BEITH TAKING THE STRAIN OF A DOUBLE TEST

Chris Strain believes the WoSFL Premier Division is a competition where you have to be running just to stand still.

That’s why the tabletopping Beith gaffer has been quietly going about the business of fixing up his much admired Bellsdale playing charges on new or extended playing contracts while at the same time running the rule over possible additions to his squad.

His quest for further improvement appears a recipe for success but Strainy, whose star has never been brighter with Beith currently sitting atop the standings four points ahead of nearest challengers Darvel and looking on course (albeit not by him) to be crowned champions, considers future planning to be an absolute prerequisite for every top flight team boss.

Ahead of his title hopefuls making the short hop tonight to face one of his former clubs Irvine Meadow, he insisted. “Players such as Josh Fowler, Mark Monk, Scott Rough , Kian Burns and Blair Rossiter to name but a handful , have performed well and really come into their own this season , so long before the hawks began circling we as a club had moved to have them commit their futures to Beith.

“ Going forward , we’re in a good place now but injuries, loss of form and a variety of other reasons can change things very quickly hence the reason we are constantly looking to strengthen what is essentially a small squad.

“Our supporters expect no less and that’s how it should be.”

A clean bill of health has suspension free Beith at full strength for tonight’s showdown with Medda whom they ran out 4-3 winners against way back in November, a result which kickstarted a remarkable run of 14 unbeaten league games, their latest a 7-1 thrashing of Arthurlie last Saturday.

Strainy admitted, “ Our previous two victories over Clydebank(1-0) and Glenafton (2-1) were both close affairs and I was concerned the goals might be drying up however the guys were back to their clinical best against Arthurlie and we certainly punished their every mistake.

“A repeat performance will be required tomorrow night but that’s easier said than done not least because you can bet the Medda players will be doing their utmost to put a spoke in out title challenge as will Auchinleck Talbot, who are next up for us on Monday night.

“It’s quite a double–header and one that promises to be a test of our mettle but the guys have stood up to be counted all season and I’ve no reason to think they cannot do the same again.”

Medda boss Kevin Deeney a fans favourite back when he was a Beith player a has taken to talking of tonight’s opponents as champions elect in order to fire up his troops.

He insisted,” Every footballer worth his salt looks forward to playing against the league leaders and my guys are no different in that respect.

“Beith’s phenomenal run started with a win over us but we ran them very close and could easily have come out on top so I’ll be reminding my guys of that before kick off tomorrow night.

“I’m making no predictions but what I will say is Chris and his players will know they’ve been in a game so let’s see what happens!”

MEDDA BOSS DEENEY IN HIS BEITH PLAYING DAYS

Hoping for a falter of any description are Darvel after closing the gap on the league leaders with a 1-0 midweek defeat of Clydebank through Scott Ferguson’s first half score .

Mick Kennedy’s men are on the road to take on Premier bottom markers Cambuslang Rangers and are strongly fancied to come out on top even without suspended defensive mainstay Cameron Eadie ,red carded in last weekend’s 2-0 triumph over Largs Thistle.

The only other scheduled top flight fixture has mid-table Cumnock awaiting the visit to Townhead Park of a relegation threatened Rob Roy, freshly occupying one of the unwanted basement spots on the back of a damaging run of three consecutive league defeats at the hands of Irvine Meadow, Kilwinning Rangers and Pollok .

It might be seen as a glimmer of hope for the Rabs that their hosts are maybe intending to err on the side of caution and rest up several of their main players in what is the Ayrshiremen’s final outing ahead of next Friday night’s crunch Clydebuilt Home Improvements Scottish Junior Cup semi-final clash with Glenafton.

There’s also everything to play for in the First Division stakes not least of all in tonight’s head to head between title hopefuls Drumchapel United and Gartcairn where the Drum have the added incentive of taking over pole position from Benburb (even if only for 24 hours) by coming out on top in the Donald Dewar Stadium encounter.

The Bens whose striking double-act of Lewis McTaggart and Declan McDonald are scoring goals for fun can regain top spot by winning away to Shotts Bon Accord tomorrow while second placed Kilbirnie are out to take advantage of any slip up by the Govan outfit when going up against Whitletts Vics through in Ayr , a week after the teams played out a 1-1 draw at Valefield.

Third top St Cadocs ,only one win in their last four starts ,face a test of their credentials at home to Rutherglen Glencairn and similarly to Rob Roy, will be hoping Willie Harvey and his playing charges will have one eye on next weekend’s Junior Cup semi-final against Dundee East Craigie(being played on Sunday).

