Harvey welcomes a ‘gritty performance’

Glencairn now prepare for Neilston cup clash

Rutherglen Glencairn manager Willie Harvey was delighted with his side’s performance after securing their first league win of the season.

The Glens held on for all three points at Maybole after Graeme Brown fired them into the lead with 14 minutes left on the clock.

Willie said: “It was great to get the monkey off our back.

“We played very well and it was a hard-fought win and a real gritty performance. Sometimes you have just got to win ugly.

“The win obviously helps and it gives the players a wee lift.

“The bus journey home from Maybole was better than it could have been.

“It was a rolled- up sleeves performance and we took our chances when they came.

“I was disappointed in the goal we lost after half time but we kept working and got what we deserved. I think we deserved the win.

“We had to dig deep but the goal we lost in the second half let us down.

“Maybole were chasing the game once we got in front and pushed three up front. There was a wee bit of pressure but the defence did well.

“Any luck that we got I thought we deserved because in other games we’ve had this season, we’ve not had any luck.

“I’m absolutely proud of that performance, there are very few games this season that I have not been proud of. Some of them we have not carried any luck.”

Glencairn travel to Neilston Juniors in the Scottish Junior Cup this weekend hoping to advance to round three.

The Glens’ opponents have won two of their opening six games in the Central District First Division and are expected to field a strong but young side.

Willie insisted that there are no easy games in Junior football and that his players are focused on the task at hand in order to grab a win on Saturday.

He added: “It’s not all doom and gloom, we’ve only lost two games.

“It certainly helps having won the previous game and we are now looking forward to the next .

“Neilston were in our division last year. They have quite a young team and were decent in midfield and up front but if we keep our defence tidy, we’ll be in with a shout.

“There are no easy games and it is certainly not an easy game away to Neilston.

“We’ll work on things in training this week and take them into Saturday.”

Willie will be without injured midfielder Jonny Boal and defenders Adam Shaw and David Dunnachie who all needed to be sent to hospital after their New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup game against Clydebank last week.

Captain Brian Eadie is also a doubt after suffering an ankle knock against Maybole.

The good work of the first half by Glencairn was undone by a sloppy start to the second, as Maybole equalised in the 47th minute. Aidan Connor skipped past a few tackles on the edge of the area before slipping the ball into the box, and the ball was crossed to the back post where Andy Stevenson slid in to convert from close range.The Glens made a double change in the 70th minute and trialist No.12 came on up front to replace Tait. The trialist introduced a fresh threat to the home defence, and he was heavily involved in the move which led to Glencairn regaining the lead in the 76th minute.McLaughlin took possession on the edge of the penalty area, and he lifted a lovely cross onto the head of trialist No.12.The diving header was parried away by Weir, but first to react to the loose ball was Graeme Brown who drilled the ball past the goalie at his near post to put Glens 2-1 up.The Glencairn defence continued to stand firm and held on for a vital win.Glencairn : Hutchison, Brown, Eadie (Fraser), Doyle, Neil, McGuire, Nisanci, Batchelor, McLaughlin, Tait (Trialist), Alan Muir (O’Connor). Challenge Denis McLaughlin holds off Maybole defender