Arthurlie boss Duncan Sinclair cut a relieved figure on Saturday after watching his side finally get back to winning ways with a narrow 1-0 victory at home to Dalry Thistle.
Without a win since September 7, pressure was beginning to mount on the Lie gaffer after six defeats on the bounce.
Sinclair has always backed his side to come out the other end of the dire run, and his belief was rewarded at the weekend with a hard-fought win thanks to Tam McGaughey’s first-half strike.
Lie carved out their first chance of the match just three minutes in with David Reid laying it off for goalscorer McGaughey whose first effort of the afternoon was well blocked.
Ross Urquhart was next to try his luck 10 minutes in as his shot sailed over before McGaughey grabbed what would turn out to be the game-winning goal 13 minutes in with a stunner from the edge of the box.
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Arthurlie came close to doubling their lead eight minutes from the break with McGaughey once again troubling the Dalry keeper before Reid scuffed the rebound.
Just as the visitors were beginning to sneak back into it in the second-half, Sinclair rung the changes with Jamie Docherty and Lee Roulston bringing some much-needed energy to the middle of the park.
The Dunterlie side should have added their second soon after with Docherty unable to get it out from under his feet after a great ball across the face of goal from McGaughey but it mattered not as Lie comfortably saw it out for the vital win.
“I’m absolutely over the moon with that one,” Sinclair told Barrhead Sport. “That win was a long time coming so I’m delighted for the boys.
“I’ve always had faith in the players in the way we train and the ability we have - we always knew we’d stop that wee run, it was just a case of everything clicking.
“We’ve shown signs over the last six matches that we were capable and the ability was clearly there so hopefully that’s us turned a wee corner now and we can really kick on from it.
“The scoreline really flattered Dalry. They battled well but we created five or six clear cut chances that, on another day, would have seen us run out comfortable 3-0 or 4-0 winners.
“We absolutely hammered them with numerous chances and saw it out fairly comfortably in the end so we were well worth the win.
“The fans were unhappy which is understandable as they pay their money but we knew within our group that we could dig ourselves out of the hole.
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“All the boys and all the supporters deserved that one, it’s hopefully time to build on it now.”
Sinclair has now targeted a West of Scotland Cup win over Irvine Victoria this weekend in order to build some much-needed momentum.
The gaffer added: “Fingers crossed the weather holds out this week to get the game on.
“It’s pressure off in terms of the league but we’re expected to win every game - the expectation as manager or as a player at Arthurlie to win is enormous so we’re looking forward to it.”
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