No rest for Strathspey Thistle boss Ryan Esson as season reaches its climax
After a long run of midweek matches, many might have thought Jags boss Ryan Esson would have enjoyed a rare recent Wednesday night in last night.
But instead the former Caley Thistle stopper was taking in a scouting trip with fingers-crossed that one of the their next opponents would get a vital win.
Esson was at Keith last night to see the hosts secure a slender 1-0 win over bottom of the Highland League Rothes.
The Jags play Keith next Wednesday but just as important was the result with Rothes three points behind his Grantown side who also have a better goal difference.
“I’ll be cheering Keith on,” Esson has admitted prior to the match.
The Jags’ 1-0 win over their fellow strugglers could provide pivotal with Rothes facing a tough final two games of the season.
They are at home to midtable Deveronvale before facing top of the table Brora away on the last day of the campaign with the Cattachs locked in a promotion battle with Brechin on the same points.
The Jags also have a far superior goal difference to Rothes.
Whilst Esson was still working, his players have been given an easier week.
He said: “We did not train on Tuesday but will on Thursday (tonight). It will not be a heavy session and we have to take the warmer weather into account.
“We have three games to play and three that we want to win.”
He believes his players were running on empty by the time the Fraserburgh game arrived on Saturday after a gruelling schedule.
They were beaten 3-1 shpping three goals in the first half-hour but rallied to win the second half with Caelan Mutch getting on the scoresheet again.
Esson said: “You could see that the games were starting to take their toll on the boys. It has been tough.
“Because there are working that hard defensively they just seemed to switch off a couple of times as they were so tired on Saturday…
“Unfortunately we started really poorly - that is as poor as we have been for a long time.
“We looked leggy and as if we had no energy.
The Jags have got Wick Academy at home on Saturday before facing Keith away midweek and end the season against Turriff at Seafield Park.
Esson said: “Wick have been in really good form with four wins in the last five but we will have had a good rest.
“If we can get the sort of performance we know we are capable of then we can get a positive result.”