The never say die attitude that always set Scott Anson apart in his Shettleston and Cumnock heydays was clearly evident this week as the Cambuslang Rangers front man looked forward to tomorrow’s vital clash at home to Kilwinning Rangers.
The relegation threatened hosts will be arriving at the halfway stage in their Premier Division campaign with fewer points than the visitors from having played more games so avoiding defeat is a must if Anson & Co are to foster hopes of surviving the drop at the Ayrshiremen’s expense.
Said the 33 year old veteran, “Not for the first time in my Junior career I’m finding results are not providing the reward that performances deserve and it’s not to my liking once again.
“Cambuslang have shown signs of a definite mini-revival from picking up eight points from our last seven league outings yet truth is we really should have 5 or 6 more in the bag.
“Missed chances in draws against Petershill and Largs Thistle cost us dearly and we didn’t deserve to be left empty-handed when Pollok won 1-0 at Somervell and nor for that matter should we have lost 3-1 down at Auchinleck as recently as last Saturday.
“We were looking good value for at least a point when taking a 1-0 lead early in the second half through a Jay Nelson goal but then committed the cardinal sin of sitting back to try and protect our lead which allowed Talbot to do what they do better than most and batter us into submission over the closing stages.”
Their Beechwood Park showing was all the more remarkable because the Wee Gers travelled there with the bare 11 players (no substitutes) , a predicament which cannot continue according to the seasoned front man.
He insisted, “There’s been a pronounced drop in numbers since the start of the season which took a turn for the worse in December when first Ross McCabe returned to his former club Petershill and then Finlay Anderson signed for Rob Roy.
“Add into the equation, big Scott Faulds and one or two of our younger players struggling with injuries and you get the picture about our need to boost our overall squad strength however the gaffer (Paul McColl) has been hitting a brick wall and finding it far from easy to attract new faces.
“ Right now we are making do because several of the guys are playing out of position, full back Jack Breslin for instance is filling in manfully as a central defender, however there’s no doubt the team will be a lot stronger once everyone gets back to their regular slots. “
One time Kilmarnock signing Anson is not proud of Cambuslang’s status as the lowest scoring top flight team with a mere 11 goals from their 14 league matches up to now.
He added , “ Grant Brennan and I have been the ones tasked with trying to make the most of what scoring opportunities come our way and there’s no denying goals have been in short supply however it’s encouraging to hear more than a few opposition managers praising our partnership by saying we were a thorn in the flesh of their defenders.
“Their words are an indication the pair of us are doing more right than wrong and though water off a duck’s back for someone like me, Grant is a decent young talent making his way in the game and it’s important he doesn’t lose heart because the goals will come if he keeps plugging away.”
SCOTT IN SCORING ACTION FOR WEE GERS
The experienced campaigner went on, “I don’t think it’s right to target specific teams like Kilwinning, that we might overhaul from putting a run together.
“In fact, I remember thinking Davie Gormley had put together a potential title winning side when they beat us 2-0 earlier in the season so I’m more than a bit surprised at their current fourth from bottom position.
“Troon, Arthurlie, Glenafton, Rob Roy and even Largs sitting ninth in the table are anything but safe and we have all of them in our sights even if there is a bit of ground to be made up.”
Elsewhere in the top flight, Portland Park houses a potential six pointer in the crunch meeting of 3rd bottom Troon and two places better off Arthurlie , given both sides have amassed the same 13 points total as Kilwinning .
Confidence will be anything but high after both clubs suffered disappointing midweek defeats ,Troon going down 1-0 at home to Beith for whom the in-form Carlo Monti was on the mark while goals from Jamie Darroch, Nikky Little(pen) Connor Higgins and Alan Kelly saw Arthurlie take a 4-0 drubbing away to Clydebank .
Glenafton’s scalp will also be on the line away to an Irvine Meadow side, set to parade newcomers Cammy McNair (from Rob Roy) and Mick Lennox(Ardrossan Winton Rovers) and looking well down the road to recovery from an end of year form slump that yielded up only one point from their final four league matches of 2022.
Memories of Rob Roy’s 2-0 reverse against Pollok in their last league outing are sure to be fresh in the minds of Kirkintilloch supporters heading through to the Glasgow Southside for what promises to be another intriguing reunion with former team boss Stewart Maxwell , now installed at the Newlandsfield helm.
Maxi certainly appears to have everyone connected with the Lok pulling in the same direction with his side sitting a lofty third top of the Premier pile helped no end by a miserly backline racking up four clean sheets on the trot.
He insisted, “It’s a team effort whether you are scoring at one end or keeping the ball out at the other so the guys deserve all the accolades going but I’ve told them to enjoy it while they can because our run won’t last forever.
“I’m not ruling out a bump coming against Rob Roy as I know the considerable attacking threat they pose better than most but they’ll need to work for it because our defenders are not for giving anything away.”
