Bowmaker is cheering on Preston

Craigroyston manager George Bowmaker has a message for Stevie Myatt the boss of Preston Athletic – and it is “C’mon Preston!”

Bowmaker, whose team are fifth in the Central Taxis First Division, reckons that the only way Craigroyston can gain promotion is for Preston, who lead the table, to win all of their games. “Maybe then we could sneak into second place,” says Bowmaker, who once managed Preston.

Tomorrow, Craigroyston travel to meet Peebles Rovers and Bowmaker said: “This is definitely our biggest game of the season. If we do not win this one then it is ‘bye-bye’ to promotion.”

Craigroyston have played only two games since December 3 and both have been losses, Duns (0-5) and Coldstream (0-1). “We had two players sent off including our goalkeeper against Duns while against Coldstream we were shocking,” admitted Bowmaker. “Only three of our players got pass marks and although we had chances we missed them and Coldstream only had one and scored. It was our worst performance of the season yet we had been buzzing in training all week.

“It will be difficult against Peebles as their manager Stuart Robertson is a wily old fox and we will be taking nothing for granted. We will certainly be rolling up our sleeves and putting our best foot forward.”

Bowmaker is still without the suspended trio of Martin Laidlaw, Darren Lockhart and Andy Milligan although striker Greg Irvine returns to the squad.

Peebles boss Robertson has Gary Knox suspended although Greg Shortreed and Dale Uray return.