Point apiece a fair result for Lothian boss Ryan Harding as he bemoans first half profligacy

Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale boss Ryan Harding says his side must find their ruthless streak after they drew 1-1 with Dundonald Bluebell at Ainslie Park in the East of Scotland Premier last night.

Harding was disappointed not to go in at half-time further in front after young striker Louis Signorini’s well-taken opener, but felt a point overall was a fair result as the visitors came back at Lothian in the second half with the wind behind them.

“Based on the first half, with the win behind us, we were a little bit disappointed to go in at just 1-0,” said Harding.

“We had two or three right good chances that we should have taken. They weren’t just half chances, it’s clear cut one-one with the goalkeeper that we didn’t take, and that’s been the story of our season so far, we aren’t ruthless enough.

Lothian led 1-0 at the interval thanks to Louis Signorini's opener

“Still, we came in at half-time 1-0 up which was a big difference from Saturday being 2-0 down [to Hill of Beath] after three minutes. We knew the second half with them having the wind that they would come back at us, and to be fair, they were the better team in the second half.

“I can’t really think of many clear-cut chances they had, the goal they scored came from a defensive mistake.

“It’s a point, I would have wanted three points but we’ve got one against a team that is flying right now. They have had a right bit of momentum.”

Striker Signorini got the hosts off to the perfect start in the 13th minute when he poked the ball into the near at the near post past Dundonald goalkeeper Ben Swinton from Scott-Taylor MacKenzie’s byline cutback.

The visitors went close through forward Daryl Healy and centre-back Colin Wilson’s audacious overhead kick, before Dylan Moore sent a 20-yard strike which bounced just wide of the far post.

Healy had the ball in the net for Dundonald just three minutes before the interval but the goal was ruled out for a handball in the build-up.

Ben Viola’s solo run from right-back through the heart of the visiting midfield almost ended with a second for Lothian but Wilson’s last-ditch challenge stopped Matthew Dalgleish in his tracks.

Healy struck the leveller with 71 minutes on the clock but neither side could find a winner despite referee Will Pare adding on a bemusing seven minutes of added time.

Lothian started and ended the night third from bottom, in the relegation zone. They are two points off fourth-bottom Hill of Beath who have two games in hand.

Harding is well aware his side must start turning draws into victories if they are to avoid a relegation scrap, after last season’s scare which saw them retain their top-flight status courtesy of Tranent’s promotion to the Lowland League.

Lothian host Broxburn Athletic on Saturday, and the 38-year-old continued: “We need to start getting more points on the board because the last thing we want is to be in that bottom zone at Christmas. We are better than our league position shows but unfortunately results don’t lie and you are where you deserve to be.

“I would like to get a result on Saturday to at least get one win out of three from our three home matches in a row.”