PORT Glasgow aim to maintain their fine start to the season as the new league campaign gets under way tomorrow.

After going through their four group matches unbeaten, the Port then recorded an excellent 3-1 win over Thorniewood on Wednesday night to progress to the semi-final stages of the Sectional League Cup.

And it will not have gone unnoticed in junior circles that three of the sides the Port were unbeaten against were from a higher league than themselves, and in the case of Greenock and Thorniewood, two divisions above.

So it’s hardly surprising that Port boss Craig Brown is cautiously optimistic about the season ahead, though he will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last season, when another promising start fell away to end in disappointment, with a final placing in the lower half of the Second Division table.

This time, though, there are experienced older heads to blend in with the youngsters.

Three of them — Gus Gault, Jo-Jo Connolly and Eddie Walton, back at the club for a second spell, have come from Largs Thistle, adding to the experience of Paul Coyle and Paul Gordon to give a much more balanced look to the squad.

The Port could have been given an easier league opener than making the long trip to face Forth Wanderers, but with every game having been played away from home so far, another trip on the road shouldn’t make much difference.

Brown said: “The League Cup games were geared to get us ready for the league season, but I am very pleased with how we came through the group undefeated, and with our performance at Uddingston on Saturday. I will be looking for more of the same tomorrow, though an away match at Forth is never easy.” The holidaying Scott Paterson will be absent tomorrow, as will keeper Bryan Tucker, although Robbie Graham’s decent performances so far suggest he is the number one choice between the sticks at the moment.

Gault is still suffering the effects of last Saturday’s foot injury and is rated 50/50 for tomorrow, while Gordon’s calf knock, which ruled him out of the Thorniewood game, sees him remain on the doubtful list.

However Connolly hopes to have recovered from a knock which led to him being substituted on Wednesday, and Steven McAfee, unavailable last week, comes back into the reckoning.

Meanwhile, the Port’s next scheduled league game after tomorrow has been postponed. The club has agreed to Cambuslang Rangers’ request for the 6 September match to be called off, as seven of the Cambuslang players will be off to a function that day.

And in the Scottish Cup draw made earlier this week, the Port were one of the clubs given a bye into round two.

Kick-off at Kingshill Park, Forth, is at 2pm.

Port Glasgow Juniors are sponsored by Regents Vehicle Sales, Greenock, and MAC HSL Ltd.