Sauchie new boy Davie Winters thinks his side's battling defeat to Bo'ness United proves the club aren't far off the pace in the Super League this season.

Winters made his debut in the 1-0 defeat after agreeing terms with Fraser Duncan earlier in the week and he was left disappointed as his new teammates were brutally unlucky not to take anything from a game they dominated over the piece.

However with Bo'ness possessing one of the strongest squads in the league, Davie believes the performance speaks volumes for Sauchie's ability despite the bitter loss.

He said, "The lads are all disappointed. I know there's not a right way to lose but if there is it's losing fighting, doing the right things.

"The boys are deflated because they've worked hard and got nothing for it.

"It was a tough game but I felt we gave as much as we got. I think there wasn't that many clear-cut chances for either side all game and it was always going to be a one-goal wins, they just managed to get it early doors and hang on for it.

"I've just told the boys there, they're meant to be one of the best teams in the league and we've pinned them in, especially in the second half, but we just couldn't get that breakthrough.

"Obviously the league table tells a story and it's all about winning games and points, but if that's the standard performance-wise we're really not that far away. We just need a little bit of luck getting that breakthrough.

"It was just a hard day, we didn't get the luck and every ball fell to a blue jersey today.

"Next week we've got to go again and you can't dwell on things in football, every game is another opportunity for three points and momentum.

"We're going to take the positives, the way we played one of the best teams in the league, and put that momentum from the second half into the next game." Fraser Duncan was pleased with Davie's debut and the manager is excited about the weeks ahead as the experienced striker gets full match sharpness.

The gaffer said, "It was a very difficult game for Davie to come in to for his debut. He's an experienced player so he knew what he was getting.

"Davie will start to pick up the match sharpness with a couple of games and he's going to be very good for us.

"I was pleased with him today, he's an honest player and he'll give you everything he's got, he'll work hard all day. His class will show in the next few weeks when he gets ticking.

"Some of the things he did today were brilliant."