MaryhilllosshelpedBankies’titlebid
THERE are defining moments in seasons that foretell what happens next and Jamie Darroch reckons Clydebank’s point of no return occurred after basement battlers Maryhill inflicted a 3-0 defeat on him and his team-mates back in early April.
Suffering yet another reverse, their third in a fourgame spell, appeared to have been the final nail in the coffin for Bankies’ dreams of stepping back up to the Super Premier Division at the first time of asking.
Yet fast forward six weeks and Darroch & Co find themselves in the position of being able to clinch promotion on Saturday, and maybe even the title honours if Girvan lose against Renfrew, with a victory over Shettleston in the final game of their Super First Division campaign.
The experienced defender, who has previously played topflight football with Ashfield, Pollok and Irvine Meadow, said: “To lose in the manner we did at Lochburn Park was embarrassing and demoralising.
“But our training session on the following Monday night brought a talk-in involving every player as well as the gaffer Kieran McAnespie and his No.2 Marc McCulloch – which led to us setting ourselves the target of winning our final six games of the season.
“I wasn’t totally convinced we could pull it off but here we are five games later and it’s all coming down to winning this one game against Shettleston.
“It’s a tough ask because they turned us over at Greenfield Park earlier this season and I’m sure their players will be wanting to come here and spoil our party but by the same token we will be doing our best to stop them.” Darroch is rightly proud of Clydebank’s defensive record during their fabulous winning run – they have conceded just two goals and neither of them has come from open play – however he unhesitatingly picks out striker Nikky Little for a special mention.
He said: “Getting ourselves into this great position has been a collective effort, however there is no escaping the fact Nikky has hit a purple patch in the scoring stakes.
“Our captain Phil Barclay has also been vital to our cause as indeed is Alan Vezza whose declaring himself recovered from injury in time to face Shettleston is a marvellous boost for the team.”
The 27-year-old added: “I came here this season hoping to help Clydebank get back into the top league and to be so near is both exciting and nerve wracking at the same time.”
Meanwhile, Renfrewshire whistler David Dickinson will referee the Scottish Junior Cup Final assisted by touchline pair Calum Spence and Paul O’Neil and fourth official Lloyd Wilson.
Auchinleck Talbot will have to overcome arch rivals Cumnock for the right to defend their New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup crown.
In last eight clashes last night, goals from Craig McCracken, Ross Harvey and Dylan Pooler gave Talbot victory over Darvel whose score came from Mark Armour, while Cumnock booked their semifinal slot after a 5-4 shoot-out victory over Rob Roy after a 1-1 draw. Scott Anson’s opener for Nock was cancelled out by Kevin Watt’s spot-kick.