PETERSHILL goalkeeper Stevie McNeil says he doesn’t want the season to end after making his first appearances between the posts in over 13 months.

The 29-year-old, on the recovery trail since sustaining a torn cruciate ligament in a game against Irvine Meadow in April last year, made his comeback last midweek in a 4-2 Central League Cup win over East Kilbride Thistle and he followed up his Show Park 90 minutes by retaining his place in a 1-0 friendly defeat of Largs Thistle last Saturday.

McNeil admits he expects to drop to the bench, at best, for this weekend’s vital promotion clash at home to Kilsyth Rangers, but he is refusing to give up on the prospect of cramming in some more game time before the campaign is over.

“Getting the opportunity to pull the gloves back on again in earnest has been a long time coming but it sure makes you feel all the hard slog to get back to full fitness has been worthwhile,” he said.

“The gaffer, Willie Patterson, had telephoned me the night before the East Kilbride game to say our regular keeper Mikey White was unwell and did I feel up to playing against East Kilbride, and I had no qualms about giving it a go after coming through a lot of training sessions over the past few months.

“In the back of my mind I had always set pre-season as my mark for nurturing myself back into the full swing of things on the playing side but I’m really glad to have now crossed the comeback bridge.

“My knee felt strong and I had no problems fielding the ball despite the playing surface not being the best at East Kilbride and I felt even better, purely from a goalkeeping point of view, to then rack up a clean sheet against Largs.”

McNeil, a hugely popular figure with Peasy supporters, is hoping to play a part in the famous old Springburn club’s promotion push.

“Mikey has had an excellent season and I’m happy to play a back-up role if it helps him produce his best form for the team as getting back into the Super Premier is the only thing that matters,” McNeil said.

“We have league games against Irvine Meadow and Yoker Athletic to play after Kilsyth Rangers but the possibility of figuring in the play-off double header cannot be ruled out and we also have a Central League Cup quarter-final so there might be a lot of football still to be played.”

In action last night, Central League Cup holders Pollok overcame Blantyre 4-1 to set up a quarter-final date with arch rivals Arthurlie.

Reaching the halfway stage on level terms after a Sam McKenzie score cancelled out Michael Daly’s opener for the Lok was as good as it got for the Vics who found themselves 3-1 down with only five minutes of the second half played after Alan McKenzie and Gary McStay struck. David Winters rounded off the scoring.

Andy Neil’s own goal and Jordan Logan had St Rochs 2-0 ahead away to Rutherglen Glencairn who could only put a better complexion on the scoreline with an injury-time goal from Jay Mackay.

The Candy Rock will now face Yoker Athletic, who were 4-3 winners over Cambuslang Rangers.

In the only league match, Maryhill agonisingly lost out 1-0 away to title challengers Girvan who netted deep into injury time.

Results

McBookie.com Super First Division: Maryhill 0 Girvan 1.

Central League Cup, third round: Yoker Athletic 4 Cambuslang Rangers 3, Pollok 4 Blantyre Vics 1, Rutherglen Glencairn 1 St Rochs 2.

Ayrshire Cup, third round: Annbank United 2 Beith 3, Auchinleck Talbot 7 Ardrossan Winton Rovers 1