KYLE’S TIME WAS SHORT-LIVED

WHERE NEXT FOR MIDFIELD ACE KYLE?

In what seems to have been the blink of an eye , Kyle Hutton has been made available for transfer by Pollok.

It’s actually taken a little more than four months or to put it more in footballing vernacular, a few days short of the Newlandsfield club’s 13^th game of the season. (not counting friendlies) ,for it to be announced that the 32 year old ace , appointed Lok club captain in the wake of his arrival on the Glasgow Southside during the close season grabbing all the headlines , is now thought surplus to requirements.

Yet if truth be told, the fate of the former Rangers, Queen of the South and Dumbarton midfielder has been more or less determined ever since Lok’s early August 4-1 defeat at home to Benburb because he hasn’t featured as a Stewart Maxwell first pick ever since (other than when he gave his Lok fringe players game time in the 13-0 demolition of Saltcoats Vics) and has been consigned to a watching brief from the substitutes bench as his team mates have impressively strung together eight games unbeaten.

Hopes are high of extending their run to nine games in a Southern Challenge Cup second round clash at home to Camelon, being played tonight at the behest of the East Region outfit (Kick Off 7.30PM),but it’s thought highly unlikely that Hutton will figure .not least because terracing whispers reckon Maxi is on the verge of boosting his 19 strong playing squad (inclusive of 2 goalkeepers) with a midfield signing.

The Lok boss, never one to mince his words, admitted , “There’s been no fall-out as such but coming here has just never worked out for Kyle or Pollok so it’s in everyone’s best interests that he’s allowed to move on .

“Whether that opens the door for a new signing remains to be seen however as yet there’s nothing definite to report on the transfer front and we’re in no hurry to conclude any business , not with Ryan McGregor and Ross Lindsay providing central midfield cover and Luke Main on the way back from his ten game suspension. “

Maxi turned his attention to the Camelon contest and added, “ They’re a big club with big ambitions and are currently sitting top of the East Region First Division so you can bet they will not be coming here just to make up the numbers .

“I’ve warned our players to expect a tough a tie and I’d like to think the big Pollok crowd that tends to turn out for these floodlit matches will act as a twelfth man to help get us through.”

The Newlandsfield head to head is first up among a number of intriguing South Challenge Cup head to heads, the pick of which is the meeting of WoSFL Premier Division rivals Beith and Arthurlie through at Bellsdale which will doubtless have the Ayrshiremen desperate to atone for suffering a first defeat of the season last weekend… their shock Scottish Junior Cup elimination (on penalty kicks) away to Hermes.

Reigning holders Spartans will not be defending their trophy after making the step up to the SPFL Second Division while beaten finalists last time out Drumchapel United were dealt a first round knock-out blow in this season’s competition by Ardrossan Winton Rovers however a couple of the 2022/23 losing quarter finalists Auchinleck Talbot and Kilwinning Rangers will be out to keep their silverware hopes alive when hosting the visits of Arniston Rangers and Hawick Royal Albert respectively.

Away from the Cup, Beith’s involvement in the South Challenge silverware stakes could work against the reigning Premier Division champions as they might find themselves with a seven points gap to be made up should current tabletoppers Clydebank come out on top when taking on fifth placed Benburb at Tinto Park tomorrow.

That promises to be anything but a foregone conclusion seeing as the one and only league defeat inflicted on the Bankies to date was a 3-2 Holm Park reverse at the hands of the Bens so it’s no real surprise to hear visiting gaffer Gordon Moffat adopting a cautious approach.

He recalled , “ The Benburb loss came in our opening league game on a day when too many of our players weren’t ready for it .

“They charged into a 3-0 lead before we recovered some pride with a couple of goals and we might well have snatched a draw but in truth we didn’t deserve to take anything from the game whatsoever.

“The players have been consistent to a fault ever since and along with scoring a lot of goals have lost just the once, against Beith in the South Challenge Cup, so wouldn’t it be ironic if that defeat worked in our favour now?

Moff went on to reason ,” The points will be anything but easy come by because Benburb are a hard running and battling side while our preparations have been anything but ideal for a game of this magnitude.

“This is a rearranged fixture that was only put in place last Saturday evening so we have therefore not had the opportunity to run the rule over Paul Lovering’s side as we do with all our opponents.

“ I’m well aware that WoSFL clubs agreed on a 5 day notice period for fixtures at the start of the season so this is not meant as a criticism however this time lag doesn’t lend itself to a professional approach so maybe extending the period to 10 days is the answer going forward?”

