STARTING AS THEY MEAN TO GO ON IS NOT EASY

MICHAEL IS BACKING GARTCAIRN TO COME GOOD

Is the notion of a newly promoted side coming up to challenge for the WoSFL Premier Division title nothing more than bold ambition?

The question is posed if one takes a glance at the standings and perceives this season’s trio of new boys Gartcairn(15^th) ,St Cadocs(12^th) and Benburb (13^th) are already occupying bottom six spots.

Admittedly, conclusions cannot and should not be arrived at when the season is only three games old but that said, a year ago Petershill, Cambuslang Rangers and Arthurlie were likewise having difficulties in finding their feet after making the step up into the big boys playground and the first two clubs now have First Division status while the Barrhead outfit only avoided sharing their `taking a tumble` fate on the back of a Colin Reilly inspired late revival that enabled them to prevail (by two points) over Kilwinning Rangers in a close fought relegation battle.

Now before Airdrie, Newton Mearns and Govan based supporters flock to take up arms , not for a single minute is one suggesting this season’s incoming threesome are about to face a struggle for survival …anything but… particularly when a gentle reminder can point out the opening gambit is whether they might or might not figure in the reckoning for sponsors P.D.M.HUWS GRAY’s coveted top prize next May?

Saying it’s very unlikely any of the three clubs will be taking to the podium is both sitting on the fence and a safe bet despite the fact Benburb have previous experience of what the top flight is all about along with Gartcairn and St Cadocs appearing to have considerable financial resources should a timely boost to their aspirations ever be needed.

“It’s not being negative in the slightest to say you have to crawl before you can walk” said team boss Michael Dunlop who steered Gartcairn to the First Division Championship last time out.

“ We always knew establishing ourselves was not going to be a piece of cake however what was not apparent was just how fine the margin is between success and failure against the top clubs.

“ We drew 1-1 with Largs Thistle in our season opener when they equalized late on ,somewhat deservedly I should add, and our next game away to Hurlford United was decided by a wonder strike from their player Jack Whittaker in the fourth minute of added on injury time.

“Auchinleck Talbot then beat us 2-0 last Saturday when there was very little between the clubs and the game could have gone either way so to be sitting with just one point to our name doesn’t make particularly good reading.

“Results are obviously not great but performances have been very positive and the players have shown themselves to be more than capable of holding their own against Premier sides.”

Ahead of leading his side down to face three points better off Cumnock in a Townhead Park contest tomorrow , Dunlop added.

“It’s no sleight to the guys filling the jerseys to say we’ve been handicapped up to now by not having all our best players available..

“Alan Cook whom we brought in from Broomhill during the summer was suspended for the Largs game while Kevin Bain and our regular centre midfield pairing of Kev Nicoll and Darren Bowie have not kicked a ball since picking up injuries pre-season.

“They are not far away from a return and getting these guys back will make a huge difference.”

No doubt extra motivated in wanting to do well against the Ayrshiremen is Gartcairn’s new striker signing Jack McIlveen, scorer of 23 goals for Rutherglen Glencairn last season, whose last outing for the Ru’Glonians was in June’s 1-0 Scottish Junior Cup Final defeat by… Cumnock.

Also taking to the road are St Cadocs in heading through to meet a Rob Roy side buoyed by the manner of their battling display in coming back from 1-3 down to eke out a Newlandsfield share of the spoils against Pollok last Saturday which also brought new striker signing Paul Tierney his third goal in three starts for Kevin McGoldrick’s men.

TIERNEY OFF TO A RABS FLIER

Meanwhile, equally convinced his Benburb side’s points total should be greater than the three amassed up to now from a victory over the Rabs and consecutive defeats at the hands of Beith and last weekend by Arthurlie is Tinto Park gaffer Paul Lovering .

He admitted ,” I’ve no complaints about the Beith result as they turned us over big style but we missed all manner of clear-cut chances against Arthurlie that could have put the game to bed before they got back into it.”

Lovering will be hoping strikers Declan McDonald and Aaron Black have their shooting boots on for the visit of Pollok and may be tempted to boost his side’s attacking prowess with a selection tweak bringing son Lewis ( a substitute against Arthurlie) into his starting X1.

Top billing among the other contests taking place arguably belongs to the Beechwood Park clash of Auchinleck Talbot v Darvel , two sides tipped as potential title winners before a ball was kicked in anger but now looking to recover from below-par starts to their campaigns .

