Boyle happy to take Bot baiters’ pleters on chin
JUNIOR aficionados will have picked up on Danny Boyle coming off Rob Roy’s substitutes bench to play out the final half hour of last Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at the hands of his former club Auchinleck Talbot.
And the big stopper’s arrival on the Beechwood Park scene coincided with a tightening of the Kirkintilloch backline over the closing stages.
To come away with no further goals conceded was a source of great satisfaction to Boyle and was his response to those Ayrshire fans who had mercilessly heckled him for failing to hold down a Rabs starting jersey on his return to former pastures.
He said: “I cannot speak highly enough of Auchinleck Talbot as a club and still have good friends in their dressing room so I was quite surprised by the negative reaction of supporters towards me.
“They were trying to get under my skin and I can only think they were unaware that Saturday was my reintroduction to the team after being hit with a three game ban for a red card against Kilwinning Rangers back in September.
“It has taken all of seven weeks to serve out my suspension and I could hardly expect to walk back into the team.
“Only the gaffer Stewart Maxwell can say whether I did enough but it goes without saying I’d love to be involved – not least because we have nothing to fear in taking on last season’s League and Cup winners.
“There’s no denying Glenafton are a top team and their players have the medals to prove it but this Rob Roy side have a bit about them not least of all a range of striking permutations which may just edge the day in our favour.”
Rabs boss Maxwell was not for revealing his selection hand last night but he hinted at making few if any changes. He said: “Nobody is more disappointed than me when we lose but I felt the guys competed and passed the ball really well but were undone through off spells in both halve.
“Now comes another test in facing another of the big guns in Glenafton and they are every bit as capable of making you pay.
“Our teams have yet to meet in the league but I decided not to have Glenafton watched because Craig McEwan has kept the vast majority of last season’s squad and has injected some added quality with the signings of Jambo McKernon and Dale Moore.
“For that reason, I expect their playing style to be very similar to last time.”
Rob Roy supporters will be heartened to hear classy midfielder Stefan Law has declared himself available for the third-round showdown even though he does not fly back into Scotland until Friday morning.
Maxi said: “Stefan has been out in Milan on secondment as part of his university course for the past 12 weeks but has telephoned to say he is available if needed.
“It’s tempting as he was emerging as a very influential cog in the team before going away however it’s asking a lot to expect him to hit the ground running in a game of this importance.”
Last weekend’s Scottish Cup exit to Livingston was touched upon by proud Glens boss McEwan as he looked ahead to his side’s trip through to Guys Meadow. He said: “That’s the journey over but it’s been a hugely enjoyable experience and one the players and everyone connected with the club will be hoping to repeat.
“We can use that dream as our added motivation against Rob Roy who have been rejigged by Maxi this season. It is a cracking cuptie in prospect particularly with both teams coming into Saturday on the back of defeats.”