McColl’s troops need one last win
McColl on the brink of title success
Cambuslang Rangers manager Paul McColl insists no matter what happens, his team have had a great season.
The Lang are now within touching distance of the Central District First Division title and look set to bag back-to-back promotions for the first time in 26 years.
Saturday’s comfortable 4-0 win over Rossvale was their first victory away from home in the league since January.
Meanwhile, fellow challengers St Roch’s lost to Wishaw meaning a win in The Lang’s final league match at Neilston will secure the title.
However, with secondplaced Larkhall playing the Candy Rock this weekend, The Lang could be promoted without even kicking a ball if one team wins due to their superior goal difference.
“Hopefully by this time next week we’ll be promoted ,”said McColl.“We’ll see how it goes.
“But no matter what happens, it has been a great season.”
The date for their last league match away to Neilston has still to be confirmed so The Lang have turned their attentions to tonight’s Central League Cup match against Yoker (7pm).
Cambuslang Rangers gaffer Paul McColl hailed his super side who saved their best performance for the most important game of the season.
The Somervell Park boss watched his players steam into a 3-0 half-time lead at Rossvale and convert a penalty late on to secure the 4-0 win and all three points.
The result, coupled with St Roch’s 4-2 defeat to Wishaw on Saturday, means a victory in their final game against Neilston will bag them the Central District First Division title and back-to-back promotions.
However, with second-placed Larkhall playing the Candy Rock, who sit third, this weekend, The Lang could be promoted without kicking a ball if one team comes out victorious due to their superior goal difference.
And if the game ends in a draw, McColl’s men would only need a point in their final fixture to go up.
A date for the Neilston match has still to be confirmed.
But the Lang gaffer says he is not fussed who wins the battle on Saturday – and says he remains focussed on achieving a win in his side’s last league game.
McColl said: “I can’t see them drawing, it’s no use to either of them. A draw isn’t good enough for either of them to go up.
“One of them will go and try and win that game. A lot of people will go watch it but I won’t. I’m not bothered about what happens.
“My team, they gave a good performance from start to finish on Saturday. With the St Roch’s result going our way, that helped us as well.
“It means we need a win in our last
game to win the title so you couldn’t ask for a better ending to the season.”
Thomas Kilmartin opened the scoring at Rossvale to bag his 15th goal of the season.
Jordan Morton then doubled the lead before Dale Simeon capped a wonderful first-half performance with a goal minutes before the interval.
John Gemmell blasted a penalty kick home in the latter stages of the match which has pushed The Lang to within touching distance of promotion and a possible league title.
McColl said: “They were excellent, they were really decent. Every single player in the squad from the starting 11 to the guys who came on were brilliant.
“They saved their best performance for the most important game of the season. Every player brought their A-game in the first half but I actually thought we played better in the second.
“Rossvale had a few chances but they never really troubled us.
“They’ve been good all season but I think we were just too strong for them on the day.”
But just as all their concentration was set to be focused on their final league encounter, Cambuslang were handed a Central League Cup match – a move which has baffled McColl.
The manager is frustrated his players will have to make the trip to Yoker this evening, Wednesday, for the third round tie with the Super First team who are fighting relegation.
Ideally both teams would have wanted to play the game after their league campaign was over but McColl accepted there were many Junior sides in the same situation.
“I just don’t get it,” he said. “It’s quite close [to Yoker’s game on Saturday].
“I am bothered about the game because I know guys want to play.
“But I don’t know why they [The Scottish Junior Football Association] have given us the game before our last league game.
“It’s a game where I don’t know what they’ll do. They’re fighting to stay up in the Super League and have big games coming up.
“Will I choose to play my full team when one of my players could get injured? I don’t know.”