Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SHORT TERM GAINS
Johnston believes his Aircraft Park club have what it takes to stay in mix for promotion but knows it will be tough
JOHN JOHNSTON is happy to see Shorts develop that habit of champions, the ability to win ugly, but hopes it’s not a trait he has to witness too many times this season.
The 1C league leaders were way off the pace at home to Saintfield on Saturday, but still managed to dig in for the win, with centre back Darren Corkum conjuring an injury-time winner at Aircraft Park.
Looking at the bigger picture, Johnston insists he can’t be too critical of his players after their start to the season, while admitting the result was the only good thing about the performance at the weekend. “We were awful and scored in the 93rd minute, I felt really bad for Saintfield, we were very lucky to beat them, but it’s been the only game this year where we’ve been awful,” said the Shorts chief, who left the pitch dazzled by a standout display from Saintfield’s No 7, young Ethan Barr.
“But as they say, it’s a good sign when you win and still get the points when you play bad.”
Dedicating the victory to club chairman
Darren Orr, whose dad is seriously ill, Johnston paid tribute to his players and the way they’ve set about their business this season.
It’s been a startling turnaround for a club who were languishing just above the relegation places during the 2019/20 season before Johnston arrived to take charge.
“The only thing I can honestly say I’ve been disappointed with this season is the three losses we have had,” explained the former Bryansburn boss.
“Two of them were against Tullycarnet who are up there with us, we were depleted in both those games so that’s frustrating.
“But to be fair, up until yesterday, the boys have been absolutely outstanding. I said to them afterwards, the old Shorts team probably wouldn’t have come away with the win yesterday.
“And they keep reminding me that the season before I took over, before lockdown, they were in 10 or 11th place, so this is unusual territory for them.”
And with anything up to six teams vying for those two promotion spots, keeping rivals at bay with Shorts already past the halfway stage in the league is the big challenge now for the Holywood Road outfit.
And for Johnston, the secret to keeping the players focused and on their toes for the run-in is simple: competition for places.
“At the minute, I have 19 first team players, and if anyone misses training, or plays bad, there are five players there to come into the squad who can take their place,” he said.
“I’ve said to the players 48 points will get you promoted. We have 10 games left, so seven out of the 10 should get us promoted.
But it’s that close it’s hard to say.”
But as they say, it’s a good sign when you win and still get the points when you play bad.