PRESTON Athletic co-manager Paul Currie is hoping that just a second league win since the end of October could be the catalyst for a strong end to the season.

The Pennypit side had won just one out of their last eight league games in the East of Scotland Football League (EoSFL) First Division before promotion-chasing Whitburn Juniors visited on Saturday.

Only one of those occasions had seen Preston beaten by more than a single goal, while they had also drawn four of those encounters.

Now, following an “absolutely superb” victory, Currie is calling for his team to take confidence into the remaining 10 league games.

He said: “We just need to be putting teams away.

“Everything clicked from start to finish on Saturday. We were excellent and it could have been more.

“It could have been quite a sore one for them if we had taken all of our chances but I am delighted with the win.

“They are flying high, although they have hit a dip just now.

“It was great to get the win and kick on to another hard game.”

Cami Laidlaw had opened the scoring against Whitburn after a low cross from Buster Briggs.

The West Lothian side, looking to achieve a hat-trick of promotions and sitting two spots outside the promotion places, equalised before the break after capitalising on a Preston mistake.

However, Briggs scored two penalties to ensure that the points were staying in East Lothian and to move Preston into the top half of the table.

Currie was pleased to see striker Briggs hitting the net, having made the move from Coldstream earlier this season.

And the former Raith Rovers and Berwick Rangers man was confident that there was more to come from the frontman.

He said: “He is a player I was delighted to get in. I was really, really buzzing when we signed him.

“I have no doubt he will kick on and hit the ground running.

“He has had a couple of niggles and had a bad arm injury a few years ago.

“He is still seeing specialists but I have no doubt when he starts firing he will score a lot of goals.

“His workrate is superb and he is a natural finisher.”

Preston face another team battling for promotion this weekend as they head to Dunipace.

The Denny side sit one point behind league leaders Newtongrange Star but with the advantage of three games in hand.

Danny Smith’s men will be eyeing up promotion to the top tier of the EoSFL for the first time.

However, Currie will be swapping the dugout at Westfield Park for a seat in the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

Speaking to Courier Sport on Tuesday afternoon, he said: “It’s my son Calvin’s 16th birthday tomorrow.

“We leave on Friday and are going to Madrid for the weekend.

“We have got the stadium tour on the Saturday and then Real Madrid versus Sevilla on the Sunday.

“I will definitely be keeping an eye on Preston, though.

“I will be refreshing Twitter all day on Saturday to keep updated!

“I could not help myself and I will definitely be keeping an eye out!”