Juniors start league campaigns with 1-0 wins
Harvey’s warning to opposition
Rutherglen and Cambuslang’s junior football teams enjoyed winning starts to their seasons.
Glens boss Willie Harvey saw his side beat Largs 1- 0 away.
Willie said: “I was very happy with the win, no-one expected us to go down there and win other than ourselves and our supporters.
“I heard people saying 3-0 or 4-0, which surprised me.
“After the game, I congratulated the players but then pointed out that although it was a great result, they’ve got to realise they can do better, and that’s a positive thing.
“We went to a very difficult venue and came away with the three points, deservedly so in my opinion.”
Meanwhile, Cambuslang Rangers got their division two campaign off to the perfect start, with a 1-0 win over Royal Albert.
The side, playing their first league game under new bosses Paddy Flannery and John Doyle got the result they wanted.
Paddy said: “Everything we have been doing in pre-season has been geared towards the first league game, working with the players and trying out formations.
“We’ve got the three points, we’ve won the game, and got a clean sheet. We couldn’t have asked for much more.
“A win is a win, and we will take that.”
Glencairn gaffer Willie Harvey has warned their rivals that his team have still to hit their stride this season.
Glens followed up an unbeaten sectional league cup campaign with a gutsy 1-0 win at Largs in their first league game of the season on Saturday.
It was a result unexpected by most people outside the club and supporters, but one that was richly deserved as the Rutherglen men got their campaign off to the perfect start.
And the good news kept coming for Glens fans as former Clydebank central defender Marc Russell completed his move to New Southcroft.
Glens endured a disjointed preseason, with many players unable to pick up a head of steam.
It’s a situation that has left the squad still a few weeks from peak condition, according to the manager.
He said: “I was very happy with the win, no-one expected us to go down there and win other than ourselves and our supporters.
“I heard people saying 3-0 or 4-0, which surprised me.
“People were looking at our league cup campaign but not at the bigger picture.
“We’ve got competition all over the park now, but we’re still two or three weeks away from full fitness.
“Ideally, we’ll hang in there and get a couple of results and by the end of September we’ll be up and running.
“After the game, I congratulated the players but then pointed out that although it was a great result, they’ve got to realise they can do better, and that’s a positive thing. We went to a very difficult venue and came away with the three points, deservedly so in my opinion.”
Willie admitted the Largs victory was a game his side may have lost last season.
Largs adopted a direct style and were reduced to 10 men in what was a physical encounter.
He said: “We might have capitulated a wee bit.
“The one thing we will not be this season is bullied. I said my intention was to make the team physically stronger and we’ve done that.”
Glens were finally able to parade Marc Russell this week after he played as trialists in the past two games.
Marc had been a target when he left Knightswood Amateurs last summer having impressed playing against Glens under-21s.
Instead, the youngster went to Clydebank, but Willie was delighted to finally get his man: “Marc gives us competition and strength in the middle of the park.
“Him and Mark Bishop played alongside each other against Vale of Clyde and did very well, and again on Saturday when they played very, very well.
“It’s going to make it hard for Stephen Low and David Dunnachie. I’ve spoken to David and he knows the script while Stephen is injured.
“I don’t want players who are happy to be sitting at the side of the park. I want them knowing that they can come in and make the position their own.”