Kieran insists Bankiescan un-Lok cup favourites
COULD the reason for the lack of hubbub surrounding tomorrow’s Central Sectional League Cup Final between Clydebank and Pollok be that both sets of fans are already thinking the silverware is as good as in the Southside club’s trophy cabinet?
It’s certainly an explanation for a perceived low key approach to the belated showpiece finale that brings two of the best supported clubs in the Junior game head to head at Somervell Park.
But then so too are the vividly fresh recollections of their Newlandsfield staged Super Premier Division clash just last month when Pollok turned on the second-half burners to run out emphatic 4-0 winners through goals from Gary McCann, Ryan McGrgor, Alan McKenzie and Nikky Prentice.
Yet it is his young side’s losing performance that has evoked a measure of cautious optimism in Bankies boss Kieran McAnespie ahead of the Cup Final.
He insisted: “The Pollok game mirrored one of the most valuable lessons we have learned since coming into the Super Premier and that is to put away your chances against the top teams or pay the price.
“Yet it’s hard to be over critical when you think that teenage fullback Mathew McLean figured in our defence as well as Scott Miller up front while our substitutes’ bench also included 20-year-olds Chris Dooley and Ross Lyden.
“It was a big ask for them to go up against a team of Pollok’s stature yet we stuck religiously to our tactical set-up and totally managed the game for 45 minutes which made it all the more disappointing that individual errors caused us to come unstuck.
“Three of the goals conceded could and should have been prevented and I’m feeling confident that if the guys can cut out the mistakes we are capable of giving a better account of ourselves.
“A major plus is having Jordan Shelvey back in the frame. He is someone that could play at Senior level if he just had more belief in his abilities and he will relish playing in front of a big Cup Final crowd.”
Versatile Alan Vezz a ha s returned to training this week following surgery to remove his appendix but is rated a definite non-starter by the 38-year-old Bankies boss who has also been forced to rule Scotland Juniors internationalist Phil Johnston out of his plans after the wing ace suffered a torn groin during last weekend’s Scottish Junior Cup defeat by Kennoway Star Hearts.
He added: “I hear from sources that Pollok are likely to be without Steff McLuskey and Adam Forde but Tony McInally has plenty of quality strikers at his disposal.
“Our former player Nikky Little is a terrific goalscorer, Alan McKenzie poses a physical threat, the two McCann brothers look as if they can catch pigeons while Nikky Prentice has great trickery and close control.”
AMONG the Pollok players whose big-game potential is tried and trusted is playmaker Bryan Young and he was in confident mood when looking forward to tomorrow’s Final. The five-time Scottish Junior Cup winner said: “I’m excited about the game and want to grab this opportunity to get hold of a medal that I’ve never won before but Clydebank will be no pushovers.
“Yes we won 4-0 in our last meeting but the confidence in our dressing room is more to do with us coming together as a team in recent weeks and looking solid all over the pitch thanks to players beginning to find their best form.
“That’s how it should be as we must only concentrate on ourselves and playing to our own strengths rather than thinking about the opposition.”
Lok gaffer Tony McInally admitted: “We have kicked on and found a bit of form since playing Clydebank but I’m pretty sure Kieran will have worked a few improvements into his side.
“Liam Rowan has played himself into contention for a jersey after playing in our Cup win over Royal Albert last week and I’m pleased for the lad who has taken a long time to get back from his fractured skull injury.
“He and all the other players are looking forward to the game because Cup Finals are special.
“Hopefully they will have cause f or celebrations on Sunday.”