RICKI Lamie insists Saturday’s bounce game with East Kilbride was just what the doctor ordered for Morton as it helps keep the Ton players fresh going into another week without a competitive fixture.

Ton don’t play in the league again until next Tuesday when they’ll travel to East End Park to take on Dunfermline in the Ladbrokes Championship.

So the defender reckons it was vitally important for the Greenock men to be in some sort of competition this weekend as playing training games amongst themselves doesn’t have nearly the same feel to it as the real thing.

He told the Tele: “We played East Kilbride on Saturday so that was good. It’s great to get a wee run out because it’s never ideal just to sit about.

“You can go in and train on the Saturday morning but it’s not quite the same as getting a run out and it keeps everyone on their toes.

“It also gave a few of the boys who have maybe not played as often as they would’ve liked to a game. Obviously that keeps everyone sharp, those of us who have been playing and those who haven’t. It’s another week until our next game as well so it’s good to stay on your toes.

“East Kilbride are a well organised side who have been doing well so it was another good test for us, regardless of the opposition.”

Lamie understands that the 2-0 victory over the Lowland League outfit doesn’t matter too much and that it was more a game to boost fitness levels than be too concerned with the result.

But he insists it’s better for the confidence going forward having won rather than remembering last Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Queen of the South in the league.

He added: “You can’t take too much from a result in a game like that but, especially for forward players, finding the back of the net gives them that bit of confidence which can go a long way.

“You get into the rhythm and we’re far enough into the season that we’ve got that level of fitness now and I would probably say the same about everyone across the board.

“But it’s all about that sharpness and I know myself that wee niggling injuries can affect you massively.

“If you’re laid up for two or three games people think you might not be rusty but it’s amazing how much it can catch up with you in a short space of time.”