McCrossan delighted Saints are bouncing

Aug 16 2012 by Stuart Gillespie, Galloway News

ST CUTHBERT Wanderers boss Jim McCrossan is delighted with the ability to bounce back his side has shown in the last few weeks.

After a surprise defeat to Abbey Vale, they have won away to Keith in the Scottish Cup and at Threave Rovers and Heston in the league.

McCrossan said: “We’ve had a decent reaction to the Abbey game – I was delighted with the performance against Keith and then to get wins against Threave and Heston.

“We’re a relatively young team. We had three 19-year-olds starting on Saturday, a 15-year-old on the bench and a couple of 20-year-olds. You can’t expect too much of boys that age and they should be judged at the end of the season rather than after one defeat. We changed the team quite a lot last year. We lost three first-team players at Christmas and have brought in some new people this year, so we’re still gelling.

“They’re certainly up for a challenge and they’ve proved that from how they’ve bounced back from the disappointing defeat to Abbey Vale. On their day, they’re capable of giving anybody a game.”

Sean Kevan’s early goal gave Heston the lead on Saturday but Saints hit back, with goals from Colin Carnochan, Roddy Cooksley and Craig Rudd having them in control by the break. Jonathan Boyd scored for Heston 10 minutes into the second half but Saints saw the game out.

Heston finished above Saints last season and the win should go a long way to helping the Kirkcudbright side return to the top three this term.

McCrossan said: “Our aim is to finish above last year, so we want third or above. It’s been two seasons since we won a cup so we want that as well.

“Heston are a good footballing team. No one will go there and get three points easily, you’ll have to work hard. I think we played reasonably well and deserved to win.”

Saints were due to play Dalbeattie last night before hosting Fleet Star in a League Cup clash this weekend.

McCrossan said: “They’ve not had the best of starts but they work away and try to make games hard for you. We’ve never won very easily against them in the last few years and we’ll give them the respect they deserve.”

Saints will be without Ben Irving, while Ross McCrindle is due to receive treatment for his injury tonight. Ian Millar is also a doubt and may be rested ahead of next week’s Scottish Cup trip to Edinburgh Uni.

The club have been boosted by the appointment of Neil Christie to the technical staff. He played for the club in the late 1980s and early 90s and has been working with the youth teams.

“He gives us another opinion and can help if I’m missing, or if Ade Stovell is missing,” said McCrossan.

“It saves having just one person. He’s a Saints man through and through, so he knows what the club’s all about and he’ll help us out.”