The severe winter conditions of the past week, snow, frost, ice and plummeting temperatures look certain to see the postponement signs go up at the vast majority of tomorrow’s scheduled West of Scotland League matches.
It’s already been determined that tonight’s Buffs Park clash between Premier Division rivals Kilwinning Rangers and Arthurlie has become the first victim of the big freeze and a host of other matches, particularly those due to be played on grass, are set to suffer a similar fate.
Artifical surfaces are thought to offer the best chance for pitches to be deemed playable however this in itself is not any surefire guarantee of playing action if New Tinto Park, Holm Park and the M.T.C.Park failing to pass pitch inspection last weekend are anything to go by?
For that very reason, supporters are yet again being asked to err on the side of caution and contact host clubs before heading out on their travels.
Meanwhile, the strong likelihood of Pollok v Hurlford United being called off has provoked recently installed Lok gaffer Stewart Maxwell to provisionally arrange a friendly affair (Nethercraigs 12 noon) against Second Division opponents Kilsyth Rangers where the former Petershill backroom team pair of Carlo Girasoli and Paul Roberts are in charge.
A near identical exercise last Saturday left Maxi purring with delight after the Southside giants ran out emphatic 6-1 winners against Drumchapel United through a Stuart McCann hat trick and counters by Shaun Fraser, Kamil Krol and Stephen Docherty.
The Lok boss revealed, “When you’re a manager just in the door like myself, the last thing you want is an idle Saturday so these friendly contests are just the job for me getting to know the players while also allowing them to get a better understanding of my ways of working.
“ I certainly took a lot out of last weekend’s game with Drumchapel even if at first glance, the scoreline appears to indicate a very one-sided affair .
“This is both misleading and a bit harsh on Adam Hopes and his players as they asked a lot of questions of us if truth be told and it was our clinical finishing that proved the main difference between the teams.
“The same killer touch in front of goal will be needed should the game go ahead tomorrow as I’m pretty sure Kilsyth Rangers will provide another testing time of it and not just because we are hoping to use the 90 minutes to give game time to players on the comeback trail.”
Adam Forde, Dylan Dykes and Craig Menzies who have been out for varying spells are all expected to make appearances and if they can emerge unscathed then Evan Horne ,out with a fractured foot and who hasn’t kicked a ball in anger this season, will be the only casualty preventing a clean bill of health.
A BOSS HAS TO VENT HIS FEELINGS
Maxi, who this week placed ex-Senior winger Ryan Watters on the open to transfer list , is looking forward to having the full array of Pollok’s playing riches at his beck and call.
He insisted, “It’s welcome news that Evan is only a couple of weeks away from a return to action as it will allow us to have far more depth to the playing squad and that’s no bad thing.
“|Add in the 2 or 3 bodies on the way back from injury/illness plus Gary McCann coming off the transfer list as well as Chris Duff changing his mind about asking away and you have a far stronger Pollok dressing room than the one I came into just a few weeks ago.”
A very moot point, seeing as the next question posed was to ask how the innovative team boss thinks his first 24 days in the Newlandsfield hotseat have gone.
“Far better than I could ever have imagined” was his quickfire response before adding,” Obviously, we’ve only played two competitive games , the Scottish Cup defeat by Ayr United followed in double quick time by Duff’s goal , coming on as a substitute, earning a late in the day 1-0 victory over Cambuslang Rangers .
“ Our performances in both games were exemplary given the circumstances but even more pleasing has been the commitment ,spirit and willingness to roll up the sleeves attitude shown by the players.
“Before coming here, I was one of many people in the game with the pre-conceived notion from the outside looking in that Pollok’s squad contained a number of big time charleys but the reality is nothing could be further from the truth.
“ They have to be one of the hardest working groups of players doing the rounds as well as terrific professionals into the bargain in terms of buying into what myself and Chris McFadyen are wanting them to do and I would go so far as to say they have been nothing short of faultless up to now.
“That’s high praise indeed coming from me but the guys are aware of my feelings and I did tell them that I would say the same to anyone asking the question.
” That’s not to say we won’t try to make moves if players become available that could improve the squad because standing still is definitely not an option when you are the manager of this club.”
Next weekend’s scheduled Xmas break is sure to be appreciated by Maxi not least because it affords him a welcome opportunity to draw breath prior to the re-commencement of playing hostilities on the last day of 2022 which has Pollok heading out on the road to face none other than …his former club Rob Roy.
And finally, it would be amiss of one not to point out the weird message emanating from Pollok’s website which has Maxi rightly denoted as Team Manager but curiously heading up a backroom team list comprising of Budgie McGhie, Ian Penman , Brian Sheldon and Ryan Dakhill who are all appointments of erstwhile Lok gaffer Murdie McKinnon???
I’ll leave it for others to decide if this looks contractual or is merely an oversight?
PLAYING TOMORROW(Kick Offs 1.30 PM): P.D.M Buildbase Premier Division. Cumnock v Troon, Rob Roy v Cambuslang Rangers, Glenafton v Clydebank, Auchinleck Talbot v Irvine Meadow, Beith v Darvel, LargsThistle v Petershill, Kilwinning Rangers v Arthurlie (Friday 7.45PM), Pollok v Hurlford Utd.PDM Buildbase First Division. Benburb v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Rossvale v Neilston, Gartcairn v Cumbernauld Utd, Bonnyton Thistle v St Cadocs, St Rochs v Thorniewood Utd , Johnstone Burgh v Drumchapel Utd, Blantyre Vics v Rutherglen Glencairn. PDM Buildbase Second Division. Muirkirk v Forth Wanderers, Craigmark v St Anthonys, Greenock v Wishaw, Kilsyth Rangers v Glasgow University, Maybole v Ardeer Thistle, Yoker Athletic v Glasgow Utd, Glasgow Perthshire v Ashfield, Renfrew v Maryhill. PDM Buildbase Third Division. Royal Albert v Larkhall Thistle, Bellshill Athletic v Vale of Leven, Irvine Vics v East Kilbride Thistle, Girvan v Port Glasgow, Newmains Utd v Vale of Clyde, Saltcoats Vics v Carluke Rovers, Lanark Utd v Finnart, Kello Rovers v Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Lugar Boswell v Dalry Thistle. PDM Buildbase Fourth Division. Rossvale Academy v Eglinton, Campbeltown Pupils v Easterhouse F.A., Glenvale v BSC Glasgow,Thorn Athletic v West Park Utd, Harmony Row v St Peters, Kilsyth Athletic v Threave Rovers.
Regards
Jim O’Donnell
About Author
More Stories
ARTHURLIE LEFT IT OH SO LATE
ONLY PERFECTION WILL DO FOR PAUL
BILLY CAN TELL A TALL TALE