Lowland League: Edinburgh University aim to unsaddle Colts

Uni welcome Colts to Peffermill sitting sixth in the Ferrari Packaging Lowland League and, although having played more games than those teams around them, the midfielder believes the students now have a target to aim for.

He said: “From what I’ve seen in my first season in the Lowland League a lot of the teams are a very similar standard.

“I think a lot of our performances have merited more than the actual results we’ve been getting. In the first half of the season we played about six or seven games and lost when we should have taken at least a point.

“If we can get the performances together and the results to go with that then I think sixth wouldn’t be too optimistic and a pretty decent position to expect.

“Cumbernauld are a team that’s quite close to us in the league so it’s quite a big game, although all the games this month look pretty tough to be honest. As long as we have the right mindset going into the game then I think we can be confident that we can get a result – especially at home.”

Dorian Ogunro’s side have been clinical in recent weeks, scoring nine in their last two games. McCrory-Irving notched a hat-trick in the 5-0 win at Gretna but insisted he won’t be trying to take the limelight away from the regular front three of Jack Guthrie, Ross Patterson and Joe Aitken.

“I’m not used to scoring that many goals,” he admitted. “I think the last time I got a hat-trick was school football – I doubt I’ll be a marked man!

“A lot of our recent scoring has been down to Jack up front, who’s been banging in the goals. A lot of others have chipped in as well – Ross Patterson on the right and Joe Aitken have been scoring a few.

“I’ve seen from the stats last season there’s been a big improvement. Dorian was saying we had 28 points last season and we’re already on 26 so it’s plain to see that we’re building on.”

McCrory-Irving admits he’s had to adapt to the Lowland League being a new addition to the Uni squad this season after previously playing with Spartans Under 20s.

“The step up physically is what I’ve noticed the most,” he added. “You don’t get time on the ball at all either. You get it and you’ve got two or three touches maximum before someone’s on you so it teaches you to think quicker.

“Dorian’s been telling me to just look over my shoulder so I’ve got a picture in my head of what I’m going to do before I get it. I’ve been working on that and I think it’s starting to show in my performances. I feel I’m getting a wee bit more time on the ball and settling in a bit more.

“It’s been quite tough, but I’ve enjoyed it because the standard of football’s been good and also playing against a lot of teams that I’ve never played against before. They’re all of a very decent standard. Spartans had a good run of form and East Kilbride are really good. There’s a lot of sides with great players, so it’s anyone’s guess who’ll finish in the next few places behind Edinburgh City.”