STRAIN GAME TO START ALL OVER AGAIN

JOSH HAS SAID HIS GOODBYES TO BEITH

Of all the stories that could emerge ahead of the new WoSFL season getting underway tomorrow, it seems perfectly reasonable to hear striking discovery Josh Fowler has completed a move away from reigning Premier Division champions Beith.

But to UAE Second Division outfit Gulf United based out in Dubai ?…Nope I didn’t either!

The scorer of 32 goals as Chris Strain’s men romped to their title win last season was over in Holland at Motherwell’s training camp as recently as last month for the purpose of allowing Well boss Stuart Kettlewell to run the rule over him with a view to signing and he followed that trial period up by accepting an invite from Kilmarnock boss Derek McInness to go on his club’s pre-season tour of Ireland.

All this interest had the 22 year old strongly tipped to be playing in the SPFL before long however his immediate future is now in the Middle East after a bold transfer swoop by Gulf United gaffer Steven Taylor, the former defender of more than 200 appearances for Newcastle United, who has designs on Fowler forming a striking double-act alongside another striker with strong Scottish links …one time Celtic front man Gary Hooper.

Beith manager Chris Strain revealed, “It’s a done deal and everyone here at Beith wishes Josh all the very best but from my perspective he’d have been better holding off to see if Motherwell or Kilmarnock came chapping at his door again.

“Moving to Dubai and all that entails, like living out of hotels is not going to be easy and neither is having to adjust to a style of football he has never experienced before.

”Look I’m no expert but without fear of contradiction I can say it’s not going to be what he’s been used to at our level.”

Strain was speaking in the wake of Beith proving the unlucky one among the 16 strong WoSFL representation of clubs whose names went into the hat this week when the draws for the two preliminary rounds of the Scottish Gas sponsored Scottish Cup were made .

The Premier kingpins were the only team from these parts to receive a first round contest (away to Carnoustie Panmure) but will be rewarded with a home tie against fellow Ayrshire outfit Bonnyton Thistle if they manage to overcome the Taysiders.

Altogether, there is the prospect of five all-WoSFL clashes in the offing because Beith v Bonnyton apart, Pollok play host to Southside neighbours Benburb ,Scottish Junior Cup winners Cumnock have received home advantage against Girvan and Kilwinning Rangers will entertain Glasgow University while last season’s Cup shock troops Darvel will need to come good away to Premier rivals Glenafton (by a quirk of coincidence their opening league opponents tomorrow) if they are to have any chance of emulating last season’s epic run to the Fifth Round.

The full Preliminary Second Round draw to be played on the weekend of Saturday 2^nd September is as follows,

Broxburn Athletic v Lochee United, Camelon Juniors v Newtongrange Star
Carluke Rovers v Dalbeattie Star,Carnoustie Panmure or Beith Juniors v Bonnyton Thistle,Creetown v Whitehill Welfare,Culter v Blackburn United,
Cumnock v Girvan,Dunbar United v Vale of Leithen, Easthouses Lily MWFC v Threave Rovers,Fort William v Clydebank,Glenafton v Darvel, Hawick Royal Albert v Golspie Sutherland,Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Tayport,Irvine Meadow v Dunipace, Jeanfield Swifts v Abbey Vale or Cupar Hearts,Kilwinning Rangers v Glasgow University,Musselburgh Athletic v Coldstream,Newton Stewart v Luncarty or Loch Ness,Penicuik Athletic v Rutherglen Glencairn
Pollok v Benburb,Preston Athletic v Dundonald Bluebell,Sauchie v Burntisland ShipyardSt. Andrews United v Haddington Athletic,St. Cuthbert Wanderers v Dalkeith Thistle,Tynecastle v Hutchison Vale, Wigtown & Bladnoch v Auchinleck Talbot.

Turning his attention to the Ayrshiremen’s defence of their top flight crown which commences tomorrow with a Bellsdale head to head against Rob Roy , Strainy appeared to bolster that us against them mentality(such an inherent quality among successful teams) in saying,

“We are not blind to the fact teams will be pulling out all the stops to turn us over but to my way of thinking, it’s much more preferable to have a target on our backs rather than be taking aim at someone else.

“ The guys have prepared well and though pre-season results don’t count for anything in the grand scheme of things ,it’s a sign of the character in the squad that we have remained unbeaten in five matches .

