Neilston caretaker manager Andy Whiteford insists his players must keep their feet on the ground after picking up an impressive win at Petershill.

Two terrific strikes secured the points for the Farmer’s Boys on Saturday, with Thomas Kelly’s free-kick firing them ahead before Dillan Duddy slammed home a stunning volley just before the hour mark.

The result moves them out of the Division One relegation zone and makes it three games unbeaten for Whiteford, who took charge of the Brig O’Lea side after Kevin Muirhead stepped down last month.

Former Scotland under-21 cap Whiteford admits he was happy to prove the doubters wrong against Petershill – and believes there is more to come from his players.

He told Barrhead Sport: “It was a great result and a great performance. The boys carried out the plan we had perfectly.

“We were 1-0 up at half-time but it could have been a few. I was just asking for more of the same in the second half and they carried it out again.

“I think that, outwith the Neilston changing room, most people would have thought we were going to go there and get beat but we had belief in ourselves.

“Confidence is massive in football but it’s important not to get carried away as well.

“We’re still in a precarious position and certainly not out of the woods just through one good result.

“It’s been building over the last few weeks and it’s now there for the players to see that their hard work does pay off.

“I’ve been really pleased with the start but that’s all it is. It has shown the guys we can compete at that level and the belief they will take from that is great.”

Muirhead remains interested in landing the gig on a permanent basis but revealed no further conversations have taken place with the Neilston committee in the last week.

He added: “I’ve not been concentrating on what happens long-term. I’ve got a job to do at the moment, which is to get the team on the pitch and pick up results.

“I’ve made my feelings clear that I’m enjoying what I’m doing and I’d be happy to look at the longer team but it’s something that’s nothing to do with me.”

Neilston host Ashfield this weekend and Muirhead knows his players will need to perform well if they want to build on recent momentum.

He said: “We’re in a situation where we need to earn the right to play against these teams but we’ve got belief that we can get a victory.”

Kick-off at the Brig on Saturday is at 1.30pm.