Glens striker Chris has eye on Rose semi-final return
No.1 FOR JUNIORS
GLENAFTON striker Chris Dallas hopes to remove any question marks over his availability for next weekend’s Scottish Junior Cup showdown with Bonnyrigg Rose by training alongside his team-mates this week.
The bustling 30-year-old appeared to have won his battle to recover from a knee injury when initially named in the Glens starting XI for Saturday’s first leg clash against the East Region cracks, but supporters of a New Cumnock persuasion were left bemused at the sight of Joe Andrew wearing the No.9 jersey when the teams took to the field.
Last night Dallas revealed: “A week of treatment and rest had me running freely and I felt even better when picked to start alongside John Carter in the semi-final but a couple of painful twinges during our warm-up routines convinced me that my knee was not as strong as it should be.
“The prospect of missing out on the biggest game of my Junior career was soul destroying but neither did I want to let my team-mates down by playing in a game of this importance when less than fully fit so I spoke with the gaffer and he did not hesitate to change his line-up.
“With hindsight I made the right call because aggravating the injury could have ruled me out for the longer term and I’ve no doubt my chances of being fit for next week’s second leg are now greatly improved.
“I’ll hopefully train full out this week to prove I’m ready, however that won’t necessarily guarantee a place next week after Joe and John formed a really good partnership.”
Asked whether he thought Glenafton had one foot already in the final brought the retort: “Not at all, I think we looked the better of the two teams on Saturday but I’d be feeling a lot more confident if Darren’s penalty-kick had been scored.
“A 1-0 lead leaves things hanging in the balance and makes for probably an even tougher 90 minutes to play this week but it’s not a prospect that has anyone in our dressing room running scared.”
Glens boss Craig McEwan concurred: “It’s going to be a different ball game through at Bonnyrigg and I just hope I will get more sleep next Friday night than last week when I couldn’t close my eyes for worrying over players passing fitness tests.
“They all passed muster apart from Chris whom I expect to be ready for the second game and we are further boosted by Alan Cairns having served his ban and the availability again of Mick McCann whose eye for a goal is a great asset.”
The first of many rounds of West Region midweek fixtures get underway tomorrow evening as match secretary Scott Robertson sets about the task of cramming the conclusions of four cup competitions and five Divisions worth of outstanding league fixtures (as well as the Super Premier play-off double header) into the estimated eight weeks remaining in the 2016/17 Junior season.
Famous old Possil outfit Glasgow Perthshire have already secured the Central Second Division title but the Billy Adams steered Shire may face a con-siderable wait before the identities of four clubs joining them in the Champions ring will be known.
And one cannot help but think a lengthy passage of time will also be needed to resolve the various relegation fronts given that Super First Division bottom markers Maryhill have a minimum of 13 games to fulfil.
NOT altogether surprising to find the Lochburn Park side are among the participants tomorrow in facing a trek through to face basement rivals Shotts Bon Accord, while Thorniewood United from the Central First Division (at least 12 matches to play) host the visit of Lesmahagow.
The initial midweek salvo of games also includes a rearranged fixture that sees Central League Cup holders Pollok beginning their defence of the silverware with a Guys Meadow clash against Cumbernauld United whose revival under former Lok midfielder Andy Frame appears to have “hit a wall” following three league defeats on the spin at the hands of Shotts, Petershill and their 3-0 weekend conquerors Clydebank.
Pollok, for whom Grant Evans is available after serving a twogame suspension, will similarly be looking to get back on the winning trail after Richie McKillen and Paul McKenzie goals inflicted a 2-0 defeat away to Hurlford United on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Newlandsfield playing legends Ronnie Lowrie and Ian Spittal are planning a get-together of ex-players in early May to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Southsiders winning the Scottish Junior Cup with a 3-1 Fir Park victory over Tayport.
A few contact numbers have been mislaid down through the years and the pair are asking for former team-mates to get in touch by telephoning them on 07986 977427. with four minutes gone. Marten de Roon also saw a header correctly ruled out for offside.
The deadlock was broken three minutes before the break when, after Granit Xhaka had been felled by Adam Clayton 20 yards out, Sanchez curled the resulting freekick home to give the Gunners the lead.
Boro levelled with Stewart Downing picked out Negredo’s 50th-minute run into the box for the Spaniard to stab home a precious equaliser.
Arsenal restored their advantage with 19 minutes remaining when Ramsey laid off Sanchez’s cross for Ozil – who had been enduring a quiet evening – to fire past the helpless Brad Guzan, who denied Alex OxladeChamberlain a third at the death.