Threave Rovers’ players showed they were up to the challenge with a crucial win over Newton Stewart on Saturday.
In a topsy-turvey game, the Castle Douglas side led, then fell behind before going on to win 4-2.
Boss Vinnie Parker said: “The boys were left in no uncertain terms in the lead up to the game that this is a big game and they’d fallen short in every big game since we came in. We challenged them to show us what they could do.
“We left it up to them and there were some great performances. Stuart Douglas gave one of the best performances I’ve ever seen in a Threave shirt. He was brilliant.
“I was very impressed with Newton Stewart. They were a good footballing side, played to their strengths and went about their business very well. I thought it was a very good game to watch.
“The first 10 minutes we were absolutely electric, some of the chances we created were brilliant. It’s a cliché to say it was from the training ground but the first goal was something we’d worked at on Monday night in training and it came off. It was a great goal.
“We then lost a bad goal at a corner. It was a bit of a scramble and the manner of it was the big issue I had at half-time. It was a ball at face height. They got across our goal and they were the first to react. We talk a lot about desire and putting your body on the line and we didn’t do that. It’s disappointing.
“The second goal was a bit of a fluke. We tried to clear it and it bounced up and the boy finished it well.
“We reacted quickly. We’re maybe too nice a team and try to play too much football and are too pleasing on the eye. When it comes down to rolling your sleeves up we’ve found ourselves lacking before. We’ve now proved we can do that.”
Scott Milligan gave Threave an early lead at the end of a well worked move, Ross Landers equalising from a corner.
And the visitors edged in front after half an hour thanks to a lob from Matt Deazeley. However, Milligan scored again to ensure parity at the break.
Stuart Douglas headed the hosts back in front from Dan Carmichael’s corner midway through the second half, Tom Smith volleying in the fourth late on.
The match was Threave’s first for three weeks and they now have another extended break from league action as Saturday’s Cree Lodge Cup tie against Mid Annandale will be followed up by a free weekend due to the national side being in action.
Parker said: “Saturday is maybe an opportunity to change one or two things but I want to build up momentum. We still have gaps on certain Saturdays.
“Mids are another stuffy, decent side with some good players. It’s another big game but I’d have liked to see us play more league games rather than cups.
“The attitude and mindset of the boys is superb. The likes of Callum Williams was on the bench on Saturday and he’s never done anything wrong. His attitude has been exceptional. We asked him to come on with 20 minutes to go and do a job and he did it.”
