Overjoyed Rutherglen Glencairn boss Joe Pryce says their dramatic comeback and last-gasp winner over Ashfield was a real team effort as even the players in the dugout helped guide the team to glory.
Glens trailed their hosts 3-0 at half-time but produced an incredible second half display to win the West of Scotland First Division clash 4-3, with Jack McIlveen netting the winner in the third minute of stoppage time to spark jubilant scenes on and off the pitch.
The comeback was sparked in the 60th minute when Lewis McTaggart pulled one back and then Ross Smith struck in the 78th and 84th minute to haul them level, before McIlveen’s last-gasp goal to claim an unlikely three points that put Glens back joint-top of the table.
But Pryce said his entire squad played a role in the drama with their encouragement from the sidelines.
He said: “The players off the pitch were a great support to those on it. You could feel the energy from the dugout and once we got the first goal back, you could really feel that transmit onto the pitch for the players.
“And this was from guys who had been taken off, who had maybe not played at their best, but they were still giving their team-mates every bit of support.
“When that fourth goal went in everybody just exploded, it was fantastic.
“The late winner was fantastic. Everybody was overjoyed and we were delighted to get the three points.
“But we really need to stop giving teams a head start. We did it against Ardrossan and we couldn’t come back. We did it again on Saturday, but this time we managed to come back and win it.
“The players know that themselves. They showed great character, great spirit to come back, right into the 93rd minute to win it.”
Pryce revealed he read the riot act at half-time and was delighted with how his side responded as they went level at the summit with Arthurlie and St Roch’s, all tied on 23 points.
He added: “They certainly put me through the wringer on Saturday. It was a really poor first half from us.
“I got them in at half-time and there were a few stern words, but the players came out and responded really well.”They looked much more like themselves in the second half.
“What really pleased me was they didn’t resort to just hoofing it up the park. They kept playing the right way, probing with passes, trying to get in down the side, looking for things through the middle as well.
“Eventually we got our reward and I was delighted for the players.”