Neilston co-boss Chris Cameron insists the scoreline flattered Cumbernauld after they crashed out of the West of Scotland Cup in the first round.
The Farmer’s Boys held their own against the Premier Division team for large spells, heading into half-time just one goal down before the North Lanarkshire side added some gloss to the end result in the second half.
Cameron refused to be too hard on his side after dominating for large spells, but admits his side’s defence was much less secure than it has been in previous meetings with top flight opposition this season.
Cameron told Express Sport: “It was a really frustrating game.
“We should have been one or two up in the opening stages because we created some great opportunities.
“We were very poor defensively for their opener which was pretty much their first attack of the game.
“We’d started so well and that rocked us. It shook our confidence.
“Even so we got back on the front foot and got into half-time at 1-0.
“The second half was more even but we made some attacking substitutions, put two strikers on and threw the kitchen sink at them.
“Their second goal came from a free header from a corner, with the third coming on the break at the end.
“The defending let us down and they’re goals we don’t usually concede. They didn’t need to work hard for any of their goals and that’s why I think the result flattered them a lot.
“If you’re outplayed and well beaten by a team from the division above you it’s easier to take, but unfortunately we made it too easy for Cumbernauld.”
Neilston will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways in the league when they take on bottom of the table side Lanark at Moor Park this Saturday.
A win would all but guarantee the Farmer’s Boys a top four spot, and with it promotion next season, with Cameron determined to secure that as early as possible so they can have a proper tilt at catching league leaders Drumchapel.
He said: “We don’t need to change too much heading into the Lanark game because we played very well against Cumbernauid.
“We’ve had five or six really good games against Premier Division teams this season and we’ve held our own in most of them.
“It’s imperative we get back to winning ways in the league. A win this Saturday would pretty much cement us in the top four with only eight games left to play.
“If we can manage that we can then go and give it our best shot at catching Drumchapel.
“We can take the brakes off a bit and try and put as much pressure on them as we can.”