“ We face a tough start…everybody will be saying the same…but more so us in having to rebrand ourselves without Josh’s striking threat however I believe we are overall stronger for our close season transfer business and have more of a complete playing squad at our disposal.”

CHRIS IS SURE HIS BEITH PLAYERS ARE UP FOR THE NEW CHALLENGES

Strain has strengthened his defence with the additions of goalkeeper Jamie Walker (Largs Thistle) and recognised full backpair Jordan Scott (Petershill) and Victor Emordi (Winton Rovers) as well as boosting his midfield options by capturing the versatile Mikey McWilliams(ex-ShottsBon Accord and Pollok ) however one cannot help but think Mighty supporters` eyes are sure to be trained further forward where the early contenders for filling Fowler’s boots are the pacey and darting ex-Auchinleck Talbot buzzbomb Aaron Mason along with six foot plus Ciaran Diver who top scored as Renfrew took the Second Division title honours last time out.

Strainy admitted, “ The players coming into the club have shown themselves to be really good types with varying attributes not least of all Mason and Diver, exciting talents, who not unlike Josh ,have gear changes in their repertoire and know where the goal is…”

The 43 year old team boss contended , “ We face a proper test of our mettle tomorrow because I well remember Rob Roy coming here early on last season and totally outplaying us to win by a 3-0 scoreline.

“ Making a good start is vital as the signs are a number of clubs are actively gearing up to mount a title challenge , most notably Darvel where there’s still a nucleus of good players despite the huge upheaval of the summer months.

“Tony McInally has made several top notch signings to further boost their bid while you have to consider Pollok as the real deal after the overwhelming raft of changes made by Maxi( manager Stewart Maxwell ).

“ And you simply cannot rule out Auchinleck Talbot finishing top of the pile because much as everyone thinks they are now a team in transition with Andy Leishman, Graham Wilson, Keir Samson and Mark Shankland’s departures, Tommy Sloan has made a habit of unearthing quality players out of nowhere and I for one wouldn’t bet against him doing so again.

Largs Thistle have racked up some impressive results up to now and cannot be discounted , particularly if they get away to a winning start and neither can you write off Hurlford United especially after Darren Henderson managed to bring back his former front man Lewis Morrison from Darvel as I reckon he will be good for 20 goals plus over the coming season.

Strainy went on , “ When all is said done though, Clydebank look to be the team with the most continuity given they boast a strong array of players who have grown together for a number of seasons and I fancy them to be in the title running …hopefully with Beith…come next May.”

Emerging as the outright Game of the Day in tomorrow’s opening fixture card (in light of Strainy’s summations) is the Newlandsfield clash of Pollok v Auchinleck while the Premier Division debuts of Gartcairn and St Cadocs, at home against Largs Thistle and Hurlford United respectively, are sure to attract more than just passing interest.

MOFF ‘S MEN ARE STICKING TOGETHER FOR STARTERS

Believing his side’s pre-season preparations to have been disjointed at best brought Clydebank gaffer Gordon Moffat to quash any thoughts of over-confidence among his troops ahead of their Holm Park opener against the third and last of the newly promoted clubs, Benburb.

Moff revealed, “We’re certainly not firing on all cylinders yet and I put that down to the non-availability of players throughout our pre-season work outs, be it training sessions or games.

“ You can only work with who is there and on too many occasions we have been bereft of key players due to planned holidays and unable to do anything other than put playing minutes in the legs of those who are there.

“You then have to give much needed playing time to the other guys on their return so the opportunity to work on developing partnerships and integrating newcomers into our plans becomes difficult to say the least.”

The affable team boss has kept his summer months recruitment to a near bare minimum (up to now) by adding only four newcomers to his established Bankies squad in the shape of goalkeeper Kieran Hughes(St Cadocs), full back James Grant (Broomhill Open Door),and strikers Callum Graham (Irvine Meadow) and Thomas Collins(Kilwinning Rangers) though at least one of the latter pair’s arrivals may not have been necessary were it not for highly regarded front man Ciaran Mulcahy’s forthcoming emigration (late August /early September) to Australia.

He added, “ I’d be lying if I said I thought we were as ready as we can be for all that the Premier Division has in store however 90 minutes against Benburb tomorrow will answer a lot of questions.

“Theirs is a battling and hard running style of play that has caused us problems in the past however with all due respect we’re not going to get caught up in how Benburb play on the day.

“ Managing the game by getting the ball down and playing at our own tempo is what we will be setting out our stall to do.”

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

Regards

Jim O’Donnell