McCarron deal falls through

The Drumahoe club go into this weekend’s clash with Loughgall hoping to make it two wins in a row for just the second time this season.

The Waterside men host Marc Robinson’s side knowing a victory would move them further away from the relegation zone and also move them to just two points behind Saturday’s opponents.

Nevertheless ’Stute boss Allan Blair knows better than anyone his side need to be at their best if they want to secure maximum points.

In only his second game in charge of the Drumahoe club, they easily defeated Ards 3-1 and morale in the dressing room was sky high, but they came down with a massive bump seven days later when they lost disappointingly at Glebe Rangers and that is still fresh in Blair’s thoughts going into this weekend’s clash.

“We are running out of games and I think the boys really realised that at Larne, as they gave their all, which they will need to do in our remaining games,” he said.

“Every point we have to battle and fight for, you go into every game with one point and that’s the least we have to come out with.”

Earlier in the season an injury hit ’Stute suffered a disappointing 4-1 defeat at Lakeview Park, but Blair is hopeful the recent additions will make this weekend’s clash a much more even contest.

Recent signings Mark Scoltock, Joe Gray, Mark Kelly and Jason McGrinder are all expected to be available for selection and because of that Blair and his coaching staff have a nice selection headache.

“We are starting to get competition for places and that’s what every team needs, competition for places is healthy for a club and we are no different,” he added.

“The guys know that if they are going to be laxadaisical about it then they aren’t going to be in the team.

“We are going to have more players back this week, who missed the Larne game; Scolty is back, hopefully Jason will also get his clearance through in time and those two can only help our squad.

“We begin on Tuesday night preparing for the Loughgall game and all the players will have to show myself and Paul (Carlyle) that they are ready for the battle and work equally as hard this week at training, as they did at Larne,” concluded the ’Stute boss.