NEILSTON Juniors grabbed a vital win in their battle for survival on Monday as they bagged a 3-1 win at St Anthony’s.

A brace from Matt Stevenson and a Derek Kennedy strike was enough for Robert Graham’s side to move above St Anthony’s and out of the relegation zone in the Central District First Division.

With five teams within five points of each other at the bottom it is all to play for but the win gives the Farmer’s Boys a good chance of avoiding their second successive relegation.

It ended a run of four winless games and proved just the antidote to a bruising 4-0 defeat to relegation rivals Vale of Clyde on Saturday at Fullarton Park

The game against Vale started very scrappily with neither team causing the defence problems. It took until the 22nd minute before the first chance fell. A long ball from Kennedy found Diack on the left who crossed for Dymock at the back post but the defender blocked his shot.

Minutes later, a long kick-out caught the Ton out and Mcdade blocked McManus' shot for a corner. From the resulting kick, McKinstry headed home the opening goal for the Vale.

Things got worse for the Farmer’s Boys two minutes later when a defensive mistake from Cowie let Hamill knock the ball into the empty net.

Neilston responded but McKay’s shot was tipped around the post by McLenaghan from Diack’s cross. Minutes later, Lochhead tried his luck with a free-kick that went just wide. crept past by the post.

The home side made it 3-0 right on half-time when Hamill beat his marker on the byline and set up McManus at the back post to score.

Neilston started the second half brightly with a good move that set up Stevenson but his shot crashed off the crossbar and was cleared away.

They would fall further behind five minutes later when Timoney rose unmarked to head home from MacKay’s corner.

Ton’s Cowie saved McManus’s shot to stop Vale adding to the scoring.

Neilston tried to get a goal back but Kennedy's effort was blocked and Lochhead fired wide. Cowie denied the home side on two occasions as he saved well from Stevenson and McManus shots.

Man of the Match: Matt Stevenson

Neilston - Cowie, McDade( O’Brien), McInnes, Amos, Stevenson, Diack, Lochhead, Docherty, Kennedy, McKay (Cummins), Dymock (Cameron). Subs not used: Murphy and Gk Digney.

Neilston face Lesmahagow at Brig O’Lea tonight, kick off 6.45pm before welcoming Vale of Clyde on Saturday, which has a 2pm kick off.