NO STROLL IN THE PARK
Tough games ahead as Kilby’s incredible run continues
Martin Lauchlan admits his side will find it tougher than ever this week to keep their winning run going, as East Kilbride home in on their 30th consecutive victory.
Away wins over Stirling University and Edusport, last Thursday and Saturday, respectively, have taken the Lowland League leaders onto 29 straight wins.
But they now face two tough league tests with a home clash against Civil Service Strollers tonight (Wednesday) and a tricky trip to fourth-place Spartans on Saturday.
Four games in 10 days would put any team under strain and Lauchlan told the News: “We want to keep this run going as long as possible, but every game now is tougher than ever.
“This is a really testing time. Four games in 10 days is really tough fort anyone and this will be a big challenge for the players.
“We’ve got a big squad, but there will be boys who will play most of the games so it will be difficult for us. There’s not much recovery time.
“Everyone knows about the run now as well, so everyone is giving that bit extra to try and stop us.
“We need to meet that challenge head on.
“There won’t be much training this week, it’ll be about resting up and then playing the games.
“We will approach every game in the same manner and treat everybody with respect.
“I’m sure if we can come through this week it will be a fantastic milestone for us to reach 30 wins.”
Kilby played Civil Service in the first round of the South Challenge Cup this season and had to come from 1-0 down to win 2-1.
But this will be the first meeting between the sides in the league and Saturday will see Lauchlan lock horns with Dougie Samuel’s Spartans for the very first time.
Lauchlan’s men, who are the only team in British football with a 100 per cent record this season, are 16 points clear of Spartans and lead secondplace Dalbeattie Star by 13 points, with two games in hand.
“We are nearly at the halfway stage of the season, so this week will gives us a gauge of where we are going to be at the end of it,” said Lauchlan.
“Until we’ve played everybody I wouldn’t make any rash statements on what we are going to do.”
●Tonight’s clash with Civil Service is a 7.45pm kick-off at K-Park. EK travel to Spartans on Saturday. Kickoff at Ainslie Park is 3pm.