Neilston lost ground in the battle to beat the drop on Saturday as they suffered a 6-3 defeat at promotion-chasing Ashfield.

A Greg Burns effort had the hosts ahead at the break, with Jonny Black and Shaun Grady adding to their tally before a penalty from Darren Jones pulled the Farmer’s Boys back into the game.

The next goal was bound to be crucial and it fell to Ashfield as Burns got his second.

Grady made it a double for himself a short time later, before Dean Farmer got the hosts' sixth of the afternoon.

Andy Whiteford’s team made the scoreline a bit more respectable in the closing stages as Daryl Convery and Luke Crerand both netted.

Results elsewhere mean Neilston are six points from safety, although they have a number of games in hand over rivals above them.

The Brig O’Lea side welcome form team Kilbirnie Ladeside to East Renfrewshire this Saturday, with kick-off at 2pm.