Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MY SIROCCO WILL BE UP FOR CREWE TEST Frame looking forward to clash with Glenavy club’s big guns
Opening result boosts Tullycarnet
DARREN Frame insists big reputations won’t faze his Sirocco side when they go gunning for Crewe United in the Steel & Sons Cup this Saturday.
The Glenavy outfit, now under the charge of one of the Amateur League’s most successful managers Eamonn Mccarthy, have raised eyebrows this close season with a raft of high profile transfers, with the likes of ex-cliftonville trio George Mcmullan and Chris and Ronan Scannell joined by the likes of ex-distillery ace Stephen Curley and highly experienced quartet Gary Rafferty, Ronan Brannigan, Gerard Mcalea and Darren Mcnamee.
Understandably, expectations are on the rise at the Mid Ulster club, particularly after an opening day 7-2 demolition of AFC Silverwood.
However Frame, whose team went all the way to the Clarence Cup final last season, got an early sneak preview of Mccarthy’s men in a pre-season tournament at Bryansburn last week, which the Roc won, and is backing his players to prevail again.
He said: “We were down playing a pre-season tournament and we won it and they were there.
“They had all the big guns out as well but they didn’t win a game but that’s pre-season and we know this will be a very tough game.
“I don’t think they have much legs in there, they have plenty of experience but I still fancy us.”
That said, Frame admits the Steel & Sons Cup is not high on his list of priorities as he sets his sights on returning Sirocco to top flight football.
“To be honest, this is not important for us,” added Frame “If we lose the game, I couldn’t care less.
“Don’t get me wrong, we are going out to win the match, but our main target this year is promotion, and that’s it.
“Last year we had two targets, we were going well in the Clarence Cup and we wanted to win that, and then we wanted to finish in the top four, so we went close.
“But this season, it’s plain simple and the boys have been told this, it’s promotion.”
Sirocco have been hit by a number of summer departures, with the loss of Lewis Irwin a particular blow.
But with former East Belfast winger Warren Pinkerston checking in alongside former Dundonald left back Kyle Mcquillan, Frame isfeeling confident.
“We lost wee Lewis to the Welders but we expected that,” said the Sirocco boss.
“Braiden (White) went back to East Belfast, Nathan Spiers is out for the season with his groin, and Jonny Kane signed for Dundonald.
“So the squad is a bit thin at the minute, but I’m still hopeful of bringing a few more in.
“But we’re still strong, we’ve got a good 15, and we brought in wee Shorty (Pinkerton) from 1st Bangor, he’s a cracker, and we’ve brought in Kyle from Dundonald.
“We’re still a bit light but when everyone is available we are very strong.”