Lokboss relieved to see injured aces back
No.1 FOR JUNIORS
LAST weekend’s 2-1 defeat by Auchinleck Talbot has left Tony McInally in no doubt as to the size of the task facing him and his Pollok playing charges in their forthcoming Scottish Junior Cup 5th Round tie against their Super Premier Division rivals.
He had a ready- made excuse to proffer with Lok’s line-up shorn of several regular starters but Macca has preferred instead to keep his head below the parapet and train his focus on the Southside club’s daunting journey into the Ayrshire heartlands 10 days from now.
A friendly match outing against Petershill was felt best suited to deal with the issue of giving much needed game time to a number of recovering from injury players, while a convincing victory helped to mend pride injured by the manner of Saturday’s loss.
And the Springburn astrograss work out may have also signalled the final Pollok appearance of versatile ace Alan McKenzie who is reputedly on the verge of concluding a transfer move to East Region big guns Bo’ness United.
Team boss Macca insisted: “It’s no exaggeration to say Ross Brash has never fully recovered from the hamstring tear picked up while playing for Junior Scotland in October, so it was vital to get match practice for him.
“Bryan Wharton and Adam Forde similarly needed to prove their fitness after spells on the sidelines.
“So did Grant Evans after completing a four match suspension that by the time Saturday comes around will have taken nine weeks for him to serve out.
“David Gormley and Nikky Little will also have benefitted from some action so all told it was a worthwhile exercise that has left us in better shape for this week’s trip down to face Girvan and hopefully for next week’s Scottish Cup tie.”
All but one of this week’s Super Premier fixtures involve clubs with one eye on forthcoming Cup contests and two of them, Hurlford United and Auchinleck Talbot, will be holding nothing back when they come together to lock horns at Blair Park.
THE home side are desperate for points to get themselves clear of the basement area while second top of the table Talbot are out to further their title ambitions by picking up the three points on offer .
Visiting winger Mark Shankland admitted: “It is not beyond us to compete on two fronts so you can take it as read that we’ll be giving it our best shot.
“Our supporters wouldn’t have it any other way and neither would the gaffer Tommy Sloan, who will not hear of anyone so much as mentioning Pollok until after the final whistle at Hurlford.”
Another couple of Holy Grail hopefuls clash at Guys Meadow where Rob Roy will be looking to complete “the double” over a Beith side that lost out 1-0 against the Rabs when the title contenders met in their last league outing in mid-January.
Kilbirnie Ladeside are on the road to take on Super Premier bottom markers Clydebank where added spice comes from the Holm Park showdown marking Blasties team boss Budgie McGhie’s sure to be nostalgic return to the club where he previously spent 14 years as manager.
In other games, Arthurlie may unveil new midfield signing Hal Bohme from Cambuslang Rangers when hosting the visit of Cumnock and league leaders Kilwinning Rangers will be missing skipper and cornerstone defender Craig Pettigrew from suspension for their visit to reigning champions Glenafton.