Hurlford United have the incentive of taking over pole position if they win at home to Troon (current frontrunners Beith are on Scottish Cup duty away to Carnoustie Panmure) while the Premier bottom markers Irvine Meadow will no doubt be fired up to raise their performance bar against Arthurlie at Meadow Park .

Largs Thistle and Clydebank, boasting identical stats of 1win 1 draw and 1 loss from their opening matches, come together at Barrfields in what has all the makings of a high scoring affair after the teams racked up respective 5-1 (over Troon ) and 4-1 (Glenafton )victories a week ago.

Said vastly experienced Theesel boss Stuart “Arnie” Davidson,” Our thumping win was the ‘response to a very poor showing in our previous game against Darvel (1-3) but hopefully from here on it doesn’t take a bad performance to get us playing at our best.

“The guys have set a marker now and know I’ll be looking for more of the same starting with the Bankies

ARNIE IS WARY OF CLYDEBANK THREAT

Arnie went on to laud “Clydebank have always looked likely to have big winning scores in their locker given the quality of their attacking types Nikky Little ,Lee Gallagher, Connor Higgins ,Liam McGonigle and Ciaran Mulcahy backed up by Nikky Low from in-behind.

“They’ve now added Thomas Collins and Callum Graham to their attacking mix so our defenders can expect a tough time trying to keep tabs on that lot.”

David Ramsay, Sean McLeod , Ryan McCreath and Lewis Davidson were all posted missing against Troon but Arnie is keeping fingers crossed that one or two of them will declare themselves fit for tomorrow’s tester.

He reasoned, “There’s another round of midweek matches on Wednesday and I believe the guys cannot be at their best playing 3 games per week so the more options we have , the better.

“The Premier is going to be a tough league this season , probably the strongest it’s ever been and we want to get points on the board sooner rather than later.”

The extremely competitive First Division’s game of the day is undoubtedly Johnstone Burgh hosting league leaders Shotts Bon Accord at Keanie Park where anything less than an outright victory opens the door for 3^rd placed Maybole to go atop the pile through getting the better of St Rochs at the James McGrory Stadium. game.

That same opportunity exists for both Ashfield(4^th) and Petershill (5^th) if other results go their way and they can come out on top in clashes with Blantyre Vics(h) and Neilston(a) respectively.

PLAYING TOMORROW: (Kick Offs 2 PM unless stated): P.D.M HUWS GRAY Premier Division. Largs Thistle v Clydebank, Benburb v Pollok, Rob Roy v St Cadocs, Cumnock v Gartcairn, Auchinleck Talbot v Darvel, Irvine Meadow v Arthurlie, Hurlford Utd v Troon. P.D.M HUWS GRAY PDM Buildbase First Division. Johnstone Burgh v Shotts Bon Accord, Ashfield v Blantyre Vics, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Cambuslang Rangers, St Rochs v Maybole, Drumchapel Utd v Kilwinning Rangers, Rutherglen Glencairn v Whitletts Vics, Neilston v Petershill, Thorniewood Utd v Renfrew. PDM HUWS GRAY Second Division. Glasgow Perthshire v Maryhill, Bonnyton Thistle,v St Anthonys, Forth Wanderers v Cumbernauld Utd, Yoker Athletic v Ardrossan Winton Rovers .Larkhall Thistle v Craigmark(Friday 7.15PM) ,Muirkirk v Kilsyth Rangers, Glasgow University v Vale of Clyde(Friday 8PM) Caledonian Locomotives v Wishaw. PDM HUWS GRAYThird Division. Vale of Leven v Lanark Utd, Bellshill Athletic v Irvine Vics, Girvan v Port Glasgow, Ardeer Thistle v West Park Utd, Kello Rovers v Greenock, Kilsyth Athletic v Lesmahagow, Dalry Thistle v Finnart, Glasgow Utd v Threave Rovers, Greenock v Kilsyth Athletic. PDM HUWS GRAYFourth Division. Glenvale v Royal Albert, Campbeltown Pupils v Easterhouse, Giffnock S.C v Thorn Athletic, Lugar Boswell v Eglinton,St Peters v BSC Glasgow ,East Kilbride Thistle v Saltcoats Vics, Rossvale v Knightswood, Carluke Rovers v Newmains Utd..

Regards

Jim O’Donnell