DAVID GREIG has called on Blantyre Vics supporters to turn out in droves and roar their team on to promotion tomorrow night.

The commencement of midweek fixtures in the West Region has pitted the Castle Park outfit with a short hop to meet East Kilbride Thistle in a Central Second Division clash where victory would seal promotion for the Vics and also allow them to leapfrog over Vale of Clyde to sit top of the standings with four league games left to play.

The ebullient team boss deserves enormous credit for wreaking a remarkable transformation in fortunes at the Lanarkshire club who finished fourth bottom of the pile last time out.

However, he typically deflected all praise in the direction of his playing charges when speaking after Craig Smith (2) and Davie Kirkwood goals secured a 3-0 weekend victory over Royal Albert - his side's 12th win in 15 league starts.

He said: "The guys have shown unbelievable character to still be in and about things at the top of the table considering Saturday was only the second league game to date in which we have finished with 11 men on the pitch.

"Those might appear damning statistics at first glance, but truth is we are not a side with a physical approach and our crime count is almost wholly attributable to getting on the wrong side of referees through speaking out of turn and last-man challenges.

"I had set my sights on becoming the first West Region side to clinch promotion but Vale of Clyde beat us to the punch on Saturday and fair play to them as Ian Currie has put together a decent side, however our target now is to pip them to the title itself.

"We have still to play each other in what could be a title decider but I'll gladly accept being called a party pooper if we can render that game meaningless by picking up all the points from our remaining four fixtures starting with East Kilbride at the Show Park.

"It won't be easy as their manager Alan Wardlaw has instigated a whole heap of improvements on the playing front, however the prospect of going top of the pile should be all the motivation we need."

Vale of Clyde are without a midweek fixture and gaffer Currie is planning to get along and take in Show Park events.

He admitted: "It was a great relief to finally get the club up a Division on the back of Saturday's 3-2 defeat of Vale of Leven.

"Nerves were understandably jangling a bit but an Anton Franchetti score and a goal apiece from our forward line pair Scott McManus and Derek Hepburn helped win the day.

"Their consistency in front of goal is nothing short of remarkable as they have racked up 45 goals between them this season with Derek in particular showing great form with a goal in each of his last 10 games for the club.

"I wouldn't swap them for any striking partnership in Junior football and I would love to see them get the opportunity to parade their talents against the so-called big guns in this season's Evening Times Champions Cup.

"For that to happen we need someone to do us a favour and peg Blantyre back to set up a potential humdinger of a league title decider at our place on Easter Monday.

Shaping up to go all the way to the wire is the race for Central First Division honours which has no fewer than seven teams in with a chance of claiming the two promotion places up for grabs.

Taking only four points from a possible 15 since the start of March has seen long-time frontrunners Bellshill Athletic drop off the pace and they will be determined to get back to winning ways when heading through to meet third-bottom Maryhill.

JUNIOR FIXTURES

TOMORROW

(Kick-offs 6.30pm)

Stagecoach Super First Division: Greenock v Lesmahagow, Yoker v Ashfield, Rutherglen Glencairn v Thorniewood Utd, Kilsyth Rangers v Shotts Bon Accord, Cumbernauld Utd v Beith.

Central First Division: St Anthony's v Neilston, Benburb v Shettleston (at Neilston), Maryhill v Bellshill Athletic, Cambuslang Rangers v Johnstone Burgh.

Central Second Division: Newmains Utd v Royal Albert, East Kilbride Thistle v Blantyre Vics.

Ayrshire District League: Dalry Thistle v Lugar Boswell, Irvine Vics v Whitletts Vics.

SATURDAY

(Kick-offs 2pm unless stated) Scottish Junior Cup semi-final, second leg: Hurlford Utd 1 v Irvine Meadow 2 (2.30).

Stagecoach Super Premier: Arthurlie v Pollok, Clydebank v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Largs Thistle v Cumnock.

Super First: Cumbernauld Utd v Greenock, Maybole v Ashfield, Thorniewood Utd v Kilsyth Rangers, Shotts Bon Accord v Rutherglen Glencairn, Beith v Yoker, Renfrew v Lesmahagow.

Central First Division: Neilston v Larkhall Thistle, Maryhill v Benburb, Carluke Rovers v Lanark Utd, Johnstone Burgh v Bellshill Athletic, Cambuslang Rangers v St Anthony's.

Central Second Division: Forth Wanderers v Newmains Utd, East Kilbride Thistle v Port Glasgow, Royal Albert v Vale of Leven, Blantyre Vics v St Roch's, Vale of Clyde v Wishaw.

Ayrshire District League: Annbank Utd v Irvine Vics, Craigmark v Whitletts Vics, Girvan v Winton Rovers, Kello Rovers v Muirkirk, Dalry Thistle v Ardeer Thistle.

New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup. Quarter-final: Troon v Dunipace.

Ayrshire Cup. Second round: Kilwinning Rangers v Lugar Boswell.

SUNDAY

Scottish Junior Cup semi-final, second leg: Glenafton Athletic 1 v Camelon 2 (2.30).