Irvine Victoria boss Dougie MacDuff is praying familiar faces don’t come back to haunt him at Saltcoats on Saturday.
The Vics head to Campbell Park on league duty, strong favourites to stretch their winning run in WOSFL Division Three to seven games while at the same time prolonging Saltcoats’ winless start to the season.
But MacDuff isn’t prepared to take anything for granted – particularly with so many of his former Vics charges in the opposing team.
Striker John McLaughlan became the latest player to swap the Westenders for the Seasiders earlier this month, hooking up with former Vics aces Stephen Jackson, Callum McDade and Blair Devlin.
And MacDuff reckons all four – McLaughan in particular – will have a point to prove.
He said: “I’ve no doubt Saltcoats will fight tooth and nail on Saturday. Their results so far mean nothing to me because your luck has got to change sometime.
“They lost 5-1 against Ardrossan on Saturday but it was 1-1 at half-time. They also only lost 2-1 at Finnart despite having a man sent off.
“The fact they have a few boys who used to play for us is something for us to consider too.
“John scored for them at the weekend. He left us because he felt he deserved more game time but he showed in his short spell with us that he knows where the goal is so we will have to be careful.”
Vics lost 3-1 in a friendly at Troon on Saturday after the scheduled Scottish Junior Cup tie between the sides was scrapped with 48 hours notice.
MacDuff took the opportunity to give several fringe players a run-out in the first half before reverting to a more recognisable 11 after the interval.
Goalkeeper Martin Johnston was handed a first start since signing on a month-long loan deal from Dalbeattie Star as cover for crocked No1 Owen McCallum.
Rookie keeper Arran Adam – younger brother of Vics frontman Kevin – was also given minutes as MacDuff made full use of the players at his disposal.
He said: “We’ve 19 players in the squad and we can’t go all season without giving boys games.
“I thought the players who came in did well. I was happy with what I saw to be honest. We had four boys at 20-years-old in midfield and they competed really well.
“Young Harry Lockwood is only 16 and he gave a good account of himself in the backline. Likewise, Graeme Condon did really well in the centre of defence.”
MacDuff was set to run the rule over another two keepers this week as he looks to boost his options.
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