WITH their first win under their belt and the season now well underway Johnstone Burgh co-manager Colin Smith admitted he was delighted to see a return to the side’s favoured formation pay dividends.

John McStay’s first half winner proved to be the difference against Hugh Hamill’s Vale of Leven and with a clean sheet to their name, Smith admitted he is now looking ahead following Burgh’s 4-0 defeat to Glasgow Perthshire the week previous.

He told Gazette Sport: “This weekend saw us revert back to our more comfortable 4-4-2 formation and I think you could see that we played a lot better and with a lot more confidence.

“It is good to get that first win and hopefully the boys can take great pride in that.

“We defended very well and held firm towards the end with Paddy making a few good saves and there are a lot of positives to take from the match.

“We are still not creating as many chances as I would maybe like but it is a good win and we can now look ahead to next week.” Burgh have moved to strengthen their ranks during the summer and another trialist Jordan Devine made his second appearance when he came on as a second half substitute.

The former Nottingham Forest and Stranraer youngster looked lively and Smith admitted he was delighted with the way he put himself about despite being completely new to the junior game.

He added: “The junior game is new to him so it is going to take a while to get used to being roughed up a bit.

“He is definitely up for it anyway and he done a job for us and worked hard so I am delighted with the way he put himself about.” And looking ahead to next week’s match with Royal Albert at Tileworks Park the boss warned his side not to rest on their laurels as he wants an even better display to build upon his and Davie Brolly’s first league win as managers; Smith said: “I want a better performance next week.

“I want more chances and I want more goals.

“In the first half we scored and we should have been looking to build on that and get two or three but it never happened.

“But we were up against a Vale side who are experienced at this level and know each other, we on the other hand have just been put together and we have managed to come away with the three points.” ​