NO LONGER LEAGUES APART

Hard to think how the timing of tomorrow’s clash away to long standing rivals Arthurlie could be any better for Pollok.

Team boss Stewart Maxwell will not be saying so however the new manager bounce factor from his recent appointment has the visitors looking near to tip top shape heading through to Dunterlie and not just because he has no injury concerns of any note and only full back Fraser Mullen unavailable for selection through having to serve a one game suspension for his sending off (two yellow cards) in last weekend’s 2-0 victory over Rob Roy.

Playing for nigh on 50 minutes with just ten men on a heavy Guys Meadow pitch took a toll on his Lok charges according to Maxi therefore he was understandably ecstatic when no lingering fatigue factor was evident on Tuesday evening as his side ran out emphatic 11-1 friendly match winners over Dunipace thanks to counters from Adam Forde(4), Stephen Docherty(2) , Sean Burns Robbie Buchanan, Kamil Krol and an o.g.

“All things considered the guys were outstanding in midweek and there was plenty to admire in terms of attitude and commitment, particularly from those players needing minutes under their belt such as Adam, and I now find myself with a pleasant selection problem ahead of Saturday’s game” admitted the 46 year old this week before adding.

“He is arguably the best finisher we have at the club but has been out injured for the past 8 or 9 weeks so it’s a real shot in the arm to have him clearly demonstrating his state of readiness and you can take it he’ll be involved on Saturday.”

The seasoned Junior gaffer, a former team mate of Arthurlie counterpart Craig Palmer, dating back to when they shared dressing room pegs at Petershill , says he is relishing the prospect of his first derby head to head.

He revealed, “ Craigy is in the exact same boat as myself on account of the two teams playing in different divisions over the past few seasons as I’ve been reliably informed that the last competitive Arthurlie v Pollok clash was in March 2018, way before he took charge.

“In my book, that’s too long an absence for what was once up there with the most hotly contested and crowd-pulling derby matches in the Junior calendar so there’s definitely a bit of added spice in having the two sides finally locking horns again.

“And let’s not lose sight of the fact that few if any among both sets of players have previously sampled the unique derby atmosphere so it will be interesting to see how they handle it.

”It has all the makings of a cracker and kick off time cannot come soon enough.”

COULD FORDY BE BACK IN THE FRAY?

Meanwhile, the Barrhead outfit’s supporting hordes, known for getting behind their team better than most, are not likely to be approaching the contest with any real nervousness despite the currently contrasting league placings of the bitter adversaries which has Pollok very much in the title race from sitting third top of the pile , just three points adrift of frontrunners Darvel, whereas the Lie are fully 11 places worse off in occupying a third from bottom relegation spot at the foot of the table.

So says their side’s affable gaffer Palmer who points to the perceived gap between the arch foes as potentially misleading due to Pollok having played two games more along with Arthurlie having suffered a three points deduction as punishment for having played an ineligible player (Callum Shields) in their Premier Division opening game against Clydebank.

Said the former full back, all of nine years younger than dugout counterpart Maxwell.

“ A list of all suspended players was issued on the Wednesday before we faced the Bankies and Callum’s name was not on it so we went ahead with including him in our team plans however unbeknown to us his name then appeared on a further listing released on the Friday evening.

“It was no more than an oversight yet we were hit hard with a points deduction even though a fine would have been more appropriate given we actually lost the game 3-1?

”The punishment in tandem with a bad start to our league programme had us pointless five games in and it’s been a slog getting back to respectability ever since however I’d like to think four wins out of our last five Premier outings shows we’re getting there .”

Of greater concern to Palmer ahead of the eagerly awaited derby confrontation is the collateral damage caused to his team plans by this season’s star turn Aaron Healey completing a January window transfer this week to Queens Park with whom he featured as a late substitute in last Monday’s 2-0 defeat of Partick Thistle which saw the Spiders move atop the Scottish League Championship standings.

The Lie boss lauded , “Aaron is a one off matchwinning talent who is not going to be replaced overnight however his departure opens the door for the likes of Dale Simeon to step up to the mark and he undoubtedly has the skill and ability to grab centre-stage in his own right.”

Simeon , previously on the books of Rutherglen Glencairn ,underlined what he brings to this Arthurlie team by netting a hat trick of goals in a 6-1 warm-up hammering of Easterhouse F.A. on Wednesday night when Jordan Leyden and twins Aidan and Jamie Catlow(from Arthurlie’s Under 20 ranks) were the other scorers.

