Yoker gaffer Steff urges his side to close gap on Bankies
MOST people knew it was coming but it still isn’t any less strange for Yoker Athletic to be lining up on matchdays without player/boss Steff Reilly ensconced at the heart of their defence.
The former Motherwell and Queen’s Park stopper’s decision at the start of this season to hang up the boots and concentrate on management for the greater good of the Whe Ho has not been without a few pangs of regret particularly in the hours leading up to kick-off times on a Saturday.
However, the fiercely-competitive defender believes that retirement call can be totally vindicated if his Yoker playing charges take a giant stride towards securing the Super First Division play-off place with a victory over derby rivals Clydebank today.
The eagerly-awaited Holm Park locking of horns is a third meeting of the season between the arch foes and Yoker can lay claim to having the better of things through previously chalking up a 4-3 win and 2-2 draw.
Those outcome have Reilly convinced his players have the necessary quality and experience to cause yet more grief to their ground-sharing neighbours and he is urging them to hold nothing back in their pursuit of the three points on offer.
He insisted: “We’re eight points behind the Bankies but with two games in hand and badly want to have a real go at trying to close the gap or we’ll end up seeing out the season with nothing to play for.
“That would be a crying shame considering the superb efforts put in by the guys since last August and I definitely sense they are in the mood to promote themselves into the mix for third top spot in the table.
“The pressure is on Clydebank as they are expected to come out on top with a bit to spare, however we have played excellent stuff in our earlier meetings this season and who’s to say we cannot perform to the same level again?”
The 34-year-old who previ- ously played in the Juniors with Pollok has been getting a reputation for unearthing and developing up-and-coming youngsters with the latest Holm Park prospect thought to be attracting attention being striker Ryan Hynes.
Reilly admitted: “Yoker Atheltic is a great place to play football if you are a youngster coming up through the ranks because we will always give guys a chance to prove they can play at a decent level.
“Ryan is a case in point as he had an indifferent time with Queen’s Park but rediscovered his zest for the game after coming here and has shown himself to be a class act in front of goal and someone I wouldn’t swap for any other striker in the Juniors.
“I know that’s some accolade but I can also say the same about a number of our players and it’s no disrespect to the others to pick out Kerr Allan, James Ross and Richard Hendry in this respect as ones to watch.
“Our once much sought after former whizz kids Davie Crerand and Greg Maitland are still producing the goods and I find it exciting to think Greg is on the way back from a full year out of the game through injury because in my opinion he was the outstanding wing talent going the rounds.
“Now wouldn’t it be good if he could rediscover his old form against the Bankies.”
TODAY’S contest promises to be an exacting one for recently-installed Clydebank manager Kieran McAnespie for whom the fillip of a derby victory would ease the pain of losing 2-1 to Renfrew in his managerial baptism.
The former Senior ace is thought to be on the verge of making several playing additions and earlier this week he made some dressing room space by releasing Cammy Haddow and Andy Biddulph.
In other Super First encounters taking place, Rutherglen Glencairn head down to the footballing outpost of Hamilton Park to face a Girvan side sitting fifth top of the standings and determined to pick up a three points haul to strengthen their promotion hopes.
Shotts Bon Accord’s quest to clamber away from the basement area continues at home to Renfrew for whom striker Scott Morton makes a welcome return after missing last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Maryhill.
Morton is set to renew his deadly partnership alongside Chris Zok even though Frew co-bosses Colin Clark and Martin Ferry may look to give returning front man Darren Jones some much needed match practice ahead of next weekend’s Scottish Junior Cup clash against Sauchie Juniors. it sounds but I cannot change my dreams and that is what I am working for.
“After these 14 games it is another moment when we watch back and we use all these experiences and all the things we learned about each other, and then we will make decisions that will help us in the next season.”
Nevertheless the defeat at Hull appears to have been something of a wakeup call for Klopp in terms of what he expects from the players and what they are delivering.
“It is really important we spoke about the important things for the players and that is what we did immediately.”
“We spoke about everything,” he said.