Lots of positives for Yoker despite defeat

YOKER Athletic boss Gordon Robertson insists there are plenty of positives to take from his sides West of Scotland Football League Cup defeat to Beith Juniors.

The reigning Premier Division champions visited Holm Park with two divisions and a wealth of resources separating the teams, however it wasn’t all plain sailing.

Nathan Carmichael opened the scoring for the Whe

Ho after a quick set-piece routine and the Whe Ho were dreaming of an upset. Beith got back on level terms, however, through Conner McGlinchey and Robbie Scullion put the Bellsdale Park side in control of the tie.

Robbo would have been hoping just to see it out until halftime after a quickfire double from the visitors but a third goal before the break, this one from Andy Monk, just about put the tie out of reach. Yoker battled hard after the break and forced the visiting goalkeeper into a number of saves and hit the post but couldn’t find a goal to set up a thrilling finale.

Despite being knocked out, Robertson wants his troops to apply themselves in the same way they did on Saturday going forward and knows they will finish the season on a high if they are able to do so.

Speaking to the Post, he said: “I can take an awful lot out of the performance, I thought we were really good. We had a mad spell – we were 1-0 up in the first half-hour before losing a good goal, from their point of view, and then you want to tighten up and see it out but we lost another two minutes later. For some reason the referee decided to play another minute or two of stoppage time before we lost a cheap goal.

“It was a difficult conversation at half-time because you can’t be as sloppy as we were but we had played well and have to take into account they are the West of Scotland Premier Champions.”

It’s back to the bread and butter of league football on Saturday for Yoker as they look to start climbing the league. Robbo takes his side to Kilsyth and he wants to put things right after chucking away three points earlier on this season in the reverse fixture. He explained: “They are a good side and have guys who can hurt us so it’ll be a tough game but we have to take positives from the Beith game.”

Kick-off at Duncansfield Stadium is 1.30pm.