But getting the best out of the 28 year old could be a more complex task than what it might appear at first glance because he is strongly rumoured to be at the centre of an ongoing tug of war between Palmer and Maxwell.

His contract comes to an end next summer and Maxi is believed to have come to a signing agreement with the midfield talent but would prefer to get him on board over the coming weeks to boost Pollok’s title aspirations even if it means upping the stakes by having to fork out a transfer fee to land his target now rather than later…and for no outlay whatsoever.

THE ARTHURLIE BOSS WHEN HE WAS FRESHER FACED

Neither team boss was of a mind to publicly comment on the Simeon situation this week or for that matter an alleged Arthurlie approach for Lok winger Gary McCann being rebuffed however the smart money is on Pollok “getting their man “ albeit with a considerably higher offer than that which is currently on the table…and only after the derby fixture is concluded!

One piece of Arthurlie transfer business that did proceed this week was the loan deal capture of Darvel full back Max Kerr who is set to be shoehorned into Palmer’s thoughts for tomorrow’s showdown not least of all because a number of the Barrhead club’s regulars are struggling to be passed fit.

The brimming with enthusiasm gaffer is also set to be posted missing from the home dugout due to the imposition of a ban which he mistakenly thought had been served out already.

Palmer revealed, “I was wrongly dismissed for foul and abusive language in our November game against Beith but decided to take the one game suspension on the chin rather than let it drag on from lodging an appeal and making a personal appearance.

“ I then stood apart from the dugout and on the terracings for our Scottish Junior Cup tie against Shotts Bon Accord only to discover afterwards that the ban only applied to West of Scotland fixtures and because we’ve not played since, I’m now missing out against Pollok.”

Fellow basement pair Cambuslang Rangers and Petershill are also in action tomorrow, the Wee Gers desperate to avoid a fifth league defeat on the spin when hosting the visit of Largs Thistle while the Peasy have the not inconsiderable task of going up against league leaders Darvel in their own Recreation Park backyard.

Ian Currie will be overseeing team matters for the Glasgow side but he looks set to have co-boss Stevie McNeil’s assistance with dugout duties after the goalkeeper picked up a one match ban for a double yellow sending off during last week’s 2-2 draw away to Troon.

Word on the visiting team front has Jordan Shelvey and Del Hepburn fancied to partner up as twin strikers in the continuing absence of long term injured front man Ross “Archie” McPherson and despite the availability of previously suspended Christian Nade.

Ross McCabe’s third time around signing on a transfer from Cambuslang Rangers should help bolster a defence that has Clydebank loan signing Oisin McHugh operating at left back.

The only other top flight affair has Irvine Meadow, without a win in their last six outings, determined to stop the rot at home to a Cumnock side led by former Medda manager and player Brian McGinty.

PLAYING TOMORROW: (Kick Offs 1.30 PM unless stated): P.D.M Buildbase Premier Division. Arthurlie v Pollok, Cambuslang Rangers v Largs Thistle, Darvel v Petershill, Irvine Meadow v Cumnock.PDM Buildbase First Division. Rutherglen Glencairn v Thorniewood Utd, Benburb v Bonnyton Thistle.PDM Buildbase Second Division. Ardeer Thistle v Kilsyth Rangers, Glasgow Utd v Craigmark, Renfrew v Wishaw, St Anthonys v Greenock, Maryhill v Maybole, Glasgow University v Glasgow Perthshire. PDM Buildbase Third Division. Bellshill Athletic v Saltcoats Vics, Vale of Clyde v Lanark Utd,Girvan v Royal Albert , Carluke Rovers v Ardrossan Winton Rovers,Dalry Thistle v Newmains Utd, Irvine Vics v Lugar Boswell, Larkhall Thistle v Irvine Vics, Lugar Boswell v Port Glasgow. PDM Buildbase Fourth Division. Campbeltown Pupils v Glenvale, Eglinton v Harmony Row, St Peters v Rossvale Academy(Friday 7.30PM), Threave Rovers v Easterhouse F.A.South Challenge Cup.Whitletts Vics v Lesmahagow. West of Scotland League Cup.Gartcairn v Blantyre Vics, Kilwinning Rangers v Thorn Athletic, Beith v Shotts Bon Accord, Kello Rovers v Neilston, Hurlford Utd v Rob Roy, Cumbernauld Utd v Finnart, Glenafton v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Troon v Ashfield, Forth Wanderers v Cumbernauld Utd, Kilsyth Athletic v Clydebank, Auchinleck Talbot v Johnstone Burgh, West Park Utd v St Cadocs, Yoker Athletic v Rossvale.

Regards

Jim O’Donnell