CHRIS KNOWS THE SCORE
When things are not going well for a team, it is the manager to blame, never the players…yet conversely when everything in a typical 105 x 68 metres garden is coming up rosy, it is the guys wearing the jerseys whose names are hailed from the rooftops, never the forlorn soul more often than not seen standing in dugout isolation.
Before he assumed the Beith hotseat at the start of this season, Chris Strain had been enough times around the block to know this was going to be his lot, well he has managed another big club (8 years at Kilwinning Rangers) but knowing how it works didn’t deter him from taking up the Mighty reins .that some less success craving supporters might say were `all too briefly` held in Bryan Young’s hands over the previous sixteen months.
Butch was unceremoniously shown the door after the Ayrshire club’s perceived lowly 11th finish in the Premier Division table that was just three places above the relegation trapdoor, and the streetwise Strainy is acutely aware the same fate could well be his at some stage.
However talk of the manager’s demise is sounding more than a tad premature and certainly isn’t looking as if it will be anytime soon, not with Beith currently flying high atop the standings and holding a four points lead over nearest challengers and bookmakers’ title favourites Darvel whose visit to Bellsdale Park tomorrow promises to be an absolute humdinger of a First v Second in the table clash.
Strainy being allowed to put his stamp on things is seen as the root cause for this transformation in fortunes which has seen Beith go from a team, other sides looked forward to playing against, to one where a torrid time of it is not so much promised as guaranteed, and that pleases the team boss no end as it reinforces belief in his man-management skills.
He readily admits Beith did not fire on all cylinders in carving out a 1-1 draw against last weekend’s opponents Cumnock but takes consolation from knowing his charges still got the job done of extending their unbeaten league run to ten games (nine wins reeled off before Saturday) despite the not inconsiderable handicap of playing with ten men for over an hour after centreback Scott Rough saw red just 27 minutes in.
He insisted, “The guys have a total of 11 league matches to play starting tomorrow and it’s imperative we regain the momentum that has put us up where we are in the title race.
“The falter against Cumnock, and I’d like to think that’s all it is, was disappointing but on hindsight , when you take into account the circumstances of Scott’s early sending off then it feels like a point earned rather than two lost and the key now is to bounce back when Darvel come here.
”Having Scott ruled out from facing Darvel because of an automatic suspension is a blow seeing as the lad has been playing out of his skin but the only selection headache his absence causes is picking who to play in his place as I’m not exactly lacking in options.
“Nikky Docherty could well come in as a direct replacement or we might switch things around positionally in order to bring Stevie Noble across from his left back slot but right now all I can and want to say for definite is that nothing is going to be decided until nearer kick off time”
Strain’s was a visible presence on the terracings in midweek as he watched Darvel scorning a dream opportunity to close the points gap by losing 1-0 at home to near neighbours Hurlford United, for whom Michael Mullen netted the only goal of the game.
He said , “Getting an idea of Darvel’s various personnel combinations was behind my watching brief so from that perspective it was a worthwhile exercise but I certainly didn’t learn anything new about them .
“Michael Kennedy and his players will be kicking themselves because they were in total control of the game but just couldn’t make their dominance tell in the final third against what was an extremely well-disciplined Hurlford side
“It won’t suit my players to be quite so defensive-minded therefore we’ll need to come up with a game plan of our own come Saturday.”
Word on the visiting team front reckons Darvel stopper Daryll Meggat ,injured in the recent Scottish Cup defeat by Falkirk and a notable absentee against Hurlford, is struggling to make the top of the table contest so Andrew McDonald, signed from Peterhead earlier this month, could be asked to deputize again though one cannot rule out a `thrown in at the deep end` debut appearance by Recreation Park’s latest newcomer, 20 year old full back Sam Ellis , signed on loan from Stranraer yesterday afternoon.
Elsewhere, the comings and goings capers of ex-Darvel ace Darren Miller took a further bizarre twist this week when the 30 year old ,back in August on the Ayrshire outfit’s books, put pen to paper for an unprecedented sixth club this season ,his latest move to 3rd bottom of the table Petershill ,following spells with Darvel, Benburb, Pollok, Darvel(again) and St Cadocs ???
WHERE NEXT FOR DARREN ?
