McColl: Jags kid keeper is no Lang shot
CAMBUSLANG Rangers boss Paul McColl has moved to avert a goalkeeping crisis ahead of this week’s Macron Scottish Junior Cup clash with Fraserburgh United by signing Partick Thistle development No 1 Conor Cullen.
The 21-year-old trained alongside the Somervell Park squad last night and his arrival will solve the problem posed by regular keeper Ian Stewart dislocating fingers during last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by Petershill.
McColl said: “Conor may be inexperienced at Junior level but he’s a confident type who kicks the ball well as well as being a good talker, so I’ve no doubts over throwing him straight in.
“Ian was initially thought to have broken his fingers and we feared he would be out long-term but a dislocation is minor by comparison.
“At a push he could have probably been strapped up to play on Saturday but we thought why risk it against opposition who without being disrespectful are not one of the stronger teams from up North.”
And McColl adamantly believes Stewart’s injury was a major factor in his side’s demise at New Petershill Park. He insisted: “His injury occurred just 10 minutes into the game and it turned into a double blow because Ian had to come off and be replaced by big forward John Gemmell, which totally curbed our goalscoring threat – even though he trotted downfield to score from a penalty kick and put us 1-0 in front.
“The Peasy threw everything at us second half and netted a couple of goals that a fit Ian would most probably have saved and that has to be disappointing.”
The Lang’s arch rivals Rutherglen Glencairn are also hosting North Region opposition with Deveronside coming down to the Celsius Stadium. However, a tougher ask awaits another near neighbour, East Kilbride Thistle, in going up against Montrose Roselea at the Showpark without goalkeeper Ross Meldrum and defender Euan Ramsay, both suspended following their dismissals in last weekend’s 5-1 hammering from Maryhill.
Jags gaffer Alan Patterson admitted: “We haven’t been able to get a look at Roselea but you can put the kettle on for them being a big, physical outfit as all the teams from up North tend to be.”