Colts kid eyes first team

AIRDRIE..................................................2 CLYDE......................................................0 ANDY MCGILVRAY

Boss Ian Murray says League One won’t reflect teams’ true standings until next month.

The Diamonds gaffer says Airdrie have made significant progress this season as they sit just six points away from last term’s total as they sit third.

Andy Ryan’s first goal since returning to the club and a strike by Paul McKay on the half-hour have them level on 42 points with second-placed Falkirk and four off leaders Raith Rovers, though both have games in hand.

Murray says a tight league will take time to settle but wants Airdrie to keep fighting.

“It’s a very tight league, and it’s not really a true reflection yet on where people will be, which I don’t think will happen until the start of March,”said Murray.

“It’s not a true indication, but I think that will happen going into the last five or six games. We will have three or four going for the league title and a few others for the play-off.

“With that, expectation goes up the way, and of course I would be disappointed not to win the league, but our main aim at the start of the season was always the play-offs.

“It will be a tough run-in, we can’t expect any favours from other teams and there will be a few battling it out for their own reasons.

“Every single one of them will have everything to prove every single week, they will be scrapping away, and we will be one of them, so it will be very intense.”

Cumbernauld Colts kid Callum Stackpool hopes to make his mark on the Lowland League first team.

The 19-year-old is looking to challenge for a first team spot during the remainder of the campaign after making his breakthrough into the under-20 side this term.

He told the Advertiser:“It feels like a step up this season.

“I’ve played with the Colts since I was five through all the age groups. Taking the step up into the under-20’s has been a lot different. We are going into in-depth tactics and how to properly win games and put teams away.

“There is a family feel around the club which has made it a whole lot easier for me in my development.

“I’ve been able to watch them go from a wee PE hall in a high school to getting their own bus, to challenging up in the Lowland League.

“Doing well in the Scottish Cup, and getting that exposure against the pro-teams is good for the club.

“The aim now for me is to make my breakthrough into the team.”