Boss happy with call offs due to injury woes

Gartcairn boss Jamie McKenzie reckons it could be a blessing to have a free fixture calendar due to his injury-hit squad.

The Airdrie juniors had been set to travel to the KG Stadium to face Blantyre Victoria but the game was axed due to poor weather.

McKenzie admits he would have liked to get a game but says it could be a good rest period for his team with a number of key men crocked.

The MTC Park men have a free weekend with their next game scheduled for December 28.

He said:“The pitches at this time of year can be just horrendous.

“I had a feeling that the game would be off but it’s probably a good thing for us at this point in the season.

“We have to make the most of the break we have now and hopefully we can get a few of the players back.

“You want the consistency and you want your games to be on but the injury list we are having to deal with just now is really having an impact.

“It’s been an intense first half of the season with a lot of games. We’ve already had to deal with a lot of injuries and suspensions.

“To have a couple of weeks off at this time of year can only help our players.

“I’ve given the players the Christmas schedule and when we want them in for sessions, but it’s been hard to even get training organised just now because we don’t have the bodies.

“We have just lost Colin McArdle for the rest of the season and he will be a big miss as well.

“We are going to need to assess it on a session by session basis for now and see what we can get organised.

“We are a wee bit stretched but it’s probably good for the players to get a rest at this time of the season.”

Crocked Several key figures are missing for Gartcairn