13-05-2025
No room for error as Threave Rovers aim to achieve West of Scotland League promotion dream
The Castle Douglas side need to win their final two games of the season to secure a top three slot in the West of Scotland League's third division.
Threave Rovers know there is no margin for error as they aim to achieve their promotion dream.
The Castle Douglas side needed to win their final five games of the season to secure a top three slot in the West of Scotland League's third division.
Monday's win at Glasgow United means they've won their first three. They face Irvine Victoria on Wednesday night, before Vale of Leven come to Meadow Park on Saturday.
Gaffer Danny Dunglinson said: 'I think knowing what we have to do and there's no room for error gets the boys in the right mindset.
'They 100 per cent know what they have to do, there's no ifs and buts any more, they have to win every game, that's maybe helped us in a way.
'Boys are maybe getting nervous anxious but they nothing but a win will do they keep pushing on to try to get a result.
On Wednesday, Threave beat Lugar Boswell Thistle 2-1 thanks to first half goals from Lewis Downie and Alex Henderson.
They followed that up on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Glasgow Perthshire.
Ross Irving scored midway through the first half with Henderson striking again just after the hour mark.
Dunglinson said: 'We were in control of both games.
'The first game finished 2-1 but we didn't look like conceding. The goalie made a mistake and it gave them a route back into the game but they never created a chance all game. It was a goal from nothing.
'Saturday was much the same, I think they had one shot on target all game. We were maybe a bit nervous waiting on that first goal but once we got it there was never any doubt we'd win the game.'
The run continued on Monday with a 5-0 hammering of Glasgow United.
Harry Officer had Threave a goal up at the break before they really took control of things in the second half.
Ross Irving soon extended things and sub Tam Coles bagged a brace either side of a second from Officer.
With the games coming thick and fast, rotation is proving key for Dunglinson.
He said: 'We've done it since we started the midweek games. We try to make three or four changes a game. Me and the rest of the management team are thinking a game or two ahead for personnel.
'We've been rotating for the last few weeks. The boys will think about one game but we're planning ahead at the same time.
It's not ideal having all these games in a short space of time. It's different if it's your full-time job but we're finishing work early to jump on a bus to play a game.
'We don't have a big squad - we rotate three or four but that means seven or eight play all the time it's tough.
If a situation arises during a game we can get boys off but knowing how competitive the West league is it's very rare you're safe in games.'