Turning his attention to the looming contest he added, “We were 2-0 winners at Guys Meadow despite playing for an hour with only ten men after Fraser Mullen was sent off but you can take it as read there will be no complacency on the part of our guys.
“I’ll be warning them to expect a considerably tougher 90 minutes in prospect now that Kevin McGoldrick has been afforded more time to get to know and better organize his players”
Meanwhile , hoping to turn the noises surrounding Beith’s resurgence down a notch or two are Largs Thistle whose manager Stuart Davidson came away `Mighty`impressed after taking in their 7–1 destruction of Petershill last weekend .
“Chris Strain has his team flying right now and they’re clearly the in-form team in the Premier Division , with Carlo Monti in particular playing out of his skin , but I’d like to think my players are capable of putting a spoke in their works .” said Arnie.
The Largs boss, has boosted his selection options for the Barrfields encounter by snapping up winger Jamie Martin on a transfer from Irvine Meadow as well as bringing back versatile defender John Tennent for a second spell with the Seasiders.
He reasoned, “George Sewell’s departure to join Cumnock just before the turn of the year left us short in certain areas so we’re delighted to land Jamie as his very quick and direct style gives us something different.
“He’ll feature against Beith as will John who has been in our thoughts ever since impressing during a loan spell here.”
In other games, Petershill’s players will doubtless be extra motivated to bounce straight back from last week’s Bellsdale humiliation when going up against a Cumnock side .without a win in their previous four top flight contests, while Blair Park down in Ayrshire plays host to Hurlford United going all out to prevent a fifth league win on the spin for emerging title challengers Auchinleck Talbot.
In the corresponding fixture , played on the last day in December, Mark Shankland, Keir Samson and Craig McCracken counters enabled Talbot to run out 3-1 winners so it’s not surprising to hear Tommy Sloan’s men are strongly fancied to `do the double` over their Ayrshire neighbours.
PLAYING TOMORROW: ( Kick Offs 1.30 PM unless statd): Scottish Cup.Fourth Round. Elgin City v Drumchapel Utd (3PM), Darvel v Aberdeen(Monday 7.30PM).Trade Radiators South Challenge Cup.Third Round. Shotts Bon Accord v Dundonald Bluebell(1PM).P.D.M Buildbase Premier Division. Largs Thistle v Beith, Hurlford Utd v Auchinleck Talbot, Cambuslang Rangers v Kilwinning Rangers, Pollok v Rob Roy,Troon v Arthurlie, Irvine Meadow v Glenafton, Petershill v Cumnock. PDM Buildbase First Division. Cumbernauld Utd v Rossvale, Bonnyton Thistle v Gartcairn,Rutherglen Glencairn v Johnstone Burgh, Blantyre Vics v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Benburb v St Rochs, Thorniewood Utd v St Cadocs, Whitletts Vics v Neilston. PDM Buildbase Second Division. Renfrew v Greenock, Glasgow Perthshire v Craigmark, Maryhill v Kilsyth Rangers , Forth Wanderers v Wishaw, Ardeer Thistle v St Anthonys, Yoker Athletic v Muirkirk, Glasgow Utd v Maybole, Ashfield v Glasgow University. PDM Buildbase Third Division. Larkhall Thistle v Lugar Boswell, Lesmahagow v Irvine Vics,Vale of Leven v Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Dalry Thistle v Lanark Utd (Friday 7.30PM), Royal Albert v Finnart, Kello Rovers v Saltcoats Vics, Girvan v East Kilbride Thistle, Carluke Rovers v Port Glasgow, Vale of Clyde, v Bellshill Athletic. PDM Buildbase Fourth Division. Harmony Row v Glenvale, Eglinton v St Peters, Rossvale Academy v Campbeltown Pupils,Thorn Athletic v West Park Utd, Kilsyth Athletic v Easterhouse F.A.
Regards
Jim O’Donnell
About Author
Brilliant pre-games article, and leading the pack with Cambuslang Rangers. One of the best gaffers
I came across over the years at Lang was Andy Cunningham. Great man manager and training
sessions were always top notch. You will remember the pre match warm-up in the Sectional
League Final against Shotts Bon Accord – a club which Andy served brilliantly for about ten
years – and having played a small part in their build up preparing for the game and winning
1-0 – the result and also a title success for Andy was fitting given the way he went about
his business on and off the park.
The result also provided Goalkeeper Alan Wardlaw with his first medal at that level. He
was sweating buckets that night, which was a surprise considering it was a cold October
evening at Firhill ( Stadium of Dreams). It was for Wardy 🏆.
I know Andy is still in contact with many of his former players. Names you will instantly
recognise include Derek Carmichael, Gary McGregor, and Billy Holmes.
Thanks again for the coverage, Jim.