GLENS FACING HUGE CLASH
Boss has week to prepare for Rob Roy battle
Rutherglen boss Willie Harvey hopes to have a welcome selection headache for the biggest game of their season against Kirkintilloch Rob Roy on May 7.
Between now and then Glens are idle, and Harvey will be keeping more than a casual eye on results around them with top flight survival on the line.
Glencairn are 12th in the West of Scotland Premier Division table, three points ahead of Rob Roy, who have four games in hand. Rob Roy host Benburb tonight (Wednesday) and Blantyre Vics on Saturday, before travelling to Auchinleck Talbot on May 4, three days before that clash in Rutherglen.
But Harvey will use the time between now and then to make sure he has as strong a squad as possible, leading up to a massive crunch clash at the Hamish B. Allan Stadium – even if they might know by then what they need to do to survive a seven-team drop.
He said: “We’ve had a lot of players out through injuries, and various reasons, with the players who have come in responding very well.
“They’ve given me a headache now, because the other players are starting to come back for our last two games. We’ve got a free week and a chance to rest up, get some injuries cleared up.
“By the time the game comes, we should be picking from a whole squad, with a bit of luck. It’s going to be a nice headache to have for a change, instead of throwing a team together.
“To stay up in this division would be absolutely phenomenal. We could finish above the likes of Glenafton, Rob Roy and Largs Thistle.”
Glencairn are in this position because of a crucial 3-1 win over Glenafton on Saturday, with Kit Cummins’ double added to by a Tommy Lone free kick.
But Harvey came off the pitch to learn that several rivals also picked up points, with Rob Roy beating Pollok 3-0 and Benburb drawing 2-2 with Talbot.
“If we hadn’t claimed that victory we were in serious trouble,” admitted Harvey. “It was a terrific victory, the players really responded well.
“But we’re just disappointed about results around us.
“There will be a lot of twists and turns, permutations, and you could drive yourself mental.
“I’ve told the players just to win their games. Don’t look at the league.
“We’re going to give them a rest this week because they’ve played a hell of a lot of football.”