had given the Rose an early lead.
The former Stirling Albion man would rescue a point with a stunning 77th minute free-kick after Tommy Coyne had reduced the arrears from the penalty spot.
Ferguson said: “We started well but then the level of performance dropped significantly after we went in front and that was disappointing to see.
“I made it clear to them at half-time that we need to up the game and the reaction was exactly what I wanted.
“They showed the desire and the work-rate that I want to see and that needs to be there consistently if we’re to perform at the levels that I think we can do in this league.”
He added: “At 3-3 in could have been anybody’s game and both sides were going for the win. Given where we were at half-time it’s a good point but we shouldn’t have been in that position.”
Since the draw, Pat Scullion, Jonny Court and Sean Dickson have left the Rose, with Ferguson saying the lack of fans at games is already having an impact on clubs.
He said: "The reality is that with no fans in the ground, the finances and expectations are having to be reviewed all the time.
“People are having to make difficult decisions and they’ve decided to look elsewhere.
“That leaves us with a bit of a threadbare squad but there’s enough talent there for us to be playing at a high standard.”
The Rose are unbeaten in five games this season, with three draws, and on Saturday they take on fellow unbeaten side Jeanfield Swifts at Prestonfield.
Broxburn Athletic and Blackburn United, meanwhile, face off in the first West Lothian derby of the season.
