Strathspey still a threat - Polworth

CLACH boss Iain Polworth has warned his players not to take anything for granted ahead of their trip to face struggling Strathspey Thistle this weekend.

The Grantown side have won just once at home this season, way back in August, but Polworth says his players will have to work hard to get something from the game.

He said: “We are looking forward to it as it is a nice place to go.

“We scraped a victory down there last year with a goal in the last minute and hopefully we can go down there again and maybe get something out of the game. But we know it will be down to hard work to get the win.

“They have found it difficult since coming into the league. They have also had a horrendous run of injuries and suspensions, but they’ll be hoping to get some boys back in and that’ll make it much more difficult.”

The Clach boss said Thistle have players like David Ritchie and Jason Hill ready to come back into the team and he added: “They are both good players and they’ll be a big threat when they’re fully fit.”

Clach’s scheduled home game with Rothes last weekend was called off due to a waterlogged pitch at Grant Street Park, which Polworth admitted was frustrating for his side. However, he said it gave Clach a chance to get some of their players back to fitness.

“It has given some boys a chance to get over knocks and they have a better chance of playing this Saturday,” Polworth stated.

“Alan Pollock will miss the game through suspension, but Gordon Morrison now has a chance to make it. He would have been out with a head knock last week and Sam Urquhart was out with a broken nose. Brian Macleod also had a knock, but it’s given them all another week to shake off any ill effects.

“With Gordon and Sam we’re in the hands of the doctors, but if they say they can play, that’ll be great.”

Clach beat Strathspey 5-2 earlier in the season and Polworth said a repeat would be good.

“Any positive result would be very nice,” he stated. “We’re now fourth from bottom, so we’ve got to start accumulating points to try and climb the table.”