Threave Rovers kick off 2024 with thumping win at Girvan

Threave Rovers showed their intentions for the year ahead as they kicked off 2024 with a thumping away win.

The Castle Douglas side returned home from Ayrshire with a 4-1 win at Girvan and never looked back after Harry Officer scored after just eight minutes.

Caretaker boss Paul McGinley said: “We could have had two or three in the first 10 minutes as we started really sharp.

“It keeps the momentum going. We were very attack-minded right from the first whistle and we had them on the back foot early.

“They rallied at the start of the second half and got a goal back which put us under a wee bit of pressure but we came back again and it was really pleasing to get the three points, especially up there as it’s a tough place to go.”

Officer’s opener was followed up by a penalty from Danny Dunglinson as Threave enjoyed a 2-0 lead at the break.

Midway through the second half Scott Dempster got a goal back for Girvan but Dylan Cairnie soon restored the two-goal cushion, Dunglinson completing the scoring.

Officer was one of a number of Threave youngsters involved with Declan Roper, Craig Porteous and Calum Johnstone all on the bench.

McGinley said: “We had four in the squad and three of them got game time.

“We would have liked them all to get game time but we were picking up injuries so it was forced changes rather than changes we’d have liked to make.

“We’re trying to promote the young blood through. We want to make it clear there is a pathway through the youth teams.

“The door’s always open, it’s not a complete squad – it’s a squad you’d look to add to but they’ve got to fit the criteria we’re looking for.

“It’s all about the collective and the group, the only way they’re achieving things is through hard