LADY Luck has not been smiling on Preston Athletic, according to co-manager John Daly.

The Pennypit side are winless in six games in all competitions but four of their defeats have come by one goal.

Camelon Juniors were the latest to edge a victory on Saturday as they won 2-1 in East Lothian.

Daly, who joined Paul Currie in the dugout when Paul Montgomery left towards the end of last year, described the campaign as “up and down”.

He said: “We’ve beaten the teams above us and those below us we cannot get the rub of the green. It has been one goal here or there and the amount of times we have lost goals in the last minute – it has killed us.

“We hit the bar on Saturday, we hit the post and in the last minute the goalkeeper turned one round the post that he would not usually get to.

“The big decisions are not going for us but we have got to make our own luck.”

East Lothian Courier: Preston Athletic (blue) have been unlucky in recent weeks, often losing by the odd goalPreston Athletic (blue) have been unlucky in recent weeks, often losing by the odd goal

It has been a steep learning curve for not just Currie and Daly but for the majority of the team.

Preston came within a whisker of promotion to the East of Scotland Football League Premier Division last season, missing out by a single point to Oakley United.

Currie and Montgomery then took over following the departure of Jack Lynch.

A mid-table finish looks the most likely outcome this season, with Preston eighth with six games left to play.

Many of the squad are playing their first season of senior football and Daly, who lives in Portobello, confirmed that work was already under way to identify what areas of the team needed strengthened for next season.

East Lothian Courier: Preston Athletic (blue) have been unlucky in recent weeks, often losing by the odd goalPreston Athletic (blue) have been unlucky in recent weeks, often losing by the odd goal

He told Courier Sport: “We’ve got a young squad and we need to be upbeat.

“We are playing some really fantastic football, creating lots of chances, but they are not falling for us.

“We are losing a few goals from set plays. It is not open play but corners and free-kicks.

“Most of the boys, it is their first proper, full season in senior football.

“They are only 19 or 20 and having a year under their belt will hopefully stand them in good stead for next year.

“We know what is required for next year – a big centre half and a bit of strength and power through the spine of the team.

“We need a couple of bigger lads because we are a young team and we are not physical enough.”