GREENOCK JUNIORS boss Thomas Molloy insists his side will show no fear when they travel to take on unbeaten league leaders Benburb on Saturday.

Nock thumped Lesmahagow 4-1 at Ravenscraig last weekend to take second spot in the Central First Division and set up a top of the table clash with Paul Lovering’s men.

The New Tinto Park outfit have won all four fixtures so far in the league and head into the clash as favourites, but Molloy has dismissed any suggestion that it’s a bad time for his charges to come up against the Govan high-fliers.

He said: “People have said that’s it not a good time to play them because they’re in great form but we’re unbeaten in our last three as well. It’s a good time for us to go up against them.

“You could be going into a game against a team who are unbeaten and top of the league while you’re on bad run, and then you’re approaching it with a bit of fear.

“A lot of people might say we’ve got nothing to lose but it’s still three points at the end of the day – we’re confident.”

Molloy’s side have made a solid start to the league campaign, with Saturday’s comfortable triumph over Lesmahagow preceded by a dramatic last-gasp victory away at East Kilbride Thistle.

After taking the reins in June 2017, the Tail O’ the Bank gaffer recruited 14 new players during a summer of upheaval at Nock, quickly making his mark on a side that finished 9th last term.

However, despite their lofty league position, the 33-year-old cautioned against getting carried away by the positive start to the season, instead maintaining that he was happy to focus on putting some distance between Greenock and those at the foot of the table.

“I’ll be honest, the objective from the committee at the start of the season was to make sure we stayed in the league,” Molloy admitted. “So at the moment we’re just trying to get a gap between ourselves and the teams at the bottom of the league.

“But again, going into Saturday, if we beat Benburb we’ll only be two points behind them at the top but we’re not really looking at that – we’re just trying to open up a gap from the bottom.”

Molloy has enjoyed a fast rise into the manic world of Junior football management, having been in charge at amateur outfit Gourock Athletic last season.

The former Largs Thistle player took the club from the brink of extinction to an unlikely league title as they won the Fosters Central AFL, prompting an approach from Greenock to replace former boss Stevie Mooney.

And Molloy insists he’s relishing the step up as he gets to work alongside assistants Ryan Harkness and ex-Kilmarnock and Morton defender Shaun Dillon.

He added: “I knew it would be a big jump from amateur level in terms of professionalism, but I’m getting on fine.

“I’ve two great assistants in Shaun and and they’re a massive help. They’re two very different people when it comes to football but they’ve been brilliant.

“It’s taken a bit of time over pre-season but everyone’s starting to click. They’re a good group of boys but they know there’s still a lot of work to be done.”