Greenock Telegraph | Sport | It's game on as Port recover from injuries

Thursday, 16th October, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 4th June, 2008 12:00

It's game on as Port recover from injuries

By Gary Pews

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Touch and go: Port will hope to have Scott Nugent, right, back for tonight’s match, after the striker missed training on Monday. Picture: Douglas Hendry

FIRST Division champions Port Glasgow go in search of more silverware tonight, as they face Hurlford United in the quarter-finals of the Cup-Winners Cup.

It has been over a week since the local team were last in action, losing out to Arthurlie despite a spirited performance in the Central League Cup.

The squad for that match was decimated by injuries, but manager Brian Heron, now back from holiday, will not have such serious problems this evening. His only concerns are niggling injuries to Eddie Walton, Scott Nugent and Alan McIntyre. Although Walton and Nugent couldn’t take part in a training session on Monday, Heron hopes they will have recovered in time to make the trip to East Ayrshire.

Hurlford are an unknown quantity to the Port, and Heron admits he knows nothing about the team. But their record this season has been impressive, as they clinched the Ayrshire District League at a canter, with 19 wins out of 24 matches, and only three losses.

Their promotion means they will be competing in the same league as Port Glasgow next season, but Heron doesn’t feel tonight’s game will be a marker for the kind of challenges his men will face in the new campaign.

He said: “I wouldn’t read too much into this evening’s match. With both teams maybe trying out new formations, I don’t think it will bear any semblance to what might happen next season.”

After the highs of the league title triumph, there may be a temptation for players to mentally switch off, and Heron’s task this week has been to stir up his squad for one last push.

He feels they are up for the challenge, and added: “The season can’t get much better for us, but the Cup-Winners Cup is a prestigious competition, and the mood in training has been very positive. The players are enjoying each other’s company, and are determined to get another trophy in the cabinet.”

Tonight’s match at Blair Park, Hurlford, kicks-off at 7.30pm, and will go straight to penalties if level after 90 minutes.

l Port Glasgow Juniors are sponsored by Renfrewshire Electronics and the Senit Group. Kit sponsored by Swordfish Signs and Remax Gourock.

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