Meanwhile the last four clubs standing in this season’s Indigo Comms West of Scotland League Cup are set to lock horns tomorrow for a place in the showpiece finale.

Auchinleck Talbot fresh from Ross Taylor , Keir Samson and Ross Smith goals earning a 3-1 league victory over Kilwinning Rangers last Monday night welcome the Buffs to Beechwood Park again and hard not to think a similar outcome looks on the cards.

Clydebank are at the James McGrory Stadium to face St Rochs in the other semi-final and it would represent a major upset were Gordon Moffat’s men to come a cropper.

ASHY…GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN…EVER

And on a sad note to end…“With a big grin across his face “was my unusual answer to being asked earlier this week, “How do you think you will remember Iain Ashcroft? ” a former player of no little repute who tragically and unexpectedly died at his Barrhead home on Tuesday.

This response evoked a somewhat bemused look to the inquirer’s face and straightaway I knew he wasn’t one of the many friends and former team mates that Big Ashy (as he was genially known) had amassed over the past 60 years or from his feted footballing stints with Hamilton Accies, Arthurlie, Shettleston, Irvine Meadow(x2), Pollok, Hurlford United , Saltcoats Vics , Beith and Scotland Juniors.

I say this because if the asker had indeed been one of either number then he would have been nodding his head knowingly and most probably smiling had an image of the big man come to mind.

Describing him as a legend in his own lifetime…and one don’t use the word lightly… is particularly apt because if as is often said a legend lives on in the stories that people relate to each other then expect Ashy to be a name on lips for some time yet.

An unstinting sense of humour along with a mindset (did I hear someone say warped?) for coming up with a whole assortment of pranks and practical jokes were at the very core of what marked him out as a `one off“ and those of us who periodically were at the butt of his shenanigans can only imagine what it must have been like for Christine, David and Lee to be around him 24/7.

Ashy’s infamous dressing room antics are up there and measurable against the standards set by the notorious Wimbledon Crazy Gang yet he could also play a bit, as a total of 7 caps conferred on him during his heyday by Tommy Reynolds and then Dennis Gray bear testimony which is backed up by his collection of every possible winners gong (some twice) in the Junior game.

To this day, he is fondly remembered at every one of his former clubs and it speaks volumes when they are all planning to pay tribute to his memory, starting tonight at Meadow Park where Irvine Meadow , his two separate playing stints include being part of their 1994 Ayrshire First Division title winning side, are hosting the visit of Beith for whom he operated as a coach during Johnny Miller’s time at the helm .

Ashy’s funeral service is scheduled for Wednesday 19^th April (12 Noon) at the Hurlett Crematorium in Barrhead.

PLAYING TOMORROW(Kick Offs 2 PM unless stated ):P.D.M.Buildbase Premier Division. Cumnock v Rob Roy, Irvine Meadow v Beith (Tonight 7.30PM), Cambuslang Rangers v Darvel.PDM Buildbase First Division. St Cadocs v Rutherglen Glencairn, Drumchapel Utd v Gartcairn(Tonight 7.PM), Cumbernauld Utd v Johnstone Burgh, Shotts Bon Accord v Benburb, Whitletts Vics v Kilbirnie Ladeside.PDM Buildbase Second Division. Ashfield v Glasgow Utd, Craigmark v Renfrew, Wishaw v Ardeer Thistle, Glasgow Perthshire v Maybole, St Anthonys v Kilsyth Rangers,Maryhill v Yoker Athletic, Forth Wanderers v Muirkirk, PDM Buildbase Third Division. Lanark Utd v Lugar Boswell, Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Saltcoats Vics, Carluke Rovers v Finnart , Kello Rovers v Vale of Leven, Dalry Thistle v Royal Albert, Larkhall Thistle v Lesmahagow, Vale of Clyde v Irvine Vics , Port Glasgow v Bellshill Athletic, , Saltcoats Vics v Newmains Utd.PDM Buildbase Fourth Division. Harmony Row v Glenvale,Campbeltown Pupils v Easterhouse, Threave Rovers v West Park Utd, Thorn Athletic v BSC Glasgow. Indigo CommsWest of Scotland League Cup. Semi Finals.St Rochs v Clydebank, Auchinleck Talbot v Kilwinning Rangers ..

Regards

Jim O’Donnell