Shotts ace Sideserf - write us off at your peril

Jan 16 2013 By Andrew Weston

Shotts Bon Accord

Clydebank 0 Shotts Bon Accord 3

Shotts’ two-goal hero Mark Sideserf believes Saturday’s stunning win over Clydebank proves they have the fight to stay in the Super League Premier Division.

The midfielder fired home a brilliant long-range piledriver on the stroke of half-time to double BA’s advantage after Tam Hanlon had netted from the spot.

Sideserf then thrashed the ball home from close range early in the second half following fine work by Allan Mackenzie to secure victory over the Bankies at Holm Park.

It gave the Lanarkshire side their first league win of the season after nine games and comes on the back of conceding a late equaliser last week at home to 11th-placed Cumnock.

Shotts remain rooted to the bottom but Sideserf feels, with games in hand, they can now kick on and climb the table.

He said: “I think this sends out a message that we are not the whipping boys of the league and won’t just accept going straight back down. It was a great win and we deserved it. I think the side can now kick on, get more wins and stay up.

“We know we are a good team. It is pretty much the same group of lads as last year and as the gaffer says it has been a case of getting used to playing in the higher league.

“We are still underdogs to stay up but look forward to the challenge.”

The visitor’s started well, with Hanlon (free-kick), Mackenzie and Gary McStay all having chances before they eventually took the lead from the spot on 29 minutes. Mackenzie turned his man inside the box and when he went to ground under the challenge of Martin McInnes, the ref had no hesitation pointing to the spot.

Hanlon showed great composure sending Bankies keeper Robert
Hamilton the wrong way.

The home side came more into the game but on the stroke of half-time Shotts went 2-0 ahead. Sideserf picked the ball up 28 yards from goal and smashed the ball into the right-hand corner of the net.

It got better for Tony McInally’s side five minutes into the second half. Andy Scott found Mackenzie on the left side of the area. The striker had plenty to do but showed terrific awareness to feed Sideserf who scored from close range.

The hosts went on to dominate the rest of the match missing a number of decent chances and having a strong penalty claim turned down.

However Shotts were content to hold on to what they had and deservedly came away with all three points.

Talking about his first goal, modest Sideserf said: “Usually I am hopeless and my shots drags along the ground. But I knew when I hit it that it was good and luckily it found the net.

“I don’t score enough goals and that is something I need to add to my game.”

He added: “I have not been playing the best this season but I have been put on the right of midfield and have got more involved in the play so it has been good the past couple of weeks. Hopefully I can keep that up and improve.”