GLENSWIN OPENING LEAGUE GAME
Glens boss praises striker for opening day hat-trick
Glencairn gaffer Willie Harvey hailed the ‘ Teamwork’ that helped his side to an opening day league victory over Renfrew.
Fraser Team notched all three of Glens goals in the victory, just days after missing an open goal in the league cup defeat to Pollok.
Harvey revealed he had a chat with the striker about his game and it proved an inspired tactic as the 25 year old repaid his manager’s faith with a hattrick.
“Fraser plays at a million miles an hour,” said Harvey.
“He gets himself into great positions and creates lots of chances but rushes things. “We had a talk with him during the week. We don’t want to take away that pace from his game but once he gets into those positions he needs to take his time more and not snatch at chances. “On Saturday he done everything we asked of him.”
Despite the perfect start, Harvey reckons his team weren’t as fluid as they had been in recent weeks.
But he said the players all agreed with his opinion, adding: “I think that is a good thing, that we didn’t play as well as we can yet still win.
“I was impressed with the lads workrate and effort. It was not a case of being angry or annoyed or having a wee moan, it was just that our passing game wasn’t as good as it had been.
“That is a credit to the players, knowing there is more to come from them and that is a positive rather than a negative, and the boys accepted that.”
Harvey had actually been happier a few days earlier in a 3-1 defeat to Pollok in the quarter-final of the Exsel Group Central Sectional League Cup.
Glens more than held their own against the junior giants and had chances to take the lead before Carlo Monti headed the visitors in front.
The Rutherglen men levelled on the stroke of half-time when Del McNab fired home from 10 yards but they failed to remain on level terms at the break. Just seconds later Findlay Frye as given time and space on the edge of the box to put Pollok back in front.
Glens should have equalised five minutes into the second period, but Team somehow missed an open goal from just a few yards out and he was made to pay when David Winters capitalised on some slack defending to net.
Harvey said: “We were outstanding, we played passing football at pace. “Everything was great but a few sloppy mistakes at the back have cost us.
“Credit to the players, they played exceptionally well.”
Next up for Glens is a journey into the unknown when they make the short trip to Shettleston.
The Glasgow side have underwent a major overhaul in personnel since new manager Peter Weatherson arrived from Alloa.
Harvey is set to run the rule over them tonight, Wednesday, when they play Wishaw in the semi-finals of the league cup.
He added: “They have had a big clear out and brought in some ex- senior playe r s. We really don’t know what we are up against.
“It doesn’t hurt to get a look at teams, but you know my philosophy is always that if we what we can do then we can let other teams worry about us.”