STRIKERS WILL KEEP DAZ’S SIROCCO IN THE FRAME

DARREN FRAME is backing Sirocco’s new-look strikeforce to fire his club into the promotion reckoning this season.

Lewis Irwin’s prolific campaign last year – the striker scored 32 goals in all competitions for the Roc – made him a target for some of the bigger clubs over the summer, with Lee Forsythe taking him into the Irish League with Knockbreda.

It’s a big void to fill, but after adding Scott Dornan to the ranks and moving attacker Kurtis Hanna from wide into a more central role to compete for places alongside Neil Mclarnon, who scored 20 last season, Frame is confident his club retain the firepower required to challenge for honours.

“I lost about six players over the summer and I’ve brought six in, with a couple of new faces to follow next week,” said Frame.

“The players we lost I have replaced well, the players who have come in are good, young players and they are hungry.

“We believe with the squad we have got, and with a couple of additions, we will be challenging.” New boy Dornan was on target on Saturday, scoring what turned out to be the winner as Sirocco held off Peter Kennedy’s Crewe United in the Steel Cup to progress to the second round, wth Matty Stitt grabbing the opener at Dixon Park.

Frame was thrilled with the performance of his revamped team, particularly in the first half, and is hoping for more of the same when his team kick off their league campaign at home to Killyleagh tonight.

He said: “Crewe are a very good team and when I saw the draw on paper we knew we were up against it to be honest.

“We played against a couple of teams from the Mid Ulster last year and they were always very good and Peter Kennedy had them well drilled.

“But first half, we went in 2-0 up and it was the best football we have played all pre-season, we were really good.

“As expected, they came out second half and had to really go for it and it was a bit nervous the last 10 minutes when they pulled it back to 2-1 but it was a great win.

“Saturday was a good way to start the season but Killyleagh is the most important one, our main focus is the league.”