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Daily Record
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Threave Rovers secure West of Scotland League promotion in style with five wins in a row
Threave Rovers secured their slot in next season's West of Scotland League Second Division in style. The Castle Douglas side had to win all of their final five games – played inside a fortnight – to finish in the top three and win promotion in style. And they did just that, scoring 20 goals and conceding just two in the process to edge out Greenock Juniors. Gaffer Danny Dunglinson said: 'To do it the way we did was even better and did it with a bit of style. It wasn't like we scraped wins. We couldn't ask for much more. 'It takes it's toll on the boys physically but knowing what we had to do and having the games so close helped us. 'When we played Glasgow United, we said if Irvine Vics had been the next night I'd have been confident. 'After we played them, we couldn't wait for the next game. It snowballed and when it's like that you forget about the fatigue and tiredness and the adrenaline gets you through.' Threave joined the West of Scotland League in 2022, winning promotion a year later. Last year, their game with Lanark United was abandoned late on with Threave winning. The replayed match finished in a draw, costing Threave another promotion. This time around a game with Glasgow United was abandoned with the scores level. That was one of Threave's final five games, with Dunglinson's men triumphing 5-0. Dunglinson - who stepped up from player to manage the team this season – said: 'I'm a big believer in fate. We lost out last year due to the game getting abandoned. This year it got abandoned and we turned a potential one point into three. 'What worked against us last year has worked for us this year. There's an old saying in football everything evens itself out and that proves it. 'Greenock will be bitterly disappointed, as we were last season. 'Stuff like that makes you stronger and I'm sure they'll bounce back. We did what we had to do, the boys and committee were happy so it's all good. 'It was the aim when we came in, nothing else was going to be acceptable. 'We've done it the hard way, we had to win the last five, but there was never any point I didn't have the belief. 'I know there were some question marks outwith due to the volume of games we had. 'The turning point was the Greenock game we drew 2-2. There was handbags after the game where they were a wee bit arrogant and saying it was a great point. 'I think they thought they'd wrapped it up and made them complacent and they went on a bad run. 'It definitely helped our boys and made them more determined.' Threave secured their top three slot on Saturday with a thumping 6-0 win over Vale of Leven. Aiden Kerr got them off and running with a goal inside the first minute. And goals from Liam Park and Ross Irving had them 3-0 up after just 10 minutes, although Threave were then reduced to 10 men. But Cairnie scored twice more before the break, completing his hat-trick in spectacular style, to ensure the team could relax in the second half, with a Tam Coles goal the icing on the promotion cake. One player who missed Saturday's game was Charlie Watson. The midfielder has been battling skin cancer this season and was recently told he had just weeks to live. He had to miss the title triumph as he was getting a blood transfusion but he was still part of the celebrations. Dunglinson said: 'His step dad Richard was there and after the game we put him on FaceTime and on the big screen. He was able to feel part of it because everything we've done this season is for him. 'We were as determined for him as much as everything. 'I've spoken to him since and he was happy. He managed to come to the awards night on Saturday – he finished his transfusion at half nine at night, they took the canula out and said he wanted to go to Threave!' Watson is one of a number of players who have signed new deals at Threave, along with Dylan Cairnie, Harry Officer, Liam Nish, Liam Douglas, Ross Thomson, Liam Park, Aiden Kerr, Jamie Thompson and Alex Henderson. The Castle Douglas side are gearing up for life in the second division – and Dunglinson isn't ruling out a third promotion in the four years since they swapped the South of Scotland League for the West. He said: 'I don't think there's as much pressure but as a camp we want to be pushing at the top end of the table and putting together another promotion challenge. 'Restructuring might be happening so the top six or eight could go up. If it's top eight that's half the league so that would be the minimum requirement. 'From our point of view, even if it is the top three we want to be pushing and be there or thereabouts.'
Daily Record
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
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.'
