Jack plots another cup shock in Fife
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THE perfect start to the season has given everyone a boost at Elgin City as they bid to cause another cup shock this weekend.
A sensational 2-1 win to knock cup holders Ross County out of the Ramsdens Cup last Saturday was a dream result.
Having dumped the Dingwell men, Ross Jack and Barry Wilson were this week trying to figure out how they can complete a remarkable cup double.
On Saturday, they travel to New Bayview to take on East Fife, managed by John Robertson, and many people’s favourites for the second division, in the first round of the Scottish Communities League Cup.
"The players have set themselves one heck of a standard now and we can’t afford to fall short of that," declared Jack.
"The effort they put in was tremendous and hopefully they will get a boost from that and really believe in themselves.
For Ross Jack and Barry Wilson, and no fewer than eight members of the squad, there was the added spice of returning to a club which had been a big part of their careers and getting one over on them.
Jack still clearly harbours some frustration at his departure as assistant manager three years ago.
However, he insisted the game was not about revenge or personal agendas, and about proving how good a team Elgin City are.
"This is a long-term build and we are just over two years into it. This has to be my best day as Elgin City manager.
For assistant manager Barry Wilson, there was no fairytale return to Victoria Park in a playing capacity, as he was suspended from the dug-out and forced to watch the game from a seat in the stand, albeit within touching distance of the technical area.
"They were great and everything we asked them to do, they did. I can’t say enough about them all, they were magnificent," he said.
Jack and Wilson have struck up a terrific partnership in a short space of time.
They both know that East Fife will pose a real challenge, with a number of ex-Hearts players in their ranks, including former Scotland striker Stevie Crawford. They thrashed Montrose 