DAVIE DICKSON reckons it will be a big ask for Cumbernauld United to hit the same heights as last season … but not an impossible one.

The veteran midfielder was a cornerstone in the Guy's Meadow side that lifted a trophy for the first time in more than 30 years with a memorable Euroscot Eng Sectional League Cup final victory over Blantyre Vics.

United came back from 3-1 down in the Gasworks Park showdown to square matters at 3-3 in the dying minutes before winning 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out.

Just nine months later, however, and Dixie is one of the few survivors from that squad ready to begin the defence of their trophy on Saturday at home to Dunipace.

Gary Carroll, Danny Boyle, James Brown and Gavin Mackie have stepped up to Super Premier clubs, while experienced pair Tony Fraser and Scott Murphy also headed for the exit door.

And 37-year-old Dixie admitted: "It was always going to be difficult to try and retain the trophy, but the summer turnaround in players makes it a much tougher challenge in having to go with practically a new team.

“Having said all that, no-one in the Junior game gave us the slightest chance of going all the way last time out, so who’s to say we can’t surprise a few people again.

“As a team, we are in a much stronger place than we were a month or so ago, and we now have the former Blantyre Vics and Petershill striker Stephen McDonald as our latest addition, so things are definitely on the up.

"We are getting stronger and better equipped with every passing week, and people shouldn’t be so quick to write us off at this stage of the season.”

Despite the exodus, Dixie revealed he was never tempted to move on to pastures new. He said: "Nobody asked, if truth be told. But at my age I’ve had my fill of moving around clubs and I’ve been very content playing here under John Queen and John Campbell.

“And I’m happier given that a couple of my former Shettleston team-mates, John Crooks and John Jack, are on board as part of the new backroom team, although they don’t act like old pals when barking at me on the training ground.

“It’s strange to be up alongside different players, but I’ve certainly enjoyed teaming up in midfield with Dylan McGuigan, who has skill and an upper body strength that makes him difficult to shake off the ball and I believe he has all the makings of a top player.”

Family commitments are set to sideline Dixie for Saturday’s first competitive outing, and they also contributed to him being posted missing on Tuesday when goals from newcomer McDonald and Stephen Mullen (3), helped Cumbernauld run out 4-1 winners in their final warm-up match against Clyde Under-20s.

And that result pleased boss Queen, who said: "It was pleasing to see us being very positive when scoring opportunities came our way as that was not always the case last season.”

The weekend’s other Section Eight opener sees Rossvale welcoming a Rob Roy side who are set to include ex-Cumbernauld duo Boyle and Mackie, albeit the former does not consider himself a certain starter.

The towering centre-back said: "Since finishing my University course, I’ve enjoyed a couple of holiday breaks that have caused me to miss a number of training sessions and my only pre-season outing came in a friendly at Glenafton.

“The time spent away has left me working hard to try and catch up with the guys in terms of fitness and sharpness, but I’m getting there and hopefully I can feature against Rossvale because I’d like some game time under my belt before our next test, which is against Cumbernauld next Monday at Guy's Meadow.

“I have a lot of time for Queeny and still have a lot of good friends at United, so it will feel strange lining up against them, but for 90 minutes nothing will get in the way of me doing my best to help Rob Roy come out on top.”

Meanwhile, hard to imagine Pollok will not be looking to sign ex-Queen’s Park midfielder Paul Harkins after he bagged a hat-trick to go along with John Sweeney and Paul Gallagher counters in last night’s 5-1 win over Shotts Bon Accord.

Harkins, younger brother of Dundee ace Gary, also netted the winning goal in last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Newtongrange Star and Lok gaffer Tony McInally will be determined to land someone with his eye for goal.

In other games, Tam Docherty (o.g.), Kenny Munro (pen) and Craig Brown were the marksmen as Greenock overcame a youthful Clyde side 4-1, and Ryan Deas (2) and Chris Hall were on target in Irvine Meadow’s 3-1 defeat of Neilston for whom Derek Kennedy netted a consolation score.

Meanwhile, hard to imagine Pollok will not be looking to sign ex-Queen’s Park midfielder Paul Harkins after he bagged a hat-trick to go along with John Sweeney and Paul Gallagher counters in last night’s 5-1 win over Shotts Bon Accord.

Harkins, younger brother of Dundee ace Gary, also netted the winning goal in last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Newtongrange Star and Lok gaffer Tony McInally will be determined to land someone with his eye for goal.

In other games, Tam Docherty (o.g.), Kenny Munro (pen) and Craig Brown were the marksmen as Greenock overcame a youthful Clyde side 4-1, and Ryan Deas (2) and Chris Hall were on target in Irvine Meadow’s 3-1 defeat of Neilston for whom Derek Kennedy netted a consolation score.

LAST NIGHT’S RESULTS

Friendlies: Pollok 5 Shotts Bon Accord 1, Neilston 2 Irvine Meadow 4, Greenock 4 Clyde Under-20s 1.