Daily Record
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Threave Rovers gaffer describes second half collapse at Glasgow Uni as 'absolutely horrendous'
Threave Rovers gaffer Danny Dunglinson described his side's second half collapse against Glasgow Uni as 'absolutely horrendous'. The Castle Douglas side were 2-0 up and seemingly heading for a vital three points in the West of Scotland League third division promotion race. But the game swung when the students were awarded a penalty, which they scored before concerting their momentum into a 5-2 win. Dunglinson said: 'When we went 2-0 up, I thought we'd see it through as they weren't creating a lot. 'We conceded five goals in 25 minutes, which at any level is absolutely criminal. You can't expect to take anything from games of football conceding that many goals. 'In the last six games we've conceded 20 goals. From our point of view is absolutely horrendous. 'It's not just the defence or the goalkeeper, it's as a unit. 'We spoke at half-time about being more solid in a 4-4-2 but we didn't look solid, so we thought we had to change again. I probably got that wrong, I should maybe have persisted to see what happened. 'I'll take the blame, maybe if I'd stuck with the 4-42 it would have been different. A Liam Douglas goal gave Threave the lead at the break and when Aiden Kerr scored early in the second half they looked to be on their way to three points. However, a penalty gave Glasgow University hope and they produced an incredible fightback. Gregor Fordyce and Robbie Smith both scored twice and there was also a goal for Jacob Glass Dunglinson said: 'There was nothing in the game in the first half, they're a decent side. 'We got a goal out of nothing and it was the same at the start of the second half. Click here for more news and sport from Dumfries and Galloway. 'I never felt we were on top, they were always on top and dominated a lot of possession. 'The first goal is unfortunate. The boy has hit the post, our defender has gone to clear it, it's hit their player, bounced up and hit Jamie Thomson on the line. 'To me he's two or three yards from the ball and his hands are at his side but the referee have given a penalty. 'That's given them a route back into the game but even when that happens our mentality has got to be better. Threave were due to face Glasgow Uni again – this time at home – on Wednesday night. Dunglinson is hoping to have more players available as his side bids to bounce back. He said: "With seven games left we know 16 points guarantees we can go up if Greenock win all their games. 'It was the target on Saturday and while there's still 16 points to play for we have to believe we can do that. "We had three key players missing on Saturday and they'll be back this week. "Attitude wise and commitment wise we'll be a different team."
Daily Record
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Threave Rovers hold their nerve to stay in West of Scotland League promotion race
The Castle Douglas side held off a comeback from Lugar Boswell Thistle to close to within four points of the promotion places. Threave Rovers held their nerve on Saturday to ensure they stayed in the thick of the promotion race. The Castle Douglas side were 3-0 up against Lugar Boswell Thistle and appeared to be cruising to victory – only for their rivals to score two quick goals. But with nerves jangling, Liam Douglas scored a crucial fourth to keep Threave fourth in the West of Scotland League third division. They are now four points behind Greenock Juniors, who hold the final promotion place but have played four games more. Threave boss Danny Dunglinson said: 'When we got the third goal, we thought we were comfortable but we gave away a penalty. 'Ross Thomson had a rush of blood for a split second. Our goalie has the ball in his hands but he's had a kick out at the boy. He said the boy has giving him a niggle and he's reacted, which he knows he can't do. 'We were 3-0 up and comfortable and probably felt we were going to win four or five nil. They've got a penalty, it gives them a lift and then a couple of minutes later they get another goal. 'Luckily we got the fourth and it killed the game. The reaction was pleasing because I think a couple of weeks ago we might have crumbled and let them take a point.' A tremendous Dylan Cairnie free-kick gave Threave an early lead which was soon extended by Harry Officer. Dylan Cairnie scored a fine free-kick to give Threave an early lead, Harry Officer soon extending the advantage. And when Cairnie got his second and Threave's third just after the break that appeared to be game over. However, Lugar were then awarded a penalty and although Louis McLachlan saved the initial effort, Jackson Stevenson forced home the rebound. A free-kick from Stevenson then gave the visitors real hope of salvaging something from the game. But late on Liam Douglas headed home to settle the nerves and seal the points. Dunglinson said: 'We needed to get the win and the three points. Luckily the teams above us slipped up so it moves us a wee bit closer. 'We're clinging on in there – we've a big run coming up with a lot of games in a short space of time.' Threave now have a series of midweek games coming up, which starts with a double header against Glasgow Uni. They head to the central belt on Saturday before welcoming the students to Meadow Park on Wednesday. The gaffer added: 'It's always hard when you play a team twice consecutively or close together. "I always think if you win the first game it makes the second game harder because it's fresh in their memory, they know how you play. 'We've four boys missing on Saturday so if we can manage to get a result come the Wednesday we'll have four key players back so that could work in our favour, but we're focusing on getting a result first. 'We're going to need everybody over the next few weeks. We're not naive, we know boys can't play 90 minutes every Wednesday and Saturday. 'We'll need to manage boys' minutes, nobody will play 90 minutes in every game from now on. 'If we manage to get ahead in a game we'll get boys off or we'll just need to rotate. 'That's what we've got the squad for, they're all good enough, it'll just be picking the best team for each game.'
