Wishaw boss Mark Daly says his side should have started their pre-season campaign with a win after being held to a battling 2-2 draw by Cambuslang Rangers on Saturday.
Rangers had stepped in on Thursday to take the place of Shotts Bon Accord, after a Covid outbreak put John McKeown’s side on the sidelines, and that suited them as well, as they got back to action after more than a year out.
Daly said: “I thought we played well. Friendlies are friendlies, teams change, and we’ve only got a small squad, so we’re very limited in how we can change things.
“Cambuslang have a few young boys and a few experienced pros, and they’re a good team, but I thought we deserved to win the game, if I’m being honest.
“I thought it went well. That was our first game, we’re trying out a new shape, a different formation, and I thought the boys applied it very well.
“Cambuslang are a good team with some very experienced pros in there, but I thought the boys did well and their fitness was good, so I’m delighted.
“The team is looking good. You never know until you start playing, so having the game certainly identified a few things for us that we maybe need to work on.
“Fitness levels I’m very impressed with to be honest, so I’m not too worried about that.
“Match fitness will come when we really start going, but I’m delighted with the fitness of the boys, and they’re a credit to themselves.”
Daly used the game to run the rule over midfielder Bobby Colligan, who played as a trialist, and hopes to further boost his squad shortly.
He said: “Bobby was a trialist, we’ll certainly have a look at him, and he wants to have a look at us, so that will come with a couple more games.
“We’re also looking at a couple of younger guys to bring in, to bolster the squad.
“But I’m delighted with what is a good squad.
“We built it from last season and added a couple in Niall Reynolds, Kieran Brannan and Iain Stewart, so we’re looking good.”
Daly is now looking forward to the West of Scotland League fixtures for the new season being released on Friday.
He said: “This is what we’re all here for, the competitive stuff, and the friendlies are just about working the system and getting it to our advantage.
“Hopefully it will work for us, we don’t see why it shouldn’t, and we need to make sure we’re ready for July 17.
“The fixtures are out on Friday, we’ll have a better idea of who we’re playing against, and we’ll maybe try and get a wee spy on them, if we can!”
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