Published: Thursday, 21st August, 2008 8:50am

We're in the Raith to go back up

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HEADS YOU WIN: Action from the match between Rosyth Recreation, in red and black, and Oakley United on Saturday.

ROSYTH lost all but one of their players in a mass exodus after relegation but the club has teamed up with Raith Rovers to try to bounce straight back.

The Recs revolution is well under way with a 5-2 win against Oakley and a tie-in to the Kirkcaldy side which has already seen one player signed.

Boss Paul Mooney said a friendship with Rovers boss John McGlynn would mean the clubs sharing a ground, physio and even players.

The Rosyth manager explained, “I know John quite well and asked him if he’d be interested in sharing our ground for their under-19 team and they accepted.

“He might have a case of too many under-19s so we may get a player on loan for two or three months or a player coming back from injury.

“We signed Martyn Pirret, who was a regular in their first-team squad and John said they’d love to have kept him but it’s such a big jump from the 19s to the first team.

“John likes the way we train and play football and we’re hoping this bond will pay off.

“We’ll also benefit with any of our injured players able to go up there for treatment and Raith have also offered us hospitality at their home games.”

Mooney faced a tall order after taking over towards the end of last season when the team were relegated from the East Premier League.

He said, “When I took over we had 14 players and 13 left at the end of the season – the one that stayed, Ross Morrison, scored two 25 yarders against Oakley on Saturday!

“A lot of them decided to leave because of relegation – some I had wanted to keep – so it was a complete rebuild job.

“We targeted 15 and got about 10 or 11 and we’re still looking for one or two more as the squad is pretty threadbare.”

Mooney’s men triumphed in their section of the ACA Sports Central League Cup with the home win over Oakley – there was an own goal and Alan McDonough also found the net twice.

He added that the club’s new committee had spent money on the ground with a sponsors lounge, kitchen and a manager’s office among the improvements.

Kelty are looking for improvement on the field despite boss Stevie Leighton insisting he’s never had a better squad.

His summer slackers face the axe if they don’t shrug off their holiday mode and produce the goods after a lacklustre 3-2 win at Lochore in the ACA league cup on Saturday.

Craig Morrison hit a hat-trick after bagging four against Dundonald and, in the same competition, Hill of Beath beat Steelend 5-2.

Leighton said, “Maybe they are waiting for the league to start but it’s a poor excuse if that’s the way they’re thinking as we’ve a great opportunity to get to a cup final before August is out.

“Plus, they could end up out of the team as we’ve got a good squad and should have real competition for places.”

He added, “I’m a bit concerned we’ve too many luxury players who turn up in the big games but don’t do enough in other matches.

“It’s the best squad we’ve ever had since I’ve been in management and that’s including the squad we took to the Scottish Cup final.

“But they had that hunger and willingness to work hard for each other and that’s how they earned the breaks and got their rewards.”

Leighton continued, “I’m still confident we’ll do well.

“I wouldn’t say we’re going to win the Super League but with the players we’ve got we should be looking at the top half, no problem.

“For a club the size of Kelty, we should be winning one or two cups a season and you don’t win them unless you roll the sleeves up and work against the so-called lesser teams.”

This Saturday, the league cup continues with Rosyth travelling to Steelend, Oakley hosting Crossgates Primrose and Kelty at home to Ballingry Rovers.