Glens dig in to claim derby bragging rights
Rutherglen Glencairn assistant manager Joe Pryce hailed his side after they dug in for a “huge” three points – twice coming from behind to beat Blantyre Vics 3-2.
Blantyre took the lead through a Craig Kerr penalty after just three minutes of a pulsating West of Scotland League Premier Division tie at the Hamish B. Allan Stadium.
And after Tommy Lone had levelled from the spot, PJ O’Donnell lashed Vics back in front at the interval.
Lone struck again with a penalty, before substitute Kit Cummins popped up with a priceless winner in 78 minutes to claim the Lanarkshire derby bragging rights.
That takes Glens up into 11th place, five points ahead of 18th-placed Vics, and Pryce – who was standing in for Willie Harvey as he self-isolates – reckons it proves a point after last week’s defeat at Kilbirnie Ladeside.
He said: “It was a huge three points for us, when you consider that we were really down to the bare bones in terms of injuries and Covid issues around the club.
“It’s fantastic - it shows that we’ve actually got a squad that is capable of digging out a result and it was required.
“The boys were terrific, I can’t praise them highly enough.
“To go behind twice, come back and to come out at the end of it with three points is fantastic.
“We didn’t play with the same style as we normally do, but the players had to dig in and get those three points, and I’m so pleased for them.
“All the praise goes to the players, they were fantastic, to a man.
“You’ve got to bounce back in this league, you can’t afford to take two and three defeats in a row, you’ve got to bounce back right away, and we’ve done that at the first attempt, so it’s three huge points for us.”
Seasoned campaigner Pryce was in charge of the side in Harvey’s absence, but says the players just got on with the job at hand.
“We knew during the week that Willie had Covid issues, but this is nothing new, I’ve been here before many times, and I’ve been at the club 11 years,” he said.
“These things happen, and the players were fine with it.
“We know the way we play, and we don’t change, so we just got on with it.”
Kit Cummins bagged his first goal of the season - and first for the club since joining from Glenafton – and he was delighted with the spirit and character Glens showed to claim a much-needed victory.
The 28-year-old said: “I’m delighted to get the three points.
“Every point matters in this league and I’m delighted to come on and grab the winner, but all the boys worked
hard.
“It was 11 men on the pitch, everyone grafting for each other, so it was a great win.
“The game was up and down and we put ourselves on the back foot losing a goal early doors, but it just shows the spirit and the characters that we’ve got in the dressing room that we fought
back.
“These are the kind of games you need to win.
“It’s all very good performing against the [Auchinleck] Talbots and all that, but these are the games that you really need to take points from, especially at home, so I’m delighted to get the points on the board.”