Clydebank managed Gordon Moffat hailed club captain Nicky Little’s attitude as he netted the winner against Auchinleck Talbot on Saturday.
The skipper had been out of the starting eleven since the opening day defeat against Benburb – his longest stretch of games on the bench under his current boss.
He returned from the start at Beechwood Park on Saturday and rewarded Moff’s faith in him as he scored the only goal of the game after 69 minutes, taking a smart touch to turn in the penalty area and rolled the ball into the bottom corner from 12 yards.
It capped off a relatively successful week for the Bankies who won 2-0 at Largs Thistle last weekend and were unfortunate not to take all three points during the week against Hurlford United as they drew 1-1 prior to Saturday.
The performances have shown a steady improvement after a poor opening game and Moff wants his troops to continue building on their momentum.
Speaking to the Post, he said: “Taking seven points out of nine from that run of fixtures, and it should have been nine, was good and the performances was a big pleasing aspect of that as well.
“For large parts of the game we have dominated all three of them so it’s good that things are clicking for now.
“We have showed that we can deal with the riggers of home and away games so it’s about putting it together over a sustained period and that’s what Beith done last year at the end of the day.
“I’m delighted for Nicky, the good thing about him is that he’s an amazing leader for us.
“He has been out the team for a few weeks but he’s been stepping up to the plate in training and when he’s been coming on.
“He’s still being that positive influence even when he isn’t playing which isn’t always easy and speaks volumes for Nicky that he is still dragging the best out of guys around about him when he’s not starting games himself.
“It was no real detriment to Nicky that he was out of the team, he played in the first game of the season where a lot of the boys were off the pace and I made seven or eight changes for the next game and it just so happens the team does well from that point.
“He has had to wait like everyone else but I’ve been emphasising to the guys that when you’re wee opening comes you need to grab it and obviously he has done that on Saturday with Joe Slattery missing out.
“We were talking and the maximum he has ever done without a start was two games so to go four was a test of his character and he’s obviously come through it brilliantly which is no real surprise to his management.”
Clydebank are set to host Cumnock this weekend but a slight question mark hangs over the tie.
The Ayrshire side had their game with Darvel abandoned during the week after their goalkeeping coach, Rab Kerr, took ill in the dugout and had to be rushed to hospital.
Cumnock’s tie with Troon on Saturday was then postponed at their request and Moff insists Clydebank will assist in any way that they can.
He said: “I haven’t heard anything yet, it’s something we mentioned on Saturday but I’m just playing it by ear.
“If Cumnock request anything then we will do our best to work with them.
“At the moment for us it’s business as usual. The guys will still be in as usual this week to build towards Saturday and we’ll be ready to go.”
Kick-off on Saturday at Holm Park is scheduled for 2.00pm.
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