CHRIS SHERRARD WHITESIDE IS KEANE ON JOB SHARING

By New arrivals helping lift the burden off ace striker Gary

TOBERMORE UNITED swaggered back into the goal routine on Saturday to set the early pace in the Premier Intermediate League.

Adrian Whiteside’s men were impressive 4-2 winners away at Annagh United to open the campaign in style.

The Fortwilliam Park side were heavily dependent on top scorer Gary Keane last time out but four different scorers at the weekend – Brown, Laughlin, Lamont and Keane – offers great encouragement for the United manager.

Tobermore also started last season in fine scoring style with eight goals in their first three games and 20 after 10 matches.

And Whiteside is looking for something similar to propel their promotion ambitions forward.

“We were quite reliant on Gary Keane’s goals last season and we knew we couldn’t afford to be again this time,” he admitted.

“We also knew we were about 25 to 30 goals short of the top teams so we had to address that.

“I said to the boys that we need to take our chances because if you don’t score goals you don’t win games.

“Gary was carrying a bit of a knock on Saturday so he didn’t come on until the last 10 minutes.

“He got a goal which was great and also three of the other boys got a goal which was very pleasing.”

Last season was very much a rollercoaster affair for Tobermore in the league.

They hit the heights of the promotion places at one point but finished eighth after rallying following a mid-season blip.

Whiteside wasted little time in strengthening his panel over the close season, with no fewer than eight coming in. He’s added

Andy Laughlin, Ryan

Whiteside, Ryan Doherty, Blaine

Morrison, Aidan Mcauley, Andy

Finlay, Gareth Breslin and Dean

Brown and held on to the majority of his squad.

It was an injection of fresh blood which was necessary, according to the United boss.

He said: “There was one point last season when we went to Lisburn Distillery with 10 men and had to draft a couple of lads in.

“We went to Annagh on Saturday missing six or seven but the difference was this time we had the players to bring in.

“We’ve added seven or eight decent players to the squad and through a lot of them in on Saturday and just went for it.

“The final scoreline probably doesn’t reflect the game because it was very tight.

“I certainly would have settled for 4-2 before the game because Annagh are a good side, especially at home.

“It was very encouraging to go there and win and hopefully we’ll get a few more back for this weekend too. It’s such a competitive league that we’re in.

“After Bangor went down last season everyone is well aware that anything can happen.

“The standard in the division is so high that anyone can beat anyone every week.

“You just can’t have a bad day in this league and everyone at the club is aware of that and has bought into it.

“Hopefully we can keep to the top half of the league this season but the focus and priority is simply to maintain our status and continue to improve.”

While Whiteside has been able to keep hold of the vast majority of last season’s panel, the Championship did come calling for one of them.

Peter Duffin has left to join Niall

Currie’s new-look

Portadown side chasing promotion back to the top flight.

And Tobermore are more than happy to see another of their players moving up the ranks.

“When players sign for Tobermore they know we will try and develop them,” Whiteside (right) said.

“And I would never hold anyone back if a bigger club comes in for them.

“Peter has gone to Portadown with our best wishes and hopefully he can do the same as Ian Parkhill who went to Coleraine and has done really well.

“Our aim at this club is to keep developing young players and that requires us to have patience.

“But young players know when they come to us that they will get a chance to show what they can do.”