Junior sides’ fates hang in the balance

Guy’s Meadow erupted when Gary McClymont netted a last minute winner for the Claret and Blue to put their fate back in their own hands.

Ian Currie’s side now occupy eleventh position, two points from safety, but with two games in hand over tenth placed Bellshill Athletic.

Currie said: “It was a well deserved victory, we did really well first half knowing they would come at us. I asked the players to be vigilant about what they did off the ball and not get caught out.

“The boys were absolutely fantastic. Our first goal came from great link up play that started in our own half. That gave us a good grounding.

“When they got a goal back in the second half, we decided to try something new. They had a really tall backline so we put big Liam Mushet on, who’s six foot four and usually plays at centre back, and told him to go up front and win headers and flick ons. That’s how we got the winner.

“Obviously, the philosophy we have here is to get the ball down and play attractive football. But putting the big boy up there really ruffled them up. It was a bit of an inspired substitution.”

Meanwhile, Kilsyth Rangers’ hopes of winning the Central District First Division were dealt a hammer blow at McKenna Park.

The Duncansfield side were thumped 5-1 by St Anthony’s and have now fallen back to second place, a point behind Thorniewood United.

Their promotion hopes are still alive and well though - one win from their remaining two games will see them safely over the line.

Assistant boss Martin Mooney said: “It couldn’t have gone any worse. It was one of those ones that, after 10 minutes, you could see they were really up for it.

“They got two quick goals and we never looked like we were going to compete. Since I’ve been here it’s by far the worst performance.

“It takes the title out of our hands, now it has to be all about promotion and if we get another chance at winning the league then fine.

“It’s the worst time of the season for us to hit a dip in form but, judging by the last two results, that looks like where we are now.”

United are in for a hectic week that could define their bid for survival - they face a trip to Renfrew tonight before hosting Ashfield on Saturday.

Currie added: “We need to take belief from Saturday’s result. We’ve taken seven points from three games against the top three teams. That should be proof enough for us that we’re good enough for this league.

“It’s very frustrating at times - I said to the boys, if I had been here at the start of the season, I think we could’ve won this league, that’s down to the ability here.

“I reckon if we can win another two we’ll stay up.”

Rangers travel to face bottom side Blantyre Victoria on Saturday.

Mooney added: “If we concentrate on our own game then we can take it from there. I’d like to go into the last game against Greenock knowing we don’t need anything for promotion.”