Brian McGinty slammed his Cumnock table toppers for a dreadful performance and urged them to do better, writes Mike Wilson.
The Premier League’s only 100 per cent team head to Hurlford on Saturday with the manager’s harsh words ringing in their ears despite a 2-0 win over Cambuslang.
McGinty felt it was a chalk and cheese performance from beating champions Darvel on the opening day.
A late double from Jordan Moore kept up ‘Nock’s perfect start but McGinty rapped: “I thought we were dreadful. It was a really, really poor performance coming off the high of last week.
“We didn’t take care of the ball, were too slack, everything was 100 mph and there was no composure. The first-half especially was dreadful and the second-half was slightly better but I still wasn’t pleased.
“We said at the start of the season there will be games when we don’t play well and need to find a way to win. In the second-half we eventually did that.
“When you have someone like Jordan in the team then the game is away from Cambuslang and I thought his finishes were excellent.
“We need to do better against Hurlford who got a good result against Beith. However, I won’t be too hard on the boys as they got the win and that’s all that matters.”
● AUCHINLECK boss Tommy Sloan insists it’s not all doom and gloom after a 3-0 defeat at home to Darvel. And he backs his team to bounce back at Cambuslang on Saturday.
After Talbot had Gareth Armstrong sent off for a rash challenge, Darvel cashed in through Darryl Meggatt and Allan Mackenzie before the break. Graham Wilson had a penalty saved before Andrew Stirling wrapped it up.
Sloan admitted: “I’ve no complaints about the red card or the result – if you can’t defend corners you’re not going to win games.
“However, I’m still taking positives from it. There was a lot of good effort from certain individuals but we need that from the full team. They dug in and stuck at it, it’s not all doom and gloom.”
● GLENAFTON have signed former Ayr United youngster Dylan O’Kane after the attacking midfielder featured as a trialist in a 1-0 win over Arthurlie.
Great play by Jamie McKernon set up Hugh Kerr to grab the winner and send them to Pollok on Saturday in good heart.
● TROON welcome Clydebank to Portland Park after twice coming from behind to beat Kilwinning 3-2 with Dale Moore the hero.
It was 2-2 at the break with Buffs goals from Gavin Millar and Thomas Collins being cancelled out by Jaime Gallagher and Sam McCloskey. Moore grabbed a sublime winner with 12 minutes left after good play by Kyle Gilroy.
● WHITLETTS are bidding to make it three wins in a row when they entertain Gartcairn in the First Division.
The league leaders beat Blantyre 2-1 with first-half goals from Dean McColm (penalty) and Jordan Baird. Sam MacKenzie pulled one back for the hosts but Vics held on for their first win over Blantyre in nine attempts.
● MAYBOLE head to Ashfield in the Second Division after beating Maryhill 1-0 to maintain their perfect start with no goals conceded. Stevie McLelland linked well with Craig Harvey for the only goal but boss Carlo Walker claimed: “We missed a barrow load of chances and were comfortable winners.”
● CRAIGMARK travel to Yoker after a 3-2 win over Glasgow United thanks to goals from Ali Boyle, Ryan Connelly and Jordan Banks to make it six points out of six.
● MUIRKIRK need to bounce back from a 7-1 home mauling by Ashfield when they visit Glasgow United.
● GIRVAN entertain LUGAR in the Third Division after recovering from a 3-0 midweek defeat by Irvine Vics to beat Bellshill 3-2 despite finishing with only nine men. Goals came from Thomas Donovan, Jordan Bruce (penalty) and Andrew Kerr.
A double from Mitchell Ewing gave Lugar a 2-1 win over Larkhall to make it four points from two games.
RESULTS:
Wednesday, August 3: Third Div: Vale of Clyde 4, Port Glasgow 1; Carluke 1, Lanark 4; Vale of Leven 4, Newmains 1; Dalry 2, Winton 1; Lesmahagow 3, Finnart 2; East Kilbride Th 4, Saltcoats 3; Girvan 0, Irvine Vics 3; Kello 1, Lugar 0; Larkhall 0, Bellshill 0.
Saturday, August 6: Premier: Clydebank 2, Irvine Meadow 3; Beith 0, Hurlford 2; Auchinleck 0, Darvel 3; Glenafton 1, Arthurlie 0; Kilwinning 2, Troon 3; Rob Roy 2, Petershill 0; Cumnock 2, Cambuslang 0; Pollok 0, Largs 0.
First Div: St Cadoc’s 2, Cumbernauld 2; St Roch’s 7, Bonnyton 1; Blantyre 1, Whitletts 2; Drumchapel 2, Rutherglen 0; Gartcairn 1, Thorniewood 0; Johnstone 1, Kilbirnie 4; Neilston 2, Benburb 0; Rossvale 1, Shotts 5.
Second Div: Wishaw 1, Renfrew 2; Craigmark 3, Glasgow Utd 2; Glasgow Perth 0, Yoker 3; Forth 1, Glasgow Uni 0; Greenock 3, St Anthony’s 2; Kilsyth Rangers 1, Ardeer 3; Maybole 1, Maryhill 0; Muirkirk 1, Ashfield 7.
Third Div: Newmains 2, East Kilbride Th 2; Port Glasgow 4, Carluke 1; Saltcoats 1, Kello 3; Winton 1, Vale of Leven 0; Bellshill 2, Girvan 3; Finnart 5, Royal Albert 1; Irvine Vics 8, Lesmahagow 0; Lanark 3, Dalry 1; Lugar 2, Larkhall 1.
Fourth Div: Threave 4, Campbeltown Pupils 0; West Park 3, Glenvale 2; BSC Glasgow 3, Easterhouse 1; Eglinton 1, Thorn Ath 3; Harmony Row 0, Rossvale Acad 2; St Peter’s 1, Kilsyth Ath 2.
FIXTURES:
Friday, August 12 (7.30pm): Premier: Darvel v Kilwinning; Saturday, August 13 (2pm): Premier: Irvine Meadow v Arthurlie; Troon v Clydebank; Cambuslang v Auchinleck; Pollok v Glenafton; Hurlford v Cumnock; Petershill v Beith; Largs v Rob Roy.
First Div: Thorniewood v Drumchapel; Whitletts v Gartcairn; Benburb v Johnstone; Bonnyton v Blantyre; Cumbernauld v Shotts; Kilbirnie v St Roch’s; Neilston v Rossvale; Rutherglen v St Cadoc’s.
Second Div: Renfrew v St Anthony’s; Yoker v Craigmark; Ardeer v Wishaw; Ashfield v Maybole; Forth v Kilsyth Rangers; Glasgow Perth v Greenock; Glasgow Utd v Muirkirk; Maryhill v Glasgow Uni.
Third Div: Royal Albert v Irvine Vics; Vale of Leven v Lanark; Dalry v Port Glasgow; East Kilbride Th v Winton; Girvan v Lugar; Kello v Newmains; Larkhall v Saltcoats; Lesmahagow v Bellshill.
Fourth Div: Campbeltown Pupils v West Park; Glenvale v Easterhouse; Harmony Row v BSC Glasgow; Kilsyth Ath v Eglinton; Rossvale Acad v St Peter’s; Thorn Ath v Threave.
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