Elgin City defender Jake Dolzanski eager to start life in the SPFL
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ONE of Elgin City's summer acquisitions is hoping to make his mark in senior football.
Jake Dolzanski (24) earned a move to the SPFL following his performances with Perth junior side Jeanfield Swifts.
Elgin manager Gavin Price is a former manager of the club and lives in the same town as Aberfeldy-based Dolzanski.
Dolzanski, who has signed a one year contract, will continue to train with Jeanfield one night a week, travelling to Elgin on a Thursday night for squad training.
“I have really enjoyed it so far and everyone has been brand new with me,” he said.
Asked about the step up to SPFL football, he added: “It’s been there for a couple of years but now felt like the right time if I was going to do it.”
He wants to be pushing for the play-offs with Elgin this season.
Dolzanski enjoyed a good tussle with Fraserburgh striker Scott Barbour in City’s 2-0 win over the Highland League champions in the Centenary tournament at Borough Briggs on Saturday, scoring the second goal in the win.
He shrugged off a tight thigh to play in the 2-0 win over League 1 Peterhead on the Sunday as City won the tournament to mark their 100 years at Borough Briggs.
He was partnered at the back with Darryl McHardy and Jevan Anderson at various points in the opening game, and Anderson against Peterhead, with youngster Ben Cormack also getting a run out in central defence.
Club captain Matty Cooper can also play at centre half if required and City completed the signing of former Fraserburgh and Peterhead full-back Owen Cairns on a two year deal at the weekend, after he impressed as a trialist.
Elgin City manager Gavin Price summed up the Centenary tournament: “It has been an excellent exercise and the players have put a lot into it.
“I have been really pleased with the application and the fitness levels, and the performance improved (against Peterhead).
“That’s four games in which we have kept clean sheets so it is positive.
“We had a real heart-to-heart at the end of the season about how we prepared this season and they have taken that on board.
“They put the work in before we came back and that is paying dividends in terms of where we are at the moment. We are miles ahead of where we were at this stage last season. If I am being honest I gave them a week’s too much holiday and then Covid struck.”
Price admits they are still two or three players short of the depth of squad he would like before the start of the league campaign at the end of July.
However, a real positive for Price and his coaching team is the emergence of youth prospects Fin Allen and Dylan Lawrence.
Allen scored the opening goal in the win over Peterhead and Lawrence, who was on loan at Strathspey Thistle last season, was a standout performer too.
Other youngsters like Ben Cormack, Matty Jamieson and Jamie Tinnock all featured over the weekend games.
City begin their Premier Sports Cup programme in less than two weeks, where they will face Ayr Utd (away), Saturday, July 9, Annan Athletic away on Saturday, July 16, Premier League St Johnstone at home on Tuesday, July 19 and they round off the group at home to League 1 Queen of the South on Saturday, July 23.
They open their Cinch League 2 campaign at home to East Fife on Saturday, July 30.
