New year goal
Glencairn aiming to kick on in 2015
Glencairn gaffer Willie Harvey hopes a new year will bring a fresh start for his side.
Glens started the 2014/15 league campaign superbly, winning three and drawing two of their opening five matches.
But since then, their form has been patchier with four defeats and two wins.
The Rutherglen men entertain bottom- placed Thorniewood on Saturday and Willie has told his team they must beat sides threatened with relegation if they are to be seen as realistic challengers.
Glens will have a full squad to pick from, should the game beat the weather, and Willie wants the players to continue to show the same level of commitment as the season enters a vital period.
He said: “We had a chat last night ( Monday), and spoke about commitment and spoke about the fact we haven’t really performed for a few weeks.
“But we’re still there. We said we wanted to be top three by Christmas and with four games in hand we could have been there.
“I pointed out the commitment has got to be upped even more. We didn’t train as often as we would have liked over Christmas and New Year for reasons that were outwith our control, but last night we had just two players missing due to holidays and work.
“We’ve got a full compliment right now and I pointed out that’s what we need.
“Everyone is fit right now. Players have got to realise they can’t go in the huff or walk away if they aren’t getting a game. They would be letting themselves down and their mates down.
“There will be disappointments, but that’s what happens when you carry a squad of 21.”
With Thorniewood visiting New Southcroft this Saturday, Glens have a good opportunity to find their feet again.
The teams drew 1- 1 earlier in the season, but since then Thorniewood have dropped to the bottom of the league.
Willie said: “If you want to win promotion then you have got to beat the teams at the bottom of the league.
“You can’t afford to drop points when everyone else is beating them, it doesn’t take someone from Mensa to work that out.
“Three weeks ago, Thorniewood went to Pollok and got a draw and they drew with us at the start of the season, so they are capable. For whatever reason it’s not happening for them regularly but they have capable players and we’ll need to go in with the same attitude we’d have if we were playing a team at the top of the league.”
Glens had been due to play at Cumbernauld last Saturday, but the game fell foul to the weather despite the home side’s groundsman insisting it could go ahead.
Willie said: “At 10am we got a phone call that the game was on but when we turned up, the referee called it off.
“When I first saw the park I thought there was no way it would be on, it was disappointing but I’m not going to criticise anyone. Everyone does things differently.
“People have criticised us for calling games off too early, but I’d rather that than have a team turn up for the game to be off.”