BELLSHILL boss Brian McGinty's determination to secure the Super First Division title could persuade him to keep pulling on the boots for the table-topping Lanarkshire outfit

His decision to include himself in Saturday's starting line-up against Renfrew played no small part in his side chalking up a 4-2 victory through goals from Jay Mackay (2), Steven Tart and Chris Dolan that acted to stop the rot following a damaging sequence of three league games without a win.

The 38-year-old admitted: " We experienced a dip in form that was more to do with the guys lacking leadership and a bit of organisation out on the pitch rather than playing badly.

"People around me were adamant I could influence matters, but I was loathe to throw myself in. However, an injury to Gary McGrath opened the door for me to figure against Renfrew, and our performance was a marked improvement on what had gone before.

"I did more talking and pointing than anything else, but the response from the players was terrific and the points were in the bag long before the final whistle."

The news that one-time St Anthony's playmaker McGrath is hopeful of being passed for tonight's crunch encounter at fellow-title challengers Lesmahagow is set to land McGinty with a selection poser.

He added: "Combining the jobs long-term is not an option, but I'll do whatever is needed to get us over the promotion line, even if it means kicking off with the same winning line-up tonight.

"But there's no doubt having Gary back is a major plus and he will figure in our thoughts for what has all the makings of crucial 90 minutes for both teams.

"The Gow have gone from being our closest challengers to fourth place on the back of dropping six points in recent games, but that's only to be expected in this league where everyone is beating each other and upsets are commonplace.

"I'd like to think we've come through our bad spell and things will turn in our favour now ... but you can never tell."

Lesmahagow suffering a shock 4-2 reverse against bottom side Ashfield has Gow gaffer Robert Irving thinking tonight's outcome could prove decisive in the promotion reckoning.

He revealed: "Our defeat by Ashfield was our third on the spin, but it didn't come as a huge shock to me as I've seen our dismal run coming for the past few weeks .

"Having a wafer-thin squad - we only carry 16 players - at the same time as midweek games get underway, has been far from ideal and we go into tonight's clash minus Graeme Gallagher and Barry Murdoch because of work commitments on top of a dead leg injury to Jack Currie.

"Things were different earlier in the season, but players nowadays get easily disillusioned when not featuring regularly and just head off into the sunset.

"We've lost several players in these circumstances, but weakened or not, we simply have to look to take all three points from Bellshill and set ourselves up for our run-in."

Another key contest takes place in Denny where third top Dunipace await the visit of two-points-worse-off Blantyre Vics back in seventh place through having played five games fewer than their rivals.

Vics boss David Greig insisted: " We are preaching the message to take one game at a time, however Dunipace away has special significance as our only league defeat to date came against them at Castle Park."

Elsewhere, victory for Auchinleck Talbot at Super Premier Division leaders Irvine Meadow tonight could go a long way towards nailing a third successive championship for Tommy Sloan's men.

It's hard to see past James Latta & Co picking up three points given they are on a high following the Dyslexia Scotland Junior Cup semi-final triumph over Hurlford United, while further motivation comes from the prospect of leapfrogging over Medda into pole position with just six games to play.

And it only helps their title dream that long-time injured duo Steven White and Graham Wilson are back training.

Hurlford, 12 points adrift of Talbot from three games fewer played, will seek to keep alive their title hopes when visiting Townhead Park in what is newly-relegated Cumnock's final league fixture.

There are two stand-out encounters in the Super First Division, with in form Rutherglen Glencairn hosting second-placed Rob Roy. while Guy's Meadow will be no place for the faint hearted with derby rivals Cumbernauld (sixth) and Kilsyth (third) locking horns.

Long-time leaders Pollok will look to welcome back inspirational skipper Paul Gallagher, Kevin Bradley and Gary Wild as Tony McInally's side go all out to avoid the ignominy of a third successive defeat when heading to relegation threatened Yoker.