Big team effort earns Glens derby delight
BLANTYRE VICTORIA .................. 0 RUTHERGLEN GLENCAIRN ........ 3 Rutherglen Glencairn assistant manager Joe Pryce says a combined effort left him thrilled with Saturday’s 3-0 victory over South Lanarkshire rivals Blantyre Victoria.
Mick O’Byrne, Fraser Malcolm and Reece Pearson goals were enough to seal a win in the West of Scotland Football League Premier Division clash. Rutherglen are eighth in the table.
Goals came from three different areas of the pitch against Blantyre and Pryce says it epitomised what was a good day’s work as a team.
“It was a good result for us at the weekend,” said Pryce. “It was a huge three points and the players played really well too. Every department of the team worked well.
“The strikers, midfielders and defenders, they were all brilliant. Blantyre are a good side. They keep the ball well but we limited the amount of chances they had.
“I don’t think our goalkeeper had a save to make during the match. Our midfield worked tirelessly all the way through the game but the most pleasing thing was the three goals came from a defender, midfielder and a striker.
“It shows you that it was a good team performance.”
It was a return to winning ways for Rutherglen after a disappointing South Challenge Cup exit to St Anthony’s in their last fixture. But it was also second league win on the bounce.
Pryce is content with how things are going at the club but insists that the hard work has only just started in the current campaign.
“We have taken seven points out of our last nine games so we are going okay at the moment,” explained Pryce. “But there is still a long way to go in the league.
“We haven’t even reached the halfway stage yet. We know we need to keep our heads down and just keeping working hard in training and in every game.
“There’s another tough game coming to town this weekend when we play Cumnock. We know they are a big club and it will be a tough game for us. But the players are doing ok at the moment.
“They’re working hard and we are getting results for now. But we have to keep this going. The players know what is expected of them.”