MAXI IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE

THE WAY FORWARD IS…

Can Pollok get the better of Largs Thistle tomorrow and pass the first of many tests set for them by team boss Stewart Maxwell?

The question is begged by his sights having been set on unashamedly bettering the Newlandsfield outfit’s lot ever since taking up the Lok reins last November when they were sitting sixth in the Premier Division standings and about to exit the `big` Scottish Cup to Ayr United (his first game in charge) having previously been knocked out of the two remaining Cup competitions by Clydebank (South Challenge Cup) and St Cadocs (West of Scotland League Cup).

A dressing room revamp on the back of no less than 14 close season signings has given him cause for thinking first anniversary celebrations might be in order but now comes the acid test with respective Cup ties looming ahead against Benburb, Saltcoats Vics and Petershill as well as a mix of anything but predictable league fixtures beginning with the Stuart “Arnie” Davidson steered Seasiders coming through to the Glasgow Southside .

Home supporters, with memories still raw from being on the wrong end of a 5-1 Barrfields hammering in the very last game of last season, might understandably bill the game as something of a “revenge clash “however Maxi’s only focus is upon building on his side’s decent start to their Premier Division campaign which has them currently sitting a lofty second top of the pile.

“As always, things are incredibly tight in the League’s infancy with all the teams showing themselves capable of beating each other and only Beith have shown any real consistency up to now .” he insisted before continuing.

“A lot of eyes have been trained on us because of the amount of changes made yet I feel the players have shown exceptional character to come out of the blocks as they did even if you’d have been excused for thinking we were a club in crisis after the one defeat we suffered.

“That however is an indication of the standards here at Pollok and more so given our lack of success over the past decade so hopefully the current squad will quickly adapt to the demands put on them .

“It’s not going to be an overnight fix but I certainly see the early signs as promising “

One time Glasgow Perthshire midfielder Scott Forrester has attracted rave reviews from Lok diehards for his recent central defensive showings alongside big stopper Callum Gow while wingers Andy Gallagher and Evan Maley have also caught the eye along with striking trio Marc McKenzie, Hugh Kerr and Grant Anderson.

Maxi lauded,” To a man ,the new guys have all stepped up to the plate and shown why we brought them to Pollok in the first place and as their manager, I count myself incredibly lucky in having so many top quality playing options to call on , even if it is only coming off the bench, as they will be massively important to our hopes of landing silverware this season.

The 47 year old further reckons his batch of newcomers are helping to bring out the best in those Pollok players retained from last season.

He added , “ Fraser Mullen has made a solid start to the season and Chris Duff has likewise been on fire while the energy, trickery and sheer running power of Daz Christie has been nothing short of incredible for someone on the wrong side of his mid-30’s .

“And higher up the pitch Adam Forde is looking a revelation in response to the added competition for the forward line jerseys and has already scored more goals than he did in the entire season last time out.

“ He’s looking so sharp and I’d go so far as to say that if we can keep him fit and firing then Adam will be good for 20-25 goals in the season ahead.”

FORDY TO BANG IN THE GOALS

The Lok gaffer went on to defend the latest of his new recruits…old guard member Ryan McGregor…now back in the Newlandsfield fold for the third time of asking.

Maxi revealed, “Ryan is a very versatile type and will provide us with great cover on account of him being able to play anywhere across the back and midfield.

“ He did well against us recently playing for Rob Roy and it came out in the wash when speaking to him afterwards that he hadn’t yet signed for the Roy so I thought bringing him on board would be ideal particularly as Luke Main is about to begin a ten game ban.

“He was a substitute against Irvine Meadow as well as in last week’s game with Glenafton and is very much in my thoughts for facing a Largs side who have made a habit of performing well against the so-called bigger names and must be given our utmost respect.”

Main might be Maxi’s only enforced personnel change however Maley,on the way back from a delayed concussion injury, and full back Matty Burrows may be in contention for jerseys.

In other games, table-topping Beith will be wary about hosting the visit of third from bottom Auchinleck Talbot now that goalscoring striker Bryan Boylan is restored to the Bot ranks while Clydebank, on the same points mark as Pollok, will be out to make home advantage tell against a Cumnock side newly boosted by this week’s signings of Sam Jamieson (Troon) and Andy McLaughlin (Arthurlie).

Hurlford United , also with 11 points in the bag , may find the going tougher away to Arthurlie determined to avoid a fourth defeat on the spin, whereas the dilemma facing fifth placed Darvel manager Tony McInally, ahead of facing Benburb at Recreation Park is whether to make changes to his team’s winning line-up following last weekend’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Rob Roy now that Dean Cairns is free from suspension on top of striking pair Jordan Moore and Jamie Glasgow having both returned from holiday absences .

Macca revealed , “ Some people might think mine is a pleasant position to be in but it’s a concern that we are still growing as a squad of players and I have yet to find our feet to the extent that I don’t know my best team about to go into September.

“ Jordan was away on a holiday arranged before we signed him and family reasons were behind Jamie’s late break while Dean’s ban for his red carding against Auchinleck was delayed until the Rob Roy game only because of the abandonment of our midweek game with Cumnock .

“Getting three players of their calibre back at one and the same time strengthens us considerably but making changes for changes sake has never been my way of things so I need to think long and hard about how we are going to set ourselves up .

“I have to be happy insofar as our target was to be in the title mix and not trailing the leading sides at the end of August but staying there or thereabouts will be anything but easy looking at our fixtures.

“First up is Benburb whose stable of attacking players is among the best in the Premier Division so we will need to keep their gas at a peep.”

JORDAN MOORE BACK FOR DARVEL OR NOT?

Elsewhere, a two goal winning margin is needed if Troon are to leapfrog above Portland Park visitors Rob Roy while St Cadocs can lift themselves into the top half of the table by overcoming a struggling Glenafton.

In the First Division stakes, Rutherglen Glencairn’s desire to hold onto pole position should ensure Joe Pryce’s young side prevail away to Blantyre Vics while chasing pack leaders Shotts Bon Accord are fancied to get back to winning ways at home to Thorniewood United.

Last Saturday’s 5-1 mauling by Glencairn could bring Petershill boss Stevie McNeil to ring the changes ahead of Kilwinning Rangers coming through to Springburn while hard not to envisage Drumchapel United and Johnstone Burgh picking up the spoils against Kilbirnie Ladeside and Cambuslang Rangers respectively.

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

Regards Jim O’Donnell