Yet another surprising reverse in midweek saw relegation battling Troon , thanks to a Dean Fulton goal, getting the better of Pollok, left nursing a hangover from their defeat by a red card shown to Frazer Mullen that sidelines the full back for tomorrow’s visit of a Cumnock side boasting one of the Premier Division’s in-form strikers in Jordan Moore who was briefly on the |Newlandsfield books earlier this season.
Lok boss Stewart Maxwell who has loaned out youngster Kamil Krol and latest striker signing Alex Cassells (Rob Roy) to Shotts Bon Accord welcomes back Sean Burns from suspension and will be happier still if Davie Brownlie , (Mullen’s most likely replacement) is given the green light from the concussion injury which has kept him out in recent weeks.
Tomorrow’s other games have clubs on the basement fringes seeking to climb away from trouble , none more so than Arthurlie, determined to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat against relegation rivals when taking on three points better off Troon at Dunterlie.
Largs Thistle could all but guarantee their safety by making home advantage tell against Petershill while Rob Roy will be seeking to build on last weekend’s battling 0-0 draw away to Auchinleck Talbot when hosting the visit of Hurlford United.
And hard not to think Cambuslang Rangers may just fancy their chances at home to a discombobulated looking Irvine Meadow where it’s a case of all change but no change in the dugout following last week’s out of the blue resignation of personable gaffer George Grierson after a mere five months at the Meadow Park helm.
His long standing No 2 Kevin Deeney has agreed to take up the mantle (with Grierson’s blessing) and is immediately facing a baptism of fire in facing up to the rank bottom markers in their own backyard just a fortnight after the Wee Gers emerged 4-3 winners in the corresponding league fixture down in Ayrshire climes.
Pick of the West of Scotland Cup 3rd round ties taking place is the Auchinleck Talbot v Glenafton showdown where added intrigue is provided by Talbot boss Tommy Sloan having to unearth a replacement for his towering goalkeeper and team skipper Andy Leishman who has allegedly torn a calf muscle and faces up to six weeks out of action.
If there is going to be an upset then tonight’s Kilwinning Rangers v St Cadocs head to head at Buffs Park(7.30 PM) is a distinct possibility while Shotts Bon Accord will be hard pushed to overcome Gartcairn .
And finally, SJFA officials have revealed the times, dates and venues for the forthcoming Clydebuilt Home Improvements Scottish Junior Cup semi-finals which will be played to a finish.
Ayrshire rivals Glenafton and Cumnock will lock horns at Beechwood Park on the evening of Friday 14th April (Kick Off 7.30PM) while the Dundee East Craigie v Rutherglen Glencairn clash will be played at Armadale Thistle’s Volunteer Park later the same weekend on Sunday 16th April (2PM).
WEEKEND GAMES: (Kick Offs 2 PM unless stated): P.D.M Buildbase Premier Division. Cambuslang Rangers v Irvine Meadow, Arthurlie v Troon, Largs Thistle v Petershill, Beith v Darvel, Pollok v Cumnock, Rob Roy v Hurlford Utd. PDM Buildbase First Division. Blantyre Vics v Thorniewood Utd, Benburb v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Johnstone Burgh v Whitletts Vics.PDM Buildbase Second Division. Maybole v Greenock, Muirkirk v Maryhill, Renfrew v Ardeer Thistle, Glasgow Utd v Ashfield, Wishaw v St Anthonys, Yoker Athletic v Glasgow Perthshire(Friday 7.30PM) Kilsyth Rangers vGlasgowUniversity. PDM Buildbase Third Division. Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Lesmahagow. Carluke Rovers v East Kilbride Thistle, Vale of Clyde v Kello Rovers, Dalry Thistle v Bellshill Athletic, Port Glasgow v Larkhall Thistle , Saltcoats Vics v Finnart, Lanark Utd v Girvan, Lugar Boswell v Irvine Vics, Newmains Utd v Royal Albert.PDM Buildbase Fourth Division. Harmony Row v St Peters, Kilsyth Athletic v Thorn Athletic,, Glenvale v Campbeltown Pupils, Eglinton v Threave Rovers, Rossvale Academy v West Park Utd. West of Scotland Cup 3rd Round.St Rochs v BSC Glasgow, Kilwinning Rangers v St Cadocs(Friday 7.30PM),Rutherglen Glencairn v Craigmark, Shotts Bon Accord v Gartcairn, Auchinleck Talbot v Glenafton, Neilston v Rossvale, Clydebank v Cumbernauld Utd, Forth Wanderers v Drumchapel Utd.
Regards
Jim O’Donnell
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