Meadow must cash in on Pollok slip

Mar 5 2008 Irvine Herald

IRVINE MEADOW play their final home league game of the season when BEITH come calling on Saturday.

And, although the Bellsdale outfit were heavily beaten last weekend, Meadow manager Chris Strain knows his team are in for a tough time.

“They’re all hard games at this stage of the season,” he added. “Every team has something to play for no matter where they are in the table.”

Meadow got a break last weekend when title favourites Pollok were beaten by Bellshill and Strain will urge his players to make the most of it.

“That result just demonstrated that the destination of the title is not a foregone conclusion — Pollok still have a lot of games to play,” he said.

Chris Strain Junior, who may require surgery on a groin problem, is the only absentee.

It was yet another frustrating Saturday for Kilwinning Rangers as their game with East Kilbride Thistle was cancelled.

The danger signals were flying on Friday morning and, not long after the rain started falling, it was obvious there was no chance of the game going ahead.

Buffs now travel to Clydebank this weekend for a game which has already been postponed twice and manager Alan McTurk is hoping it’s third time lucky.

“They’ve had great results in the Scottish and West Cups in their last two matches and will be looking for a win to boost morale ahead of their Scottish Cup quarter-final the following week,” said McTurk. “However we’re looking forward to it and will go there with the aim of winning the three points which will keep us in the promotion mix. It’s an exciting prospect and just the type of match everyone wants to play in.”

McTurk, whose side have taken 13 points out of the last 15, will be hoping new signing James Tyler can open his account for the club, but while young hitman Paul McLean is expected to recover from injury in time, there are doubts over John Traynor (knee) and Darren Docherty who will have an MRI scan on a knee injury.

Irvine Vics boss Rab Madden was very disappointed to see their game at Ardrossan called off as his players were raring to go and keep their good run going.

“However I’m really looking forward to the trip to Kello on Saturday and we’ll be all out for the three points which will take us closer to that group of sides immediately above us,” he said.

“The last time we played them we should have taken at least a point.”

Vics have released midfielder Barry Lindsey.

Furious Dalry Thistle manager Brian Lamb lambasted his players after their 4-1 defeat at Whitletts.

“We were well below our normal standard, lacked penetration up front, failed to win the first ball in midfield and were as bad as I can remember at the back,” he fumed.

“Whitletts deserved their win and we need to take a good look at ourselves.”

Thistle should get back on the winning track when they entertain lowly Darvel on Saturday but they then face a really tough task on Monday night when they take on Glenafton in their much-delayed West of Scotland first round tie.

The game will be played under the floodlights at Lochburn Park, home of Maryhill Juniors, with a 7.15pm kick off.

Another team with a hard game in prospect are Ardeer Thistle who visit a rejuvenated Hurlford on Saturday.

Amazingly former Junior Scotland centre half Ryan Jordan, who signed for the Stevenston outfit earlier this season after an abortive spell with Irvine Meadow has been placed on the transfer list at his own request and, if he finds another club the former Petershill man could have the distinction of playing for four different teams in the same season.