PRESTON ATHLETIC currently head the Tyreman East Seniors Premier Division on goal difference although tomorrow they face their toughest test so far this term when champions Whitehill Welfare are the visitors to the Pennypit.
Preston manager Stevie Myatt was busy during the summer and attracted two valuable additions to his squad. He signed graduate Mark Cathcart from Edinburgh University to help bolster his defence and up front he captured former Whitehill, Spartans and
Newtongrange Star striker Craig Manson after many years of trying to obtain his signature.
"The competition for places at present is quite superb," enthused Myatt, pictured below.
"I will probably have 18 players available for selection tomorrow and that has happened to me very rarely in my seven years at Preston.
"There has been a great reaction from the players at training which makes the sessions very interesting. Everything has been going very well in our opening three games except for the last two minutes against Civil Service Strollers when we lost two goals to exit the Image Printers Cup.
"We then defeated a Heriot-Watt University side who impressed me and then Lothian Thistle who are young and inexperienced but full of enthusiasm.
"Generally we played some good stuff and, in the game against Lothian, I was missing Bob Baillie, Craig Manson and Richie McCaul, who are all experienced players.
"I am still not convinced of my best starting XI although no doubt things will settle down in the next five or six weeks.
"Our opponents Whitehill have yet to play a competitive game and I am not sure if that is an advantage or not.
"Whitehill have a new manager in Gary Aitchison and maybe he will have a different style of play from the tried-and-tested formation of the past two seasons.
"They lost four established players in the summer although they have brought in some equally experienced replacements, who I rate highly. Kevin Haynes will be a handful in this league and they still have Scott Gormley, Gary Calvey, Darren Pryde and Ross Johnston.
"We beat them last season at Rosewell and this time we have home advantage. We also have a good level of fitness and are scoring goals. Basically, I think it will come down to how we deal with their front players. If we can cope with them and keep them quiet then fine, but if not we could struggle."
Meanwhile, Whitehill have warmed up for their opening game of the season with two friendly games which have kept the players fit. Last Saturday they defeated Civil Service Strollers 5-0 with goals from Kevin Haynes, Gary Calvey, Scott Moffat, James Butler and Jack Lynch.
"It was a good game and the boys played well," said Whitehill manager Gary Aitchison. "It was our first game for a long time and a huge bonus was that our captain Ross Johnston played for 75 minutes after a recent groin operation." However, Whitehill were brought back down to earth on Wednesday night when they were beaten 2-0 by Leith Athletic, who are making their debut in the East of Scotland League this season. "I was very disappointed," said Aitchison. "We did not play at all well although I do not want to take anything away from Leith whose work rate was very good. There was no comparison with our display on the Saturday previously but that is the friendlies out of the way and it is now down to serious business.
"The defeat was maybe the kick up the backside that we needed and the result has given me a few things to think about. It was a physical game and that was what I wanted although we missed at least three glorious chances and I would have expected at least one of them to go in. At least the players know what they have to do and that is pick themselves up.
"I don't really know too much about Preston this season. I have not had the opportunity to watch them although I have made a few inquires from my contacts.
"I know that their front two of Stuart Miller and Craig Manson have to be watched closely so that is why it is so important for us to have Ross Johnston back fit.
"We will show the same professionalism as we show in every game and we are all geared up and prepared for our first competitive game of the season."
That will mean debuts for goalkeeper Youssef Bejaoui from Civil Service Strollers, midfielder Mark Ellis from Arniston Rangers, striker Kevin Haynes from Scottish Junior Cup winners Bathgate Thistle and defender Scott Johnston from Vale of Leithen.
Whitehill have Andrew Kidd suspended, Alan Cornett injured and Liam McKenna unavailable.
The action kicks off at the Pennypit at 2.30pm with admission adults £4 and concessions £2.
• EASTHOUSES LILY have attacking midfielder Darren McGlashan available for transfer. Interested clubs should contact secretary Robert Paul on 07856 944740 or 0131 663 9768.
The full article contains 839 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
