DEL AND HIS TEAM MATES OUT TO RESORE PRIDE
Much to Del Esplin’s annoyance, a third defeat in the space of six days could be on the cards for him and his Pollok team mates when hosting the visit of Darvel tonight.
It’s been a particularly wretched week for the Southside giants as back to back losses against Irvine Meadow (last Saturday) and Clydebank (Tuesday) has taken the wind out of their sails and the visitors are certainly not the side Esplin & Co would choose to meet when needing signs of encouragement ahead of their season’s run-in.
See off the Ayrshiremen and the pursuit of a top four league finish is well and truly on (Is there such an achievement?) but lose and their remaining handful of Premier Division contests, inclusive of Darvel away, threatens to become damp squib after damp squib .
And while it’s been widely acknowledged that team boss Stewart Maxwell’s overriding aim since his appointment to the Newlandsfield helm in December has been to build bricks for the 2023/24 campaign , even he must be sharing Esplin’s frustrations over recent performances.
Said the midfield battler ,allegedly a signing target for Darvel supremo Mick Kennedy earlier this season,
“ It’s been a terrible week for us and we as a group of players have let the manager down , supporters down ,and not least of all ourselves.
“The calibre of the guys in our dressing room are capable of so much more and while their ability is not in question , what has been undoubtedly lacking is the stomach for meeting the demands of playing at this club.
“Every other team raises their game in wanting to beat Pollok but unless we show some extra desire of our own then results like Irvine Meadow and Clydebank are inevitable.”
The 31 year old added, “Playing three games in a week was never going to be easy especially when we’ve been battered by suspensions and injuries(Esplin himself only returned against the Bankies following a 2 game ban) but now we have the added pressure of trying to turn things around against arguably the best of the three teams.
“Facing a side of Darvel’s quality promises to be another test of character yet while getting a much needed win will be difficult , it’s not beyond us.”
A bumper crowd is expected to take in the eagerly awaited floodlit match-up which has Pollok gaffer Maxi minus banned striker Stuart McCann as well as his potential replacement Jay Nelson (sent off against the Bankies) but back in contention for a starting jersey is suspension free full back Fraser Mullen whose injured defensive team mates Callum Gow and Mark Sideserf are unfortunately rated 50/50 at best.
Maxi and what troops he is able to muster can expect no favours from second top of the table Darvel , themselves looking to get their own season back on track following a potentially title damaging run of their own which has yielded up just one victory in their last five league starts and culminated in last weekend’s crushing 4-1 reverse at the hands of Troon.
David Syme, recently recalled from a loan spell with Troon and returning from injury skipper Daryll Meggatt may be asked to stiffen up the visiting backline while one time Pollok front man Allan McKenzie is also in line for a starting jersey.
A suitable buoyed Clydebank are also back in Holm Park action tonight when seeking to prevent league leaders Beith from extending their undefeated league run to an anything but unlucky 13 games.
In other contests under floodlights, relegation threatened Kilwinning Rangers await the visit of Cumnock while Troon and Largs Thistle lock horns in a mid-table encounter that as recently as the start of last month would have been a basement clash.
Tomorrow has Premier bottom markers Cambuslang Rangers facing Hurlford United in what is shaping up as a must-win affair for both clubs while fourth from bottom Arthurlie will be hoping to build on last Saturday’s stirring 2-1 victory over Cumnock when Irvine Meadow are the next-up visitors to Dunterlie.
Changes to his winning line-up are forced upon the Barrhead men’s new team boss Colin Reilly as a result of Max Kerr’s first half red carding against the Nock while the hamstring injury picked up by Dale Simeon looks certain to keep him sidelined however on the upside he has stopper Michael McNeil in line for a recall after serving a one game ban imposed for his own recent dismissal against Pollok.
Heading up the Irvine side is their newteam manager Kevin Deeney, who was offered and accepted the post on a permanent basis, prior to a laudable 2-2 Beechwood Park draw against title contending Auchinleck Talbot on Wednesday night.
Hopes of the visitors holding onto a 1-0 first half lead through a Connor Boyd goal were firstly dented on the hour mark by the combative Kyle Faulds getting an early bath for double yellow card offences before Bot forward Aaron Mason levelled the scores from the penalty spot.
All looked lost when another of Tommy Sloan’s young discoveries Ross Taylor fired the home side 2-1 ahead with little more than ten minutes left to play however an 85th minute equalizer from Cammy McNair earned Medda a welcome share of the spoils.
47 year old Deeney ,many years ago a product of Pollok Boys Club can lay claim to an extensive Junior playing career encompassing stints as a “run all day” midfielder with Largs Thistle (under Sandy McLean) , Beith (McLean again ,Brian`Brass` Stevenson , Dennis Gray, and Frank Lynch) Glenafton , Hurlford United and Kilwinning Rangers.
