Wildcats twin predators worry Coles
Western Wildcats` twin predators Scott McCartney and
Douglas Simpson have been identified as lethal by Glynhill Kelburne
manager Harry Coles in the game of the day at Bellahouston in the
Subway national league.
There is evidence to support Coles` hypothesis, the striking duo
have already scored six goals between them in the two league games
so far, and in last season`s Scottish Cup final McCartney found the
net twice and Simpson once as the Wildcats got their claws on the
trophy with a 5-4 win over the Paisley outfit.
“I certainly don`t think we have been firing on all cylinders in
our opening two games, ball retention in the middle of the pitch
could be better whilst up front we have to be more clinical in
front of goal, especially against our old rivals who are capable of
rattling in the goals,” said Coles.
Kelburne undoubtedly have players with goal scoring potential,
Alan Forsyth already has doubles in the two games so far, while the
Christie brothers Michael and Jonny, Gareth Hall along with set
piece experts Mark Ralph and Willie Marshall were all regular
contributors last season.
The Wildcats were a little off colour last year and finished
only fourth in the championship, but there is a renewed
freshness under new coach Vishal Marwaha. The Wildcats should
have close to a full pack with the return of Joe Simpson and Rhury
Smith from suspension, although there is a lingering fitness doubt
over veteran defender Andrew Sewnauth.
“We are trying to integrate some younger players into the team,
and I feel they are learning quickly and doing well. We made
some errors against CALA last week, but that was an improvement on
the previous outing, so we are heading in the right direction,”
said Marwaha. “But Kelburne are still the team to beat, they
are favourites for the league, so we will have to be on top of our
game to win.”
Inverleith coach Stephen McCurry has a full dossier on this
weekend`s opponents Grove Menzieshill, only a few years ago he
was a player and then coach at the `Hill.
“Billy McPherson and Bruce Cuthill would work a lot on structure
and the importance of this, having watched Menzieshill play Grange
last weekend, I still see them as a well structured, well
disciplined side. Saturday’s game will be a very hard
one for us,” said McCurry.
The Dundonians may only have a single point so far in the
competition, but they drew 3-3 with Western Wildcats and then last
weekend threw away a 3-1 lead against Grange to finally succumb
4-3.
In contrast, Inverleith have won both their games against CALA
Edinburgh and Greaves Clydesdale and presently sit second in the
table to Kelburne.
McCurry said: ” It was a very good result for us to beat Clydesdale
2-0 and the players worked very hard, especially in the last eight
minutes when Adam McKenzie got a yellow card. We all agreed
afterwards it was a very workmanlike performance.”
Menzieshill just took the honours last season, they won the
opener 4-3, then drew the return 2-2, and the Edinburgh side will
have to look out for the set piece expertise of Gavin Tomlinson who
notched four of the goals.
Although Grange left it late against Menzieshill last week,
captain Rob Barr would hope for a clearer victory against VWS
Dundee Wanderers on Tayside. Last season the Edinburgh team
recorded convincing 6-2 and 3-0 victories over Wanderers, and it
would be a surprise if this fixture did not end with a similar
conclusion.
Elsewhere, Graham Moodie led Edinburgh University enter the fray
for the first time this season against Greaves Clydesdale at
Peffermill. Newly promoted CALA will hope to break their duck
against AMN Hillhead. So far, CALA have lost 3-2 to
Inverleith and 4-2 to Western, but were far from disgraced in
either game, consequently coach Neil Allan will be looking for his
first points in the top flight. But the Glasgow side will be
no pushover, even after a couple of outings they look to be
steadily improving under coach Keith Joss.
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