3 points separate the Warriors from the top of the table as they remain in 5th place after last week’s home win against Edinburgh Caledonia.
This week’s opponent, Gleniffer Thistle, find themselves sitting in 11th place after a tough start to the season. They have yet to manage a point on the board despite narrow defeats to Airdrie and Dundee West. They’ve managed 3 goals in their last 4 games, so they can pose a threat if the Warriors are not careful.
Last season Stenny met Gleniffer twice, managing a 5-0 home win and a 9-2 away win in the league. It must be said though, that this will be a very different team from the side that won last season as only 6 of the current squad took part in either of those games. Those players being Sarah Dolan, Jude Connolly, Leah Jones, Eirinn Maguire, Lucy Sullivan, and Samantha Montgomery.
In a strange twist though, one of the trialists that scored twice for Stenny in the away win last season is expected to play again as a trialist this weekend.
The team have had an extra week to prepare for this fixture after having last weekend off, so we caught up with the Head Coach Jack Cameron.
“It was probably a good thing for us to be honest (the break) because we had a lot of niggly injuries for a few girls in the group, so it was good to give them that extra couple of days off and have a bit of a more relaxed week. It probably puts us in a bit better shape going into this weekend.”
“Last week we had a lot of girls missing which affected the way we were able to play the game. It gave us a lack of options to be able to change the game, but the girls know it’s not acceptable for us to be 4-1 up and in the position we were, to then have to go on and score in the last minute to win the game. I don’t want to make excuses though. For them to show that desire, that fight and fitness to win the game, I look at it from a more positive perspective.”
“This weekend we will go into this game more focused on ourselves than the other team. We know every team in this league will be a difficult task and they will want to make it difficult for us to play but we always go on that 90/10 rule. We focus on ourselves for 90% of the time and only a little bit about the opposition.”
While Gleniffer have suffered heavy defeats already this season, it’s tough to rule out any team in this league. Results can vary widely and sometimes the absence of a few key players can be enough to change a game.
In terms of squad selection, the Warriors will be without Rachel Ann Vickerman, Erin Wilson and Carolanne Phee as she carries out the rest of her suspension, although Jack is expected to have a full roster of Trialists at his disposal.
The Player to Watch this week is Eirinn Maguire. Eirinn is arguably one of the fastest players in the league and since converting from a full back into a forward this season, has managed to find the back of the net twice in 4 appearances while also contributing 2 assists. Last season she also scored twice as a right back. She is one of only 2 players to have played all 360 minutes of available game time for the Warriors so far this season. A stat she shares with Clare Wilson.
The match kicks off at 2.30pm at Ochilview Park on the 18th of September. Match entry is in exchange for a donation. The game will be livestreamed on Warriors TV.
OPPOSITION INFORMATION
Full name Gleniffer Thistle
Ground Renfrew Leisure Centre, Renfrew
Manager Robert McGlone
Last Season Championship South, 15th
H2H 2W 0D 0L
