Kee looking for derby delight for ’Stute

It’s all change at the Roesiders with Timmy Dixon taking over from Adrian McLaughlin as manager, while a host of experienced players including Ruairi McClean, Lee Patrick and Gareth McConaghie have all left the club and have been replaced with young players.

Nevertheless ’Stute boss Paul Kee isn’t taking anything for granted and is expecting a tough match, at the Showgrounds this weekend.

“Good training patterns reflects in the play so if we keep doing that then there’s no reason why we can’t carry that form into the Limavady game,” he admitted.

“We have to keep up the concentration and discipline and respect our opponent because Limavady are going to come out and look for a proud performance.

“They are a young side but the reports we’ve got back from them is that they don’t die, which was the report we got back on Tobermore also.”

The Waterside out-fit go into the game still unbeaten this season having won three and drawn one from their opening four matches of the campaign.

Kee wants that unbeaten run to continue after this weekend and he’s likely to make a number of changes to the side, which defeated Tobermore United in the North West Senior Cup on Friday evening.

Midfielder Michael McCrudden is likely to be available as his knee problem continues to repond well to treatment, while Graham Crown may return to the squad following the shock death to his father Ian.

The ’Stute gaffer like everyone associate with the club knows that gaining promotion this season has to be their number one target.

“The league is obviously our priority,” insisted Kee.

“We tried out a few new players against Tobermore; we brought in young Colm McLaughlin at left back and he didn’t let himself down. We also started Sean Reilly in midfield; he was a wee bit nervous at the start but he settled into it and he gave a good account of himself.

“There’s good competition for places now. We’ve signed Tom Carlin and Matty Crossan and Michael McCrudden and Graham Crown have to come back in so there’s competition.”

Kee wants his players to make sure they keep their eye on the ball and stay focused, something which he felt they didn’t do in their last away game on the opening day at Lisburn Distillery, where they let a 2-0 lead slip.

“The Tobermore performance was the opposite of our last away game. There was more concentration.

“It was always going to take a few weeks for us to get into full flow and that’s been the case. It might take us another couple of weeks still to be honest.

“We have to find our rhythm, but we’ve had good attendance at training and the players are working hard and working with professionalism which is the most important thing.”