ROB ROY assistant boss Paul Ronald says his breath was literally taken away last Saturday watching the performance of engine room general Gary McMenamin.

The 32-year-old playmaker’s virtuoso display…he was central to all the Kirkintilloch outfit's attacking ventures…also saw him come in for a lot of attention in the midfield exchanges and caused Ronald to fear an angry reaction.

He lauded: “Gary was felled on so many occasions during the game that I initially feared he had been targeted by the Pollok players in order to provoke him and cause the red mist to come down.

“It wasn’t the case but nevertheless he appears at long last to be learning from past mistakes because he never once retaliated to the many knocks and just dusted himself down and got on the job of with pulling the strings for us.

“His was a man of the match performance for lots of reasons and he can take it as a huge compliment when the Pollok fans roundly booed him being substituted with a few minutes left to play.

“If Gary’s going to play to that level week in and week out then he can expect to come in for a lot more of the same treatment.”

The player himself (younger brother of the more feted Colin McMenamin) admits to be brimming over with confidence and enjoying his football as much as he ever did before in a playing career spanning Annan Athletic, Dalbeattie Star and Cumnock prior to him signing for the Rabs at the start of last season.

He admitted: “I’m more at peace with myself nowadays and that’s probably reflected in the way I’ve played of late.

“It puts a smile on my face to be playing in a Rob Roy team with bags of potential and to be part of a dressing room where the spirit and camaraderie is second to none while another crucial factor behind the feelgood factor is my improved fitness.

“As a Cumnock player, my work shifts often prevented me getting to our sessions whereas I’ve hardly missed a night at Rob Roy and I’m a much better player for being able to get around the pitch.”

Gary is determined to do his bit and help the table-topping Rabs rack up a sixth league win on the spin when hosting the visit today of a Shettleston side that inflicted the Kirkintilloch outfit’s only Super Premier Division defeat in running out 2-0 Greenfield Park winners back in early September.

He said: “That game and our Scottish Junior Cup exit at the hands of Wishaw are the sorry chapters in what has been a terrific season up to now.

“ There can be no excuses as we deserved to lose on each occasion with a touch of complacency probably costing us against Wishaw while the Shettleston result can be attributed to them being well organised defensively and keeping us out.

“I was on the substitutes bench back then and I just hope to be more centrally involved this time around.

“Being promoted as the third best team had everyone and their granny predicting we would go straight back down but that’s not looking the case even though the management team of Maxi, Ronaldo and my good mate Gordon Moffat never stop preaching the message that we are still short of the 25 points needed to avoid relegation.

“A win against Shettleston moves us ever closer to the points and that has to be our only aim for now.”

McMenamin’s former club Cumnock are at their temporary Rosebank Park home for going up against leading lights Largs Thistle in the Super First Division game of the day.

The visiting Theesel hold a seven-point lead over fourth-placed Nock going into the clash, however Nock gaffer John McKeown refuses to accept that defeat would spell the end of his side’s title dreams.

He insisted: “Neither of the teams are into double figures in terms of games being played so it’s far too early in the season to be talking about uncatchable teams.

“What’s indisputable is Largs Thistle have made an impressive unbeaten start that has everyone else…ourselves included…playing catch-up but my players have hit a decent patch of form and are certainly up for the chase.

“It’s a hugely important game for both clubs and everyone at Cumnock is looking forward to pitting ourselves against the league leaders albeit we have a couple of injury concerns surrounding key players.

“Right now I’d say we have at least one non-starter but we have a squad of 18 players so there’s plenty to choose from.

Out to take advantage of any Cumnock slip-up are promotion challengers Kilsyth Rangers and Kilwinning Rangers, both strongly fancied to pick up the spoils in respective head to heads with basement pair Shotts Bon Accord and Maybole.

Meanwhile, on the lookout for a new club is experienced ex-Pollok goalkeeper Zander Cowie, granted a free transfer earlier this week from Arthurlie for whom he has featured in only six games all season.