Latest Lilies signing adds height to attack
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IAIN Polworth hopes the addition of Mark Kennedy can give his Clach side a more physical edge up front.
Kennedy sealed his return to Grant Street Park prior to last weekend’s 2-1 Highland League defeat at home to Keith, although he did not feature against the Maroons.
Polworth fielded a diminutive frontline – Ian Penwright and Blair Lawrie – against Keith and he wants Kennedy’s signing to beef up their strikeforce.
Along with Kennedy, David McGurk and Ross MacKillop also signed one-year deals with Clach, to conclude Polworth’s summer dealings.
The manager said: "We see Mark as giving us something in offensive areas. Blair and Ian played last Saturday and I don’t think either of them is over five-foot-seven, so Mark gives us a physical presence we needed.
"Ross has been out of football for 18 months so he’s still a bit behind everyone else. He’s a centre-half that will come in and win the ball and hopefully play a bit as well. He’s got a good pedigree having come through the ranks at Ross County – if you’ve been at a senior club you’ve got to have a bit about you."
The trio takes Polworth’s summer recruitment up to seven, following the signings of MacKillop’s fellow ex-Staggie James Beeston, former Nairn man Duncan Jones, defender Paul Smith and Struan Scott-Woodhouse.
The latter managed the full 90 minutes against Keith, marking his second full game back after two years out with a serious knee injury.
This Saturday, things won’t get any easy for the Merkinchers as they head to Formartine United, who suffered a surprise 3-0 reverse at home to Wick Academy last weekend.
Kennedy’s addition will be supplemented by the return of Stuart Leslie and Liam Shewan, who have both missed Clach’s opening league fixtures.
It was Smith that netted for Polworth’s side on Saturday, levelling the scores three minutes after half-time as Donald Fraser put Keith ahead from the spot in the first half. Craig Cormack played party-pooper on Clach’s first home game of the season, firing in the winner with 10 minutes to go.
Polworth added: "The result was a disappointment and the frustration is that we deserved something out of the game. At least a share of the points would have been a fair result."
