IT’S not altogether surprising to hear Danny Boyle is loving life at Rob Roy following the Kirkintilloch club’s sensational start to the new season.

A burning desire to prove he could hack it at the very top level of Junior football saw the towering stopper move from Cumbernauld United to the newly promoted Rabs during the close season.

And the 25-year-old has more than earned his top-flight spurs ever since with a string of inspirational performances playing an integral part in the Rabs assuming pole position atop the Super Premier Division pile.

Stewart Maxwell’s men assumed the leader’s mantle following last weekend’s dramatic 2-1 defeat of hitherto frontrunners Hurlford United which saw Danny fire home the winning goal with minutes left on the clock.

He said: “It was a fantastic team effort that got us over the line for what is quite a notable victory considering the Hurlford players were saying afterwards it was their first league defeat at home for over a year.

“And that’s us now beaten last season’s champions Auchinleck as well as runners-up Hurlford in their own backyards and I seriously doubt if many teams will be able to say that come the end of the season.

“But getting the better of some big names means absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things.

"And Maxi is keeping us well and truly grounded by insisting we are not yet halfway down the road towards our target of 26 points, which he insists will ensure our safety from relegation.”

Boyle was pleased with how he coped with going up against Hurlford’s highly-rated frontman Ross Robertson, even though the in-form hitman netted the Ayrshire side’s goal to earn a 1-0 lead.

He said: "I lost him at a cross ball allowing him to get in at the back post to head home a good goal.

"But otherwise I found him to be a very robust type and the reality is I’m the kind of defender who relishes a physical battle far more than trying to deal with a striker that is always running in behind.

“I’m absolutely loving the challenge posed by being a Super Premier club and having to face some of the best forwards in Junior football but this not a one man show by any means because Paul Finnigan ,Danny McKenzie, Jonathan Carter and Davie Barr have been every bit as responsible for our good defensive showings.

“And a lot of credit also belongs to Maxi, Paul Ronald and Gordon Moffat, whose training ground ideas for organisational drills have worked so well for us.

“Everyone is mindful of the fact we have done nothing other than make a good start but to win four of our first five games is something we never expected in our wildest dreams.

“This time last season I was playing for Cumbernauld United when winning the Euroscot Eng Cup and I thought nothing could beat that glory feeling, however to be sitting top of the Super Premier is as good as it gets.”

Danny concluded by insisting the best strike force seen all season is Rob Roy’s quartet of forward going players – Gavin Mackie, Kevin Watt, Willie Sawyers and Chris Duff.

He added: “Gavin was with me at Cumbernauld but has come on in leaps and bounds playing at the top level while Duff is a quite incredible talent on his day and I’m so happy to be on the same side as him.

“Kevin Watt looks every inch a Senior striker and is sure to be attracting interest and I also believe Willie is much more of a team player this season and is far more effective for it.”

The high-flying Rabs are firm favourites to continue their winning ways when hosting the visit of Scottish Junior Cup opponents Wishaw on Saturday, particularly as gaffer Maxwell is reporting a near clean bill of health with only goalkeeper Jordan Brown, who was carried off against Hurlford, causing any concern.