‘All about the team’ at hard-grafting Monifieth

“THEY win together, they lose together, they laugh together and cry together — it’s all about the team” at Monifieth Athletic 2002s.

That’s the ethos the coaching staff at the club are actively encouraging and in the long term it’s working for the players, according to manager Dougie MacKinnon.

He said: “There is a real pack mentality to our squad — the right pack mentality.

“It’s not all about winning and glory for us, it’s about participation. That’s our ethos and we stand by it.

“We’ve proved we can do well with that mentality. There are boys who came to us that weren’t so good but we worked with them to develop their game and that increased their confidence.

“They came i n with heads hanging and leave now with their chests out and heads high.

“We have two really good coaches in George Lawson and David Carmichael who encourage hard graft as well as a passing game.

“It’s all about honest football, no diving or anything like that and if you make a mistake you own it and look to fix it.

“We are a very encouraging and inclusive club.”

That encouragement proved well-founded last weekend as the Monifieth lads found their scoring touch against Brechin in the U/15s Tommy Clark Trophy.

Despite a tight first half and competitive game, Athletic ran out 8-0 winners to book a place in the third round.

Dougie added: “It was a very tight first 20, 25 minutes but after we made it 4-0 just after the break their heads went down and we ran away with it.

“It was a wet, horrible day and we took advantage of that more than they did.”

Monifieth skipper Cameron Dryden led by example, notching two from the penalty spot.

Also on target were Jayden Meldrum (2), Liam Myles, Adam Gray, Oliver Carmichael and Owen Simpson.

This weekend it’s more of the same — once again it’s Monifieth Athletic v Brechin but this time on their patch in the J Bolton Cup.

“We’re expecting a different match altogether this weekend — their manager was not happy and they’ll want to make up for last week’s result on their pitch.

“They’ve been coming on really well recently — we just had a good day at the office last week.”

Ferry (yellow) and DUSC Tangerines battled out an Age 11 Friendly League contest at Dawson Park.

Monifieth Athletic 2007s with sponsor Gordon Alexander of Alpha Joinery.

St Andrews Colts are into the U/19 Peter McAvoy Cup third round after an 8-3 win over St James (red).

Fairmuir (orange) knocked Broughty Panthers out of the U/14 Dundee West Anniversary Cup.

Forfar (black) edged out Ferry in an entertaining 5-4 U/13 Ballantine Cup win at Dawson Park.