JAMIE’S TEAM STARTS AS HE MEANS THEM TO GO ON
Those Johnstone Burgh supporters of a more febrile mindset will not have been thinking the ability to peak at the right time has been at the very heart of their side’s less than convincing pre-season.
One-sided hammerings of Winton Rovers, Glenvale and Thorn Athletic were to be expected but getting turned over big style by Hurlford United and Largs Thistle as well as to a lesser extent by Auchinleck Talbot on top of eking out a draw against Beith were certainly not what the Keanie Park faithful had presumed would be their lot in light of the wealth of playing riches assembled over the summer months.
Not when the likes of former Rangers and Kilmarnock striker Kyle Lafferty(albeit he never played in any of the above matches), one time Scotland internationalist Graham Dorrans, erstwhile Irvine Meadow defender Bryan Wharton , midfielder Dale Simeon and Callum Nolan from Arthurlie , ex-Auchinleck and Clydebank striker Hamish McKinlay and the hitherto Pollok quartet of Del Esplin , Craig Menzies and brothers Gary and Stuart McCann are among the newcomers looking for a dressing room peg.
That said, now the action has kicked off for real, this much vaunted array of Burgh arrivals have come storming out of the blocks to sit joint top of the First Division standings (with Petershill ) after racking up impressive back-to-back victories in their opening couple of league games over Renfrew and Drumchapel United .
Not surprisingly, the mood on the Keanie terracings has become infinitely more sanguine so it follows that team boss Jamie McKim, someone with a habit of setting out tough pre-season schedules for himself and his playing charges, must be due credit on this occasion for getting his preparations spot on?
Well not according to the Burgh gaffer of the past five seasons who batted away plaudits when insisting he has drawn precious few conclusions from his team’s dream start to the season.
He admitted ” Obviously I’m very happy with taking six points out of six and particularly in winning 2-1 on Wednesday night against a very good Drumchapel United side that most pundits have been understandably tipping as favourites to top the First Division table next May.
“To beat the Drum (pardon the pun) whose players by and large have been together for a number of years is a real feather in our cap considering most of our guys are still in the process of settling in from having only arrived at the club over the past 5 weeks.
“That said ,it was always going to take time for so many new signings (good as they are) to knit together and I truly believe there is better to come once they get more used to each other’s playing styles.”
The engaging McKim whose dugout allies Dave Hill, Dave Jones and Bernie McPhee are the one and the same backroom team by his side from when he moved from minnows Glenvale to Keanie Park in 2018 added.
“Other than having more to spend on playing resources, very little has changed in terms of how we operate at this club.
“Our approach and methods are still the same and bringing on our own young players is a fundamental in the overall plan of things which is why it’s so pleasing to see Malky McDonald and Jamie Crooks as the recipients of Man of the Match awards against Renfrew and Drumchapel respectively.”
Johnstone Burgh are on the road tomorrow to face a Whitletts Vics side with a mere point to their name following openers against Neilston (2-2 ) and Ashfield (1-4) and McKim will doubtless be keeping fingers crossed his side’s performance bears no resemblance to their early season visit to Dam Park last time out when the Burgh were on the wrong end of a 7-2 thumping.
He revealed , “ 10-12 games in will be when the challengers for the top places start to make their presence felt and you cannot rule out Whitletts being up among the leading pack by then so our players will be well warned to afford them every respect .”
McKim’s selection options are boosted by the return from suspension of uncompromising centreback Wharton along with Burgh skipper Dorrans however looking a definite non-starter is the skilful Simeon after he picked up an injury and lasted only 30 minutes against Drumchapel.
Petershill proudly share top spot albeit through a more benign start to their campaign that resulted in Darren Miller honed wins over St Rochs (4-1) and Kilbirnie Ladeside (3-1) and are strongly fancied to continue their winning ways at home to relatively near neighbours Ashfield .
One time Darvel winger Miller’s three goals return from the two outings has been crucial to the Peasy revival as has his influence in helping persuade former Ayrshire midfield team mates Willie Robertson and Ryan Thomson to throw in their lot with the famous old Springburn outfit.
DARREN HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING
Yet another First Division outfit boasting a 100% record to date are Shotts Bon Accord despite being ravaged by a raft of injuries, holidays and suspension that have forced gaffer John McKeown to rely heavily on his club’s up and coming youth talents.
And it’s fair to say the absences of Johnny Murdoch, Martin Shiels ,Taylor Evans, Paul McGeough and Martin Cassells have not been felt such has been the displays of the young troops in seeing off Kilbirnie Ladeside(2-1) and Ashfield (3-2) up to now.
“ Replacing experience with legs, energy and enthusiasm has done the trick for us and I’m loathe to change things “ admitted Ruggy who has midfielder McGeough free from suspension and available for the trip to face Neilston at Brig O’ Lea.
Among the First Division others boasting unbeaten records to date are Rutherglen Glencairn and Maybole though one would imagine the Glen’s status coming under considerable threat in having to face an out to make amends Drumchapel United at their Donald Dewar Stadium.
MICK STILL PUTTING THEM AWAY
Not so Maybole for whom evergreen striker Mick McCann (40 years and counting) bagged the only goal of the game in the midweek triumph over Kilwinning Rangers and is set to again lead an all ex-Glenafton forward line comprising of similarly long in the tooth pair Ryan Nisbet and Ross Robertson at home to Thorniewood United.
PLAYING TOMORROW( Kick Offs 2 PM unless stated): P.D.M HUWS GRAY Premier Division. Troon v Largs Thistle, Pollok v Rob Roy, Gartcairn v Auchinleck Talbot, Clydebank v Glenafton , Arthurlie v Benburb, Beith v Irvine Meadow, St Cadocs v Cumnock, Darvel v Hurlford Utd. P.D.M HUWS GRAY PDM Buildbase First Division. Shotts Bon Accord v Neilston, Blantyre Vics v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Cambuslang Rangers v St Rochs, Renfrew v Kilwinning Rangers, Drumchapel Utd v Rutherglen Glencairn, Petershill v Ashfield, Johnstone Burgh ,Maybole v Thorniewood Utd, Whitletts Vics v Johnstone Burgh.PDM HUWS GRAY Second Division. Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Glasgow Perthshire,Wishaw v Bonnyton Thistle, St Anthonys v Forth Wanderers , Vale of Clyde v Yoker Athletic, Kilsyth Rangers v Larkhall Thistle, Cumbernauld Utd v Glasgow University , Craigmark v Caledonian Locomotives, Maryhill v Muirkirk . PDM HUWS GRAYThird Division. Irvine Vics v Vale of Leven, Finnart v Bellshill Athletic, Port Glasgow v Glasgow Utd, West Park Utd v Kello Rovers, Lesmahagow v Dalry Thistle Lanark Utd v Girvan, Threave Rovers v Greenock v Kilsyth Athletic. PDM HUWS GRAYFourth Division. Saltcoats Vics v Giffnock S.C, Royal Albert v Rossvale, Newmains Utd v Campbeltown Pupils , Thorn Athletic v Lugar Boswell, BSC Glasgow v East Kilbride Thistle, Knightswood v Carluke Rovers, Eglinton v Glenvale, Easterhouse FC v St Peters.
Regards
Jim O’Donnell
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