By DYLAN INGLIS
Newmains United will let kids in for nothing this season – but Craig Gupwell wasn’t happy at the free pass his side handed Finnart.
Children under the age of 16 won’t have to pay to get in for games like this Saturday’s West of Scotland League opener against Gartcairn.
But a depleted United side were made to pay the price in their final pre-season clash against the league newboys in Springbutn.
Winger Kris Todd put Newmains in front just before the break but a poor second half saw Finnart hit five. A controversial decision saw a Newmains goal chalked off with Finnart leading 2-1.
Now co-boss Gupwell hopes the result is a wakeup call ahead of the games that matter.
Gupwell said: “The result was terrible and the defending for all five goals was pretty poor. Let’s hope it’s a bit of a kick up the backside we needed.
“As a whole this pre-season we’ve done really well but that was a wakeup call.
"I told the boys they need to reflect on their own performances because not one of them could say they’d done well.
“Hopefully we can get a big reaction in the first league game. We need to forget about the Finnart game and look forward.”
A lack of defenders saw Newmains switch from a back three to a flat four.
Gupwell added: “The more frustrating thing was the players who made themselves available.
“We were a week away from the season and we were four or five strong players down.
“We had two centre-halves working which left us with only two so a back three wasn’t really an option.
“We always thought we would have tough games and Gartcairn will probably be one of the toughest we’ll face all season.
“We’ve had it in our mind that at times we might have to be a bit more defensive and play four at the back with a middle five.
"But going by the Finnart game it’s probably something we need to look at again.”
Newmains’ clash with Gartcairn kicks off at 2pm. Entry is £5 for adults and free for kids.
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