ROSS HEPBURN finds it hard to believe that six months have passed since he was in a class of his own, standing tall as proud skipper of the Rossvale Juniors team that ran away with the Central Second Division title.

Icing for his cake duly arrived in the shape of the Player of the Year award being bestowed upon the 26-year-old midfielder and he was openly mooted as the fulcrum of an up-and-coming side that most observers felt were destined for greater things.

But the somewhat rollercoaster Junior career Ross has experienced ever since his release by Celtic as a teenager had one more roll to take and last close season he surprised gaffer Martin Lauchlan and team-mates alike by opting to depart the Bishopbriggs club in order to join Kilsyth Rangers in the Super First Division.

“On paper, a move to a higher league club seemed a good shout to make but it turned out to be a disaster in a playing sense and it’s nobody’s fault but mine,” admitted the former Rob Roy, Pollok and Shettleston signing who is aiming to rediscover his best form after obtaining a hush-hush transfer back to Rossvale last Saturday morning in time to make a scoring debut in a 3-1 victory over Dunipace.

“Duncansfield assistant boss Kevin McBride, a team-mate at Pollok was a persuasive factor in my move and I didn’t want to let him or Keith Hogg down, but it’s no lie to say I felt regrets almost from my first game.

“My feeling so badly out of sorts saw to it that I didn’t play anywhere near my capabilities and I was firstly moved to wider positions away from my favoured central midfield role before being rightly dropped to the substitutes bench.

“I did try to make the best of my situation but Rossvale’s results became the first thing I looked for on matchdays and to rub salt in the wounds they proceeded to run out 2-1 winners when our clubs met in a Euroscot Eng Sectional League Cup contest.

“Seeing all my closest mates celebrating was the final straw and from that moment my mind was made up on going back if the opportunity arose.

“Kilsyth were playing well without me and I dropped further out of the picture so I asked Hoggy and Kevin to release me and they initially refused saying I should allow more time to bed myself in but eventually they agreed to let me go.

“Locky had approached Kilsyth on several occasions and was fully aware of my situation so he was waiting with transfer forms on Saturday morning to get me fixed up and the formalities went through without any hitches.”

Heppy’s first game back culminated in him bagging a rare goal and he is desperate to find the momentum he had in remarkably playing every minute of every game as Rossvale’s skipper last season.

He said: “It was a fantastic feeling to be back and I felt at home straightaway helped by the gentle ribbing from team-mates who had a dressing room peg set aside for me with a “Legend “ label.

“My only regret is the fact I’m cup-tied in the two major competitions, but the manager has said I’m on board to try and strengthen our promotion challenge which judging by our display on Saturday is very real even though a lot of football has yet to be played before anything will be decided .

“Locky is forever preaching the message to take one game at a time but I can understand expectations being high given there’s a far more solid foundation to the team I’ve joined than the one I left.

“Our attacking strengths were always decent, however defending was something of an Achilles heel but not now with Craig McGregor and Reece Donaldson forming a solid centre-back pairing with good full-backs either side of them in Steven Docherty and Chris McQuade as well as Rab O’Donnell able to play anywhere across the back.

“A massive game is looming this week with a trip to face third in the table Lesmahagow whom bookmakers regard as one of the promotion favourites but we’re hopeful of continuing our good run.”

Not figuring in the Gow line-up for the Craighead Park showdown is experienced centre-back Ryan Kennedy who has moved to Gartcain in the Central Second Division, while hoping to also find pastures new are Ardrossan Winton Rovers trio John Johnston, Connor Browning and Lee McRae.

SATURDAY'S FIXTURES

(Kick-offs 1.45pm)

ETHX Energy Scottish Junior Cup third round: Stonehaven v St Anthony's, Hill O’Beath v Ardrossan Winton Rovers. Third round replays: Arniston Rangers v Neilston, Beith v Girvan.

New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup second round: Johnstone Burgh v Irvine Meadow, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Glenafton, Clydebank v Whitletts Vics, Craigmark v Arthurlie. First round: Annbank Utd v Vale of Clyde.

McBookie.com Super Premier Division: Auchinleck Talbot v Pollok, Shettleston v Hurlford Utd, Petershill v Troon.

McBookie.com Super First Division: Bellshill Athletic v Cumnock, Rutherglen Glencairn v Shotts Bon Accord, Kilsyth Rangers v Greenock, Kilwinning Rangers v Largs Thistle,Winton Rovers v Maybole, Cumbernauld Utd v Yoker Athletic.

McBookie.com Central First Division: Lesmahagow v Rossvale, Wishaw v Renfrew, Larkhall Thistle v Dunipace, Thorniewood Utd v Maryhill.

McBookie.com Central Second Division: Vale of Leven v Lanark Utd, Glasgow Perthshire v East Kilbride Thistle, Benburb v Ashfield, Cambuslang Rangers v Port Glasgow, Newmains Utd v Gartcairn, Forth v Royal Albert.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League: Dalry Thistle v Muirkirk, Lugar Boswell v Saltcoats Vics, Irvine Vics v Darvel, Ardeer Thistle v Kello Rovers.