Jack wants to live the dream again
Returning striker sets his sights on sinking Stranraer
Sharp shooter
He was East Kilbride’s Scottish Cup giantkiller last season with a stunning double over Stenhousemuir – and now Jack Smith is back to help East Kilbride slay another League One side.
Stranraer stand between East Kilbride and a place in the fourth round on Saturday and Kilby will be delighted to see last season’s top scorer return to K-Park in time for their big cup clash at Stair Park.
The 21-year-old earned a summer move to Stenny after knocking them out last season.
But he returned to K-Park a fortnight ago on loan aiming to recapture the form that saw him bag 34 goals last term.
During East Kilbride’s incredible run to the last 16, where they were knocked out by Celtic, Smith scored twice in a 2-1 win over the Warriors in a third round replay and scored the crucial opener in a 2-0 victory over Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale to seal the match with the Hoops.
His big move to League One didn’t pan out, though, drawing a blank in nine appearances.
So he hopes a return to Kilby and the glamour of the Scottish Cup can help him find his shooting boots again.
Smith told the News: “Last season was great. I got a couple of goals against Stenhousemuir and then a big one in the Lothian game as well.
“It’s always great to chip in with a few goals and, hopefully, I can chip in with some for East Kilbride again this season.
“I’ve not played a lot at Stenhousemuir. I started a couple of the League Cup games at the start of the season but after that I didn’t play too much.
“So I’m hoping coming back to East Kilbride will help me get some games under my belt and I can score some goals.
“But as long as we are winning it doesn’t matter who scores, I just want to help the team.
“With the boys we have in the squad we will create a lot of chances and it’s up to players like me to take them.
“I’m always confident I can score goals, even if I haven’t been recently. It comes down to composure and I believe I can take my chances when they come.”
Smith has already seen firsthand the threat Stranraer will pose this weekend.
He looked on from the sidelines in August as the Blues hammered the Warriors 5-0 on their own patch and admits Kilby will have a job on their hands to progress.
But he knows all the expectation is on the hosts.
Smith said: “When Stranraer came to Ochilview, I was really impressed by them. There are a lot of boys in their team who have played at a high level and they were really clinical that day.
“They have players who can punish you like Craig Malcolm and Willie Gibson, who was their standout player. He gave them a real attacking threat.
“But we have players all over the team who can score goals, too.
“The big thing is, there’s not much pressure on us to perform.
“All the pressure is on Stranraer, playing two leagues above us, so we can go out and enjoy the game.”
I’m always confident I can score goals