Blantyre Vics games were all about game-time, says Rutherglen Glencairn boss

Rutherglen Glencairn boss Willie Harvey was disappointed to lose twice to Blantyre Vics in four days, but says Saturday’s clash at the Hamish B. Allan Stadium was all about game-time.

Glens effectively secured their West of Scotland League First Division place last weekend, so losing each game 1-0 didn’t fundamentally change their position, with Kris Jarvie bagging the winner in 76 minutes, having also scored in midweek.

With injuries sustained at Blantyre, Harvey didn’t have a full squad to choose from anyway, but wanted to give a few fringe players a run-out as he looks ahead to the Scottish Junior Cup final against Cumnock on June 2.

While there’s one relegation spot still to be filled, it’s between Bonnyton Thistle and St Roch’s, with a game to go.

The Glens gaffer said: “It was all about being safe, and everyone’s comfortable.

“In the past two games we’ve had players in and out and we lost a couple of players after Wednesday night through injury.

“Our starting line-up changed an awful lot, and basically it was about getting game-time for a lot of people who hadn’t played for a long time.

“We actually started with none of our recognised strikers, the three of them – Jay McKay, Ryan McManus or big Jack McIlveen.

“I’m not making excuses, but at the end of the day it wasn’t our full team.

“I made the statement that if we had won I wouldn’t have been jumping up and down and been over the moon, so I’m not being downhearted that we lost.

“It wasn’t about anything other than using the game-time.”

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