Cumbernauld Colts looking to climb table again

Jordan Pirrie was outstanding against Leith, according to Colts boss Craig McKinlay

Colts haven’t won a league game since they beat Edinburgh University on September 3, although they have only played four league games since then due to cup commitments.

However after getting back on the winning track at Leith Athletic in the South Challenge Cup last weekend, Colts co-manager Craig McKinlay is looking for his side to kick on and start moving back up the table.

Colts got off to the perfect start at Leith with a goal on seven minutes, Stephen O’Neill setting up Sean Brown to calmly slide the ball under the advancing Leith keeper.

Leith, beaten by Colts in the Scottish Cup earlier in the season, hit back to level after 25 minutes.

But Colts quickly regained the advantage when Richie Kirwan fired home a low shot from 12 yards.

After the break Jamie Barclay bulleted home a header from a terrific O’Neill corner before great play by Brown set up Andy Hunter to finish from close range and complete the scoring.

McKinlay said: “Leith know us well by now so we changed things up a bit to give them something to think about and it seemed to work.

“The players looked bright and it’s the most we’re controlled the game against them and actually the most we have for a number of games now.

“There were some good individual performances, Stephen O’Neill giving an excellent performance and Sean Brown scoring and assisting.

“But Jordan Pirrie was outstanding in the middle of the park, continually breaking up play showing strength and displaying terrific range of passing.”

However, while pleased with some of his individual performers, McKinlay took more satisfaction from his side’s overalll display.

He said: “We have been frustrated lately, having been put out the Scottish then dropping two points last week in the league to Hawick so it was important that we put in a good performance and result.

“We certainly feel we got that and while there was a few outstanding performances collectively the team played to a really high standard so we have got to be satisfied with that.

“We now want to show that sort of performance again and get us back to winning ways as we have lost some ground in the table of late.”