MOFF HAS TO QUICKLY GET HIS BANKIES HOUSE IN ORDER

In the only other top flight fixture going ahead, Cumnock, down in fifth from bottom spot and having played fewer league games than any of their Premier contemporaries, are seeking to secure an eighth top place in the standings that only a few weeks ago might have been considered unrealistic by even their most diehard supporters.

Yet that’s the reward on offer should recently appointed Murdie McKinnon’s men come good away to a Darvel side, sitting fourth in the table and managed by none other than former Nock team boss Tony McInally.

McKinnon was an even closer follower in the footsteps of Macca when he stepped up from being Pollok’s No 2 to replace him in the Newlandsfield hotseat in 2018 and the word is there’s no love lost between the once dugout allies even though Murdie scoffed at the very suggestion last night.

“All that nonsense is in the past as far as I’m concerned.” he insisted before adding “Tony’s got a job to do at Darvel just as I have at Cumnock and getting one over on him is nowhere near as important to me as improving my players as individuals, as a team and crucially in terms of results.

“ We won’t be making moves up the table unless I can get the best out of the players so that’s been the focus of”our hard work put in on the training ground this past week.”

Harking back to Cumnock’s reign as Scottish Junior Cup holders coming to an end through last Saturday’s 3-2 defeat by Auchinleck Talbot brought Murdie to say,” It’s paramount that we need to be a whole lot better than we showed last week because I don’t like being beat and neither do the players.

“ It was hard not to like their determination and battling qualities in the Talbot game but we came up woefully short in being able to go and play with the ball after winning it so that has to change.

“ Getting another week under our belts of working with the players has been a big plus and hopefully we’ll see improvements against Darvel.”

ONE OF BARRHEAD’S FINEST

Meanwhile , hearing that the forthcoming Arthurlie v Pollok league clash on Saturday 11^th November will have the Ian Ashcroft Cup up for grabs by the winners.

Big Ashy, who sadly and unexpectedly passed away earlier this year at a relatively young 60 years of age , played with no little distinction for both clubs during a chequered Junior career , and this trophy prize is a fitting tribute to his memory.

PLAYING TOMORROW: (Kick Offs 2 PM unless stated):.P.D.M HUWS GRAY Premier Division. Darvel v Cumnock, Benburb v Clydebank..P.D.M HUWS GRAYFirst Division., Blantyre Vics v Whitletts Vics, Maybole v Renfrew, Cambuslang Rangers v Petershill.PDM HUWS GRAY Second Division. Larkhall Thistle v Glasgow Perthshire, Caledonian Locomotives v Glasgow University, Bonnyton Thistle v Wishaw, Kilsyth Rangers v Craigmark, Muirkirk v Yoker Athletic. PDM HUWS GRAYThird Division. Bellshill Athletic v Kilsyth Athletic, Greenock v Dalry Thistle, Glasgow Utd v Ardeer Thistle. PDM HUWS GRAYFourth Division. Easterhouse v Knightswood, Eglinton v Rossvale, Saltcoats Vics v Royal Albert, Glenvale v Newmains Utd. SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP.Second Round.Aberdeen East End v East Kilbride Thistle, Carnoustie Panmure v Letham, Kello Rovers v Gartcairn, Dundee Violet v Deveronside, Vale of Leven v Carluke Rovers, Finnart v Dyce SOUTHERN CHALLENGE CUP.Third Round. Cowdenbeath vWhitehill Welfare, Newton Stewart v Leith Athletic, Linlithgow Rose v St Peters, Jeanfield Swifts v Largs Thistle, Rutherglen Glencairn v Penicuik Athletic, Heriot Watt University v Tynecastle, Maryhill v Lanark Utd, St Anthonys v Dunbar Utd, Gretna 2008 v St Cadocs,Tranent vLothian Thistle,Armadale Thistle v Albion Rovers, Beith v Arthurlie, Thornton Hibs v St Rochs, Shotts Bon Accord v Kirkcaldy & Dysart, Johnstone Burgh v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Cumbernauld Utd v Forth Wanderers, Thorn Athletic v Threave Rovers, Auchinleck Talbot v Arniston Rangers,Stoneyburn v Kennoway Star Hearts, Musselburgh Athletic v Berwick Rangers, Troon v Abbey Vale, Caledonian Braves v East Stirling, Kilwinning Rangers v Hawick Royal Albert, Thorniewood Utd v Stirling University, Broxburn Athletic v Lesmahagow, Pollok v Camelon (Tonight 7.30PM), Lugar Boswell v BSC Glasgow, Ardrossan Winton Rovers v St Andrews Utd, Creetown v Ashfield Hurlford Utd v Rob Roy, STRATHCLYDE DEMOLITION CUP.Drumchapel Utd v Campbelltown Pupils, Port Glasgow v Neilston.