Willie looking for home comforts

Willie Harvey aims to turn New Southcroft Park into a fortress this season, and he wants to start on Saturday when Kilsyth arrive in the Burgh.

Last season, Glens were undone by indifferent form at home in the league, especially at the start of the season.

They lost six times in Rutherglen, including three of their first four home league games.

Willie is determined to make sure New Southcroft is a place opposing teams will not find generous hosts.

He said: “We lost far too many games at the start of the season last year.

“We definitely improved towards the end of the season and it did become a fortress of sorts, but we want to be flying at the start of the season this time.

“You want that cushion when you hit the winter months, and that’s something we haven’t had since the season we reached the Scottish Cup semi-final.

“That was a year we should have got promoted, but that’s in the past now.”

If Glens are to get off to a winning start at home, they’ll have to buck the trend from recent seasons.

Glencairn haven’t enjoyed home success against Kilsyth since the clubs renewed acquaintances in 2011, losing all three home games since then, including last year’s 1-0 defeat.

But Willie reckons it will be a different Kilsyth, who lost their opening game 3-0 to Kirkintilloch Rob Roy, they play this time.

He said: “I think they have changed. They’ve lost some guys and they’ve brought some guys in.

“I don’t understand it, but for some reason we seem to struggle against Kilsyth at home, while away from home we do well. Hopefully this time we’ll beat them home and away.

“They were a bit hit and miss in their league cup section and they’re maybe not up and running yet.

“By the middle of the season they’ll be set, so hopefully we’re getting them at a time they aren’t 100 per cent before they go on to take points off other teams.”