Duncan Sinclair watched on as Arthurlie fell to their sixth consecutive defeat with a 4-2 Renfrew loss before insisting he could not have asked for much more from his side.
Looking to pick up their first points in the league since a 1-1 draw with Petershill back in September, Lie made the short trip to Renfrew on Saturday on the back of a dire run of form.
To make matters worse, Arthurlie were reduced to 10 men after a fairly quiet opening half hour at New Western Park after Craig Molloy handled the ball on the line.
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Lie stopper Craig Gordon guessed right to deny David McKenna from the spot but the striker reacted first to prod home the rebound.
The big Frew striker quickly doubled their lead moments before the break as Sinclair’s men went in shellshocked at the break.
To their credit, and following a couple of half-time changes, Lie hauled themselves right back into it on the hour mark after Tam McGaughey jinked past a couple of challenges before slotting it beyond Daniel McLeay in the Frew goal.
There was nothing Lie could do about Renfrew’s fourth shortly after, however, as Rikki McIntosh’s stunning half-volley left Gordon no chance.
But the Dunterlie side dug in once again to bring it back to 3-2 thanks to Dan McKay from the spot.
Piling forward desperate for a point, Lie left themselves vulnerable at the back and were made to pay late on as Jordan Davidson restored Frew’s two-goal and condemned Sinclair’s side to their sixth defeat in a row.
However, despite the concerning run of form, the Lie boss was adamant that his side should be proud of their second-half display in Renfrew.
Speaking to Barrhead Sport, Sinclair said: “The sending off cost us a chance of a draw at the very least to be honest.
“The first-half was a battle with both teams knocking it about fairly even trying to make that breakthrough.
“I told the boys they had nothing to lose at the interval and made a couple of subs and changed the formation.
“Away we went after that and got one back within a few minutes of the second-half.
“We left ourselves open and they got their fourth which was a bit soul-destroying but I can’t ask for more from my players to be honest.
“They gave everything they had and were a bit unfortunate in the end.
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“The character was there and I firmly believe if it was 11 against 11 in the second-half we would have got something from that match.
“I was proud of the players and their second-half performance. We were well worth a point at least, I said that to the boys after the game that.”
Sinclair has urged his side to show that second-half spirit once again this weekend as Lie welcome Dalry to Dunterlie.
He added: “If we show the same desire and commitment that we showed in the second-half against Renfrew then I have every confidence in bringing this losing run to a halt.
“It will be a real battle and they’re level on points with us but it’s at home so we need to go out there and get some points on the board.”
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