Picture by Arthurlie FC Matchday Photographer Tim Fenton.

MATCH REACTION: ANDY MCFADYEN

THAT was a hard fought win was manager Andy McFadyen’s verdict after they emerged unscathed from a difficult encounter.

Speaking to the club’s official social media after the 3-1 victory, he said: “As I have said previously, sometimes you have to ‘win ugly’ and at the end of the day we have got the three points.

“It wasn’t the best game, we were under pressure in the second half, but the boys stuck to their plan and got over the line.

“The recent schedule of three games a week has resulted in us having to change our game plan constantly.

“Sometimes it meant giving players game time on a Saturday, if they have been unable to make midweek games, which upsets the team rhythm.

“One example of this is Gary Smith who was on the bench after scoring seven goals. He needed a rest after the sequence of Saturday/Wednesday games…it’s as simple as that.

“We are trying to rotate the squad and use every player who is available and Gary is in contention for another hard game on Wednesday night at Saltcoats.

“There are no easy games in this league and unfortunately we conceded a penalty which gave Irvine Vics something to play for.

“It was then a tight game which could have went either way but we came through it, having done it before and no doubt having to do it again.”