YOKER Athletic got themselves back to winning ways on Saturday with a victory away to Bellshill.

The Whe-Ho made three changes from the side which lost at Pollok a week earlier. Jamie Carson, Alan Cairns and Darren Jones were included in the starting lineup.

On what might be the tightest pitch in junior football and a surface that cut up throughout the warm-up of the two sides it was never going to be a day of flowing passing football.

The home side created the better chances and dominated early proceedings with Gary McGrath and Scott Sally both going close. At the other end Andy Rankin should have done better after David Crerand skipped past two defenders and pulled the ball back.

Cairns then almost caught out home keeper Mark Peat with a clever free-kick. Right on half-time Sally went close again for the hosts but a rather disappointing first half finished goalless.

Whe-Ho boss Reilly gave his troops some strong words at half-time for a very scrappy opening period and it seemed to work wonders as four minutes after the restart full back Michael Bailey smashed the ball past Peat from all of 30 yards to open the scoring.

With the visitors now fully on top, Darren Jones then nearly added a second before Richard Henry did double the lead with a tremendous free kick into the top right hand corner just before the hour mark.

Bellshill rallied rather than wilting as Bailey and man of the match John Harvey were required to clear from near their own goal line as the hosts threw everything forward to get back in the game. Skipper Gary Bissland should have killed the game off but he snatched at a chance after excellent work between Crerand and substitute David Manley.

Manley’s running power was helping to drive the Whe-Ho forward again as he linked up with fellow sub Ally Graham to create a chance for Jones but he squandered the chance to make it 3-0.

Bissland was harshly ordered-off late in the game when he slid in with Peat and the referee produced a red card.

The visitors saw the game out and were happy to have kept a clean sheet.

This week Yoker host Greenock in a league match. Kick-off at Holm Park is 2pm. Kids under the age of 14 are admitted free.

Primext Ltd Man Of The Match: John Harvey.