IT’S said that nothing goes right for a team battling against the drop, but it’s hardly fitting that Arthurlie ended up with nothing from their basement clash against Petershill on Saturday.

Peasy boss Willie Patterson admitted as much in the aftermath of his side’s 1-0 triumph.

He said: “Arthurlie enjoyed a lot of pressure particularly first half with the wind at their backs and probably deserved a point on the balance of play.

"But I’m just delighted for my players picking up another precious win to move us up three places in the table.

“It’s the first time we have won back-to-back games this season in this crazy competitive league where the ever-changing nature of things reveals that winning our two games in hand could see us go above Pollok - and they are sitting third top.

“ Arthurlie supporters might dispute the outcome, but surely nobody can deny the only goal scored by Beau Longridge would have graced any level of the game.

“It was a wonderful solo effort and so typical as he’s the only player I’ve known who can run faster with the ball at his feet than without it.”

The Barrhead visitors certainly enjoyed the better of things territorially in the opening 45 minutes and can look back with regret at clear-cut openings scorned by Gary Carroll when clean through and Chris Dallas in striking the crossbar from point-blank range.

"However, they also breathed a sigh of relief when a Tony Stevenston effort clipped the upright approaching half-time.

Defences continued to give little away after the interval, however what did get through in an attacking sense ensured Peasy No.1 Stevie McNeil was the busier of the two goalkeepers and he did well to save at Carroll’s feet before getting up to parry a netbound Dallas shot.

The worried frowns on Peasy fans’ faces were dispelled in 76 minutes when former Vale of Clyde starlet Longridge set off on a searing run from midfield that took him past two opponents before dribbling past another and getting a fortuitous break of the ball to emerge in space on the 18-yard line.

And from there he despatched a low drive beyond the diving Mikey White for the game's only goal.

Arthurlie poured men forward looking for a leveller and came close when substitute Gary Smith flashed a front post header off the upright however Petershill’s backline with Fraser Chisholm and Chris Ketterer outstanding held out for what may yet prove to be a crucial triumph.

Disappointed Lie boss Robert Downs admitted: "Fair play to Petershill for battling their corner and being well drilled defensively, but I thought my players deserved to win the game with a bit to spare.

“I cannot fault them for their workrate and their willingness to keep looking for a break while the disappointment in their faces at the final whistle tells its own story .

“But ultimately we have paid the price for passing up a number of chances to score and that failing has to be addressed as it has cost us dearly over the past few months.

“Having only one point to show from six games when no team has blown us away is not good enough and I have to take my responsibility for our poor run particularly as I think the guys have performed well in the games.

“Looking for positives is difficult under the circumstances, but it’s my belief things will turn around if we stick together and continue to train and play hard.”

The only other top-flight contest saw Kilbirnie Ladeside striker Adam Forde help himself to a couple of goals in a 2-1 Greenfield Park victory against Shettleston whose marksman was Scott Anson.

In the remaining seven fixtures to beat the elements, leading Super First Division title challengers Clydebank and Kilwinning Rangers grabbed the opportunity to close the gap on league leaders Largs Thistle with vital wins on the road .

The Bankies had Mark Bainbridge and Jamie Lyden - playing against his former team - on the scoresheet in a 2-0 victory over Greenock.

Kilwinning Rangers emerged as 5-2 winners in an eventful contest against Kilsyth Rangers .

Chris Reid’s early opening goal had home supporters believing their title aspirations were on the verge of being boosted.

However the sicth-minute dismissal of Michael McGhee saw the advantage switch to the Ayrshiremen and they turned the screw with goals from Tommy Maitland , Brian Boylan (2) Ian Cashmore and Dean Agnew while Joe Barclay provided a consolation score for Kilsyth.

And there was even more drama atop the Central First Division pile where frontrunners Renfrew went down 3-2 at home to bottom markers Vale of Clyde for whom James McKinstry netted a first-minute penalty awarded for a challenge by Frew goalkeeper Dale Burgess that also earned him a red card.

Tin Pail hitman Scott McManus doubled his side’s lead and they were the recipients of yet another spot-kick award shortly afterwards that enabled McKinstry to make the scoreline read 3-0 at the interval.

The ten men roared back with a headed goal from substitute Alan Kinney but hopes of a fightback were all but extinguished when another second half replacement, Ian Nicholson, was sent packing for speaking out of turn.

The visiting Vale were awarded a third spot kick however substitute goalkeeper Mark Baird denied McKinstry and nine man Renfrew went upfield for Chris Zok to reduce their arrears with a goal that ultimately acted to do nothing other than put a better reflection on the scoreline.

Up into fifth top spot are Johnstone Burgh for whom Jason Hardie netted a brace of goals in a 5-3 defeat of Dunipace while St Anthony's were thankful for top marksman Willie Duncan finding the target with a second half double to salvage a point away to Carluke Rovers who had led 2-0 through Mark Weir and Ryan Smillie counters.

Second Division title hopefuls Cambuslang Rangers had looked likely to suffer a damaging blow when Craig Miles fired East Kilbride Thistle ahead early in the second half at Somervell Park, however goals in the closing seven minutes from Thomas` Deco` Kilmartin and Langley Clark saw the Wee Gers pick up all three points.

Kieron Blackwood (2), Scott Hendrie, Scott Jarvie, Ryan Monan and Ryan Livingston were the scorers in Benburb’s resounding 6-2 triumph over Vale of Leven.