Time to get act together says Rabs’ skipper Gaz
No1 FOR JUNIORS
ROB Roy are about to embark on their biggest game of the season with skipper Gary McMenamin claim he and his team mates need “to get our act together”.
The Rabs were left without a Super Premier Division fixture last weekend led to the Rabs so played a friendly against Glasgow Perthshire at Glasgow Green with the aim of improving match fitness and boosting to confidence ahead of this weekend’s Scottish Junior Cup quarter-final tilt against Wishaw.
But the Shire clearly weren’t given a copy of the script and Ryan Gemmell (2) and Craig Smith netted as the Central First Division side ran out 3-2 winners in an tousy affair with Danny Boyle and Gary Carroll on target for Rob Roy.
Veteran campaigner McMenamin, forced off after 25 min- utes with a knock to the his face blasted his side saying: “Our attitude in recent friendly matches leaves a lot to be desired and I just hope this defeat by the Shire acts as a wakeup call to everyone in our dressing room.
“We were simply not at the races – me included – and a similar showing against Wishaw will almost certainly see us get our comeuppance.
“Not one player did themselves any favours and now our training sessions over the coming week are set to take on a new importance for anyone looking to put down a claim for a starting jersey through at The Beltane.
“The gaffer [Stewart Maxwell] left us in no doubt over how unhappy he was with our showing and we now owe it to him to roll up the sleeves and get back on the rails against Wishaw.”
Saturday’s last-eight encounter is arguably the 35-year-old midfielder’s last chance after tasting defeat at the quarter-final stage in 2013. Back then he was a Cumnock player when they lost 5-3 at the hands of Shotts Bon Accord and with the Rob Roy side beaten 2-1 by Bonnyrigg Rose last season.
He said: “There’s no disputing that time is fast running out for me to realise my dream of a Junior Cup final appearance so here’s hoping this will be third time lucky.
“A lot of people have tipped Rob Roy as certainties to make it to the semis ever since the quarter-final draw but you won’t catch me counting my chickens because I remember only too vividly as a Cumnock player hoping to land Shotts.
“I got my wish only [for us] to be dumped out on our back- sides. There’s no chance of me making the mistake of writing off Wishaw’s chances not least of all because they still have several players from the team that knocked us out of the Cup two years ago.”
McMenamin, Mikey Morris and Willie Sawyers sustained knocks against the Shire and left Maxwell counting his blessings that the injuries were not more serious.
He said: “We gambled and got off lightly if truth be told because the three injuries are not causing any concern and the guys all trained last night with no ill effects.
“What’s more worrying is the poor performance we served up and I’ve laid it on the line for the guys by saying I will not entertain anyone who comes chapping my door after Saturday to ask why they did not get a start. As far as I’m concerned they all had their chance and didn’t take it.”
Maxi was a spectator at Wishaw’s 3-1 defeat of fifth round opponents Yoker Athletic on Saturday and says he is under no illusions about just how tough a Cup hurdle awaits his Rabs playing charges.
He insisted,” You can see there’s a great spirit and to- getherness about Wishaw which comes from having more or less the same group of players for a number of years.
“And when you add in the fact their new manager Derek Holmes is instilling organisation and good habits then you’ll understand why I think we will need to be at the very top of our game to stand any chance of claiming a semi-final place.
“I know we will be favourites in many people’s eyes but take it from me that no Rob Roy player will take to the field thinking we are as good as in the semi-finals already.”