Joy of the Rovers after 5-0 rout seals promotion slot
No.1 FOR JUNIORS
ABELATED hats off is due to Kello Rovers for clinching promotion into the Super First Division at the weekend thanks to a 5-0 thrashing of Muirkirk.
A four-goal blast from topscoring marksman Greg Miller and Liam Weir’s first goal for the Kirconnel-based club in three years sealed a notable victory.
The win enabled Kello to move to the summit, but more crucially ensured their points total cannot be overhauled by strongly-fancied rivals Ardrossan Winton Rovers and Whitletts Vics.
Admittedly, the likelihood is Darvel, currently two points behind Kello but with two games in hand, will end up being crowned Ayrshire District League champions.
But that should not in any way detract from the outstanding achievement of Giffnock-based team boss Ross Wilson’s side.
It’s a further positive sign of the progress made during the 27-year-old manager’s first season at a Junior helm that Kello are sitting 16 points better off than last season even before they play their final league game away to Annbank United.
However, he and No.2 John Quinn are refusing to rest on their laurels and are quietly going about the business of making plans for their next Junior campaign.
Ross said: “People within the club are not giving up on title dreams, but Darvel are so physically strong and consistent that I would reckon the title is only theirs to lose now.
“Stranger things have happened, and they have Muirkirk to play this week followed by home and away games against Maybole.
“All we can do is watch from afar and try to make their points target as difficult as possible by overcoming Annbank.
“I do believe the two best teams have been promoted and if Darvel go on to pick up the necessary points then they fully deserve to take the honours.”
Many promoted Ayrshire District League sides have found it a struggle after stepping up to Super First Division level, and the pragmatist in Wilson tells him that his Kello players will be challenged to keep their heads above water.
He added: “It’s a tougher league where you come up against bigger clubs and of course better players. However, who’s to say we cannot emulate what last season’s champions Girvan and Kilwinning Rangers before them have achieved.
“I’m under no illusions that bookmakers and pundits everywhere will have us earmarked as favourites to go straight back down.
“Kello Rovers as a club are planning to enjoy the whole experience and I’m looking forward to the different perspective of managing the team while rated underdogs in just about every game we play.”
One-time Queen of the South signing Weir finding the net against Muirkirk has left Geoff Patterson as the only Kello Rovers outfield player yet to score a goal this season but Wilson has totally refuted the idea of the seasoned defender assuming spot-kick duties for the Annbank United clash.
He explained: “Graeme Ramage is our regular penalty- kick taker, so I cannot see him being best pleased given there is currently a three-way contest going on for our top goalscorer award between him Greg Miller and Declan Hill.”
MEANWHILE, a 53rdminute red card for centre-back Danny Boyle was instrumental in Super Premier Division frontrunners Rob Roy having to settle for a 1-1 Newlandsfield draw against Pollok last night.
A first-half strike from Kevin Watt – his fourth goal in two matches – had the Rabs 1-0 ahead when towering stopper Boyle’s aerial challenge that saw him appear to head Lok midfielder Liam Rowan on the back of the head going for a high ball had whistler Graham Grainger immediately reaching for his back pocket.
A clearly dazed Rowan was replaced by Del Hepburn as Pollok went searching for an equaliser against 10 men and Gary McCann came up trumps with a volleyed shot after Jordan Brown spilled the ball in a crowded goalmouth.
Rob Roy team boss Stewart Maxwell reflected on his side’s share of the spoils in saying: “Only time will tell if it was a point gained or two lost but itfeels as if we should have won.
“The guys were terrific first half and my only disappointment was from not scoring further goals. The game has then swung on the red-card decision by the referee. It was nothing more than a clash of heads.”
Points were also dropped by all the Super First Division leading lights with Shettleston going down 1-0 at home to city rivals Maryhill for whom Dale Clark bagged the only goal of the game, while Irvine Meadow suffered the exact same reverse as Paddy O’Keefe proved to be the match-winner for Renfrew who were reduced to 10 men for the closing half hour at Meadow Park following the double yellow carding of Anton Heffron.
And table-topping Kilsyth Rangers can count themselves fortunate not to suffer a defeat of their own after twice coming from behind against Cumbernauld United to earn a 2-2 draw. Pollok 1 Rob Roy 1.
Irvine Meadow 0 Renfrew 1, Blantyre Vics 2 Shotts Bon Accord 3, Shettleston 0 Maryhill 1, Cumbernauld Utd 2 Kilsyth Rangers 2.
Vale of Clyde 1 Larkhall Thistle 2, Lesmahagow 0 St Roch’s 0, Thorniewood Utd 4 Greenock 1, Wishaw 4 Forth Wanderers 2, Neilston P Benburb P.
Ashfield 0 Dunipace 1, Royal Albert 1 Carluke Rovers 3, East Kilbride Thistle 1 Gartcairn 2.