KEVIN WAS EIGHT YEARS AT BEITH
And for the past ten years ,he has dutifully acted as assistant to out in front Junior gaffer George Grierson at Kilwinning , Newton Stewart in the South of Scotland League, Lugar Boswell, Muirkirk, Whitletts Vics and was again at his side when Grierson moved to Meadow Park last September following the departures of the Irvine club’s erstwhile management duo Colin Spence and James Latta.
It follows therefore that his knowledge of the game is a given and this led to him being tasked with firstly looking after team matters on an interim basis following Grierson’s shock resignation in February before impressive stats of five wins in seven outings led to this week’s firming up of his appointment and that of loyal backroom team , Gary Russell, Roland Fabiani, Mark Ferris and goalkeeping coach Ally McGhee.
Giving Deeney the reins at a time when Medda’s players are clearly playing for him is seen as a timely move by Meadow Park officials to stave off transfer rumours currently circulating of several of their playing charges being targeted ,not least of all central defender Neil Slooves , thought to be on the respective radars of Auchinleck Talbot, Cumnock and Pollok.
Kevin insisted , “ Right here and now my focus is on nothing other than our last seven league matches to try and finish as high up the table as we can and I know the players are of the same mind so all the more reason for contract talks to be put on the back burner.
“Arthurlie tomorrow in their own backyard when they’re fighting for Premier Division survival presents its own problems but no more so than Wednesday’s trip to Auchinleck which I felt the guys came through with flying colours so more of the same fighting spirit and grit will do for me.
“Kyle is unfortunately ruled out however it’s no bad thing to freshen the team up at this stage.”
Dropping two points in midweek will no doubt have title contending Auchinleck doubly determined to make amends tomorrow when making the short hop to take on a Glenafton side whose own fears of the drop were considerably eased on Wednesday thanks to Michael McMullin and Leon Murphy(pen) goals earning a 2-0 win over Kilwinning Rangers that lifted Ryan Stevenson’s men six points clear of Arthurlie.
Talbot are likewise boosted after their appeal against being thrown out of the South Challenge Cup (they are the trophy holders ) for fielding ineligible goalkeeper Jordan Hurst-Bradley in their last 16 round victory over East Kilbride was upheld yesterday and they will now face another Lowland League outfit Caledonian Braves in the Quarter Finals.
The remaining last eight ties to played on Saturday 1st April are
Kilwinning Rangers v Gartcairn
Sauchie v Drumchapel Utd
Spartans v Stirling University
Elsewhere , hearing there’s been a change of venue for the forthcoming Clydebuilt Home Improvements Scottish Junior Cup semi-final between near neighbours Glenafton and Cumnock .
The penultimate showdown initially scheduled for Beechwood Park on Friday 14th April(7.30 PM) will now take place at Meadow Park at the request of Ayrshire Police.
And finally, word of yet another new manager being installed , this time at WoSFL Third Division promotion challengers Vale of Clyde where John Hughes , previously an assistant boss at Fullarton Park under Mark Mackay ,has been appointed as the replacement for Colin Reilly (Arthurlie) .
WEEKEND GAMES (Kick Offs 2 PM unless stated): P.D.M Buildbase Premier Division. Arthurlie v Irvine Meadow, Troon v Largs Thistle (Tonight 7.30PM),Cambuslang Rangers v Hurlford Utd, Clydebank v Beith (Tonight 7.45PM), Pollok v Darvel (Tonight 7.45PM), Kilwinning Rangers v Cumnock Tonight 7.30PM), Glenafton v Auchinleck Talbot.PDM Buildbase First Division. Shotts Bon Accord v Johnstone Burgh, Cumbernauld Utd v Neilston, Thorniewood Utd v Gartcairn, Rossvale v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Drumchapel Utd v Tonight Blantyre Vics, Rutherglen Glencairn v Benburb, St Cadocs v St Rochs, Whitletts Vics v Bonnyton Thistle.PDM Buildbase Second Division. St Anthonys v Craigmark, Wishaw v Muirkirk, Forth Wanderers v Glasgow Utd, Ardeer Thistle v Yoker Athletic, Renfrew v Glasgow Perthshire, Ashfield v Maryhill, Glasgow University v Maybole, Greenock v Kilsyth Rangers.PDM Buildbase Third Division. Lanark Utd v Irvine Vics , Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Bellshill Athletic, Dalry Thistle v Girvan, East Kilbride Thistle v Kello Rovers,Vale of Leven v Larkhall Thistle,Newmains Utd v Lugar Boswell, Vale of Clyde v Royal Albert, Port Glasgow v Finnart. Carluke Rovers v Lesmahagow.PDM Buildbase Fourth Division. Kilsyth Athletic v Threave Rovers, Easterhouse v BSC Glasgow, Eglinton v St Peters Campbeltown Pupils v Glenvale, Thorn Athletic v West Park Utd.
Regards
Jim O’Donnell
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