Kilmallie out to stop Beauly revenge mission
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KILMALLIE boss Duncan Kelly insists his boys are raring to go as they prepare to try and stop Beauly’s revenge mission in their opening Marine Harvest National Division One clash this Saturday.
The Caol club beat this weekend’s visitors to the North Division One title last year, and Kelly reckons they’ll be seeking to put one over on his side.
He said: "It’s going to be a hard game against beauly
we pipped them to the title last season so they’ll definitely be looking for revenge."
The Canal Park side should have kicked off their campaign on Saturday but their visit to Bute was cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch.
Kelly was disappointed his side couldn’t get their season underway, but is encouraged by his players performance in pre-season training.
He said: "It’s just one of those things, the pitch was waterlogged.
"It was totally unplayable, it was frustrating but these things happen.
"We’ve had good numbers at training and second team players have been getting involved as well, all the lads can’t wait to get the season started."
Their squad has also been boosted by the introduction of youngsters Shane Gillies and Craig Macissac, who’ve made the step up from the second team.
Kelly added: "Shane is our first choice goalkeeper now, he’s come up from the second team so he’ll need a few games to get his confidence up but he’s a good player.
"Craig is a good forward player, he’s played a couple of times for us in pre-season and did really well so I’ve no problem with putting these two young players in the team."
The pair are both likely to feature against Beauly, who began their season with a 3-1 win at home to Glasgow Mid Argyll on Saturday.
Kelly is anticipating a tough test, and reckons the match Beauly have already had could put them at an advantage.
He said: "That’s another match that they’ve had, and as much as you train you can’t replicate the intensity of a match.
"They got a good win under their belt as well, but our boys are raring to go and it should be a really good match."
The Kilmallie boss was coy about his club’s aspirations for the season, but reckons the new National Division One will be just as strong as the top flight.
He said: "We hope to do as well as we can in the league and have good cup runs, but this league will be just as hard as the Premier League.
"It’s going to be a hard season in a competitive league but that’s the way it should be and we can’t wait to get going."
Kilmallie’s second team were due to host Caberfeidh in the North Division Three clash but they also missed out because of unplayable conditions.
The will travel to the Strathpeffer side this Saturday in the league.
In the Orion Group Premiership, Lochaber’s match at Newtonmore was postponed due to a bereavement, as was the second team’s ome tie against Aberdeen University in North Division Two.
The first team host Glenurquhart this weekend, while the seconds travel to Fort William.
Fort’s second team went down 5-4 at Boleskine, while the first team’s National Division clash at home to Glenorchy was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.
Fort visit Glasgow Mid Argyll this Saturday.
