Neilston co-boss Chris Cameron admits St Roch’s manager Paul Kelly’s sad passing put football into perspective this weekend.
The Farmer’s Boys bounced back from their disappointing defeat to St Roch’s the previous weekend with a thumping 5-1 victory away against Vale of Leven.
But following the news of Kelly’s passing following a lengthy battle with illness last week, Cameron revealed it was tough to keep his thoughts on the pitch following a minute’s applause in his fellow Conference C boss’ memory.
Cameron told Express Sport: “The whole of football at our level was rocked by the news of Paul’s passing.
“I knew him pretty well and it was an absolute tragedy really.
“He was a great football man and it was absolutely right to have a minute’s applause for him ahead of our game and in every game in the West of Scotland set up.
“It absolutely puts football into perspective.
“Football just goes onto the back-burner at times like this.
“In our last game with St Roch’s we were really disappointed with the loss and how the league table was looking, but the news of Paul just puts everything into perspective.
“The whole club’s thoughts are with Paul’s family, including his son who plays with St Roch’s.”
On the pitch Neilston returned to winning ways after putting on a five-star showing against Conference C strugglers Vale of Leven.
Goals from Conor Bolger, Olly Smith, Darren Jones, Darren Kennedy and Dylan Fletcher saw the Farmer’s Boys return to East Renfrewshire with all three points, which keeps them firmly in the hunt for the title despite Drumchapel still holding a five-point lead at the top of the table.
Cameron said: “It was really pleasing to come away with a victory after not playing well in that St Roch’s defeat.
“On paper it was a game we should have been winning, but they’ve had an upturn in results recently and drew with Hurlford in the cup, who are a Premier Division club.
“We’d dropped points against them at home as well already this season, so it was great to get the win and get so many different scorers on the day.
“They went down to ten men at 2-1 and from that point on it was really about how many it could have been.
“We’re back up to second in the table and, while we know it’s a big ask to catch Drumchapel, there’s still plenty of games to go.
“We’ve just got to keep taking care of our own business.”
