Yahoo News Hurlford United boss insists team will improve after friendly defeat as he targets league safety
Hurlford United boss Darren Henderson confessed his main aim is securing their West of Scotland top flight status this term.
But he refused to be too downbeat and insisted things will certainly improve after they kicked their pre-season schedule off with a 5-1 loss away to Linlithgow Rose.
The contest was relatively even for the opening half hour before the Lowland League hosts opened the scoring as Jacob Shyngle poked home from close range.
They doubled their tally just before the break when Paul Simpson’s terrific delivery was volleyed in off the crossbar by trialist striker Sean Brown.
The Ford went close on a couple of occasions in the early stages of the second half through Liam Miller and Taylor Allan before a five-minute blitz saw the Rose net three times and put the game beyond doubt.
Calum Rae got on the end of a Dylan Paterson cross before racing through to slot beyond stand-in keeper Ally Brown with a Laurie Devine penalty being sandwiched in between.
United did answer back with a fine goal themselves on 76 minutes when a quickly taken throw-in led to Lewis Morrison delicately dinking over Cammy Binnie to complete the
scoring.
Speaking to the Standard after the game, Henderson said: “We probably weren’t ready for the game if we’re being honest because we were low on numbers and some of the boys have only had one session.
“We were playing a really good side with a big squad whereas we’ve got 14 at the moment and we’re asking our goalie coach to play.
“I thought for 35 minutes there wasn’t much between the sides but they were more clinical and once they scored it became a difficult day.
“We had a couple of call-offs and then you’re asking your coach to play at the last minute when he’s not played for years - although he did great and helped us out.”
He added: “It’s a pre-season game and there’s no points or prizes on offer so we’ll not read too much into it. We’ll learn and grow and keep moving forward.
“I wasn’t expecting wonders and some of it I was actually pretty pleased with and we went and scored a really good goal. We were well beaten by a better side and one that was probably better prepared for the game.”
Henderson enters his 12th season in the Blair Park hotseat - all of which have been spent in either the West of Scotland Premier Division or the top flight of the old Juniors set-up. And he admits the aim is to keep that streak going this season.
He said: “It’s been a struggle because we’ve lost a few players but that’s football. They’ve all left on good terms but at the moment it’s been difficult to replace them.
“It’s going to be a challenge with the teams coming up and we’re under no illusions that we need to add to the squad - and we will. My first ambition is simply to get enough points to keep us in the league but I think most managers will say the same. Get that target and then build and see where you can go.
“I’ve been here 12 years and we’ve always kept our place in the top league and at the moment, that’s our ambitions.”
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