DUNKY SINCLAIR is urging his Larkhall Thistle side to rediscover their scoring touch if they are to end a poor start to their Central First Division campaign.

The Jags suffered a catastrophic 8-2 whipping from Rossvale in their league opener and the hangover from that embarrassing day at the office sees them still without a win to their name ahead of going up against joint table-toppers Renfrew and Thorniewood United in their next couple of league fixtures.

It’s a daunting prospect but the experienced Larkie boss said: “If a team is going to go through a sticky patch then far better if it happens at the outset of the season rather than later on when a bit of momentum is building.

“There is plenty of time to get their act together to stage a recovery and I’ve every confidence in my players coming good, however they could certainly help me sleep a lot sounder at night if they could just break their duck and post that elusive first league win to get us moving up the table.

“Sharing the spoils in back to back games with Neilston and Vale of Clyde is a sign of progress following on from the Rossvale debacle, but being perfectly honest I feel we could and should have taken full points from both contests but for painfully misfiring in front of goals.

“Renfrew bringing their 100% record to Gasworks Park today represents arguably our toughest hurdle to date but I detect the guys are actually relishing the prospect of taking them on.

“Our aim is to be among the top five placed clubs around Xmas time in the league. One couldn’t help but think the many head knocks sustained in “going in where it hurts” throughout his own playing career were affecting the former midfielder when he defiantly insisted his playing charges didn’t deserve to lose against Rossvale .

He revealed: “It would not have been a travesty had we went in 4-2 up at the halfway point but we scorned a number of clear-cut scoring opportunities and matters only worsened when Hugh Kelly got his marching orders early in the second half

“Rossvale made full use of their man advantage but it did appear that every effort they fired at goal landed in our net whereas we were nothing short of wasteful in front of goal and have continued in a similar vein ever since.

“Other than badly needing a rub of the green, I cannot put my finger on any reason for our shot-shy ways because the four forwards at my disposal – Graham Gracie, Gary McStay, Matty Clark and Bryan Felvus – are a formidable quartet that any Junior club at this level would be happy to have on their books.

“I suppose there would be more cause to worry if we weren’t creating chances but truth is the openings are cropping up in every game and maybe a fluke is needed for things to suddenly click into place.

“Our defence received a rollicking after the Rossvale defeat and this week Tam McLaughlin and I had a 'no-holds-barred' talk with our strikers where we laid it on the line what is expected of them.

“Each of them are strong and determined characters so we are intrigued to see their what their response will be against Renfrew.”

The return to playing action of David Reid and 17-year-old Josh Payne is a welcome boost for Larkhall supporters as their drive and energy along with that of another youthful prospect Ryan Innes has caught the eye in games up to now.

Sinky admitted: “It’s true we have a number of decent youngsters coming through the ranks and their 'legs' allied to the Junior nous of Brian Jack, Mark McKeever, Paul Burns and Neil Schoneville is an ideal mix on paper at least.

“But until results start going our way, I have no choice other than to tweak and change things in search of a winning blend.

“We made fully six changes after Rossvale and this might be the right time to freshen us up again ahead of a defining programme of games.

“After today we host the visit of Haddington in the Scottish Cup and then have trips to meet Thorniewood and West Cup opponents Glenafton which will give us a better indication of where we stand in the grand scheme of things.”

In other First Division games taking place, Maryhill will look to bounce back to winning ways when Lesmahagow make the long haul through to Lochburn Park and there’s a clash of city clubs at McKenna Park where St Anthony's lock horns with Vale of Clyde.

High-flying pair St Roch's and Rossvale will be looking to continue their winning ways against Dunipace and Carluke Rovers respectively and a top-notch encounter is in the offing at Keanie Park where an ever-improving Johnstone Burgh await the visit of the Andy Frame-steered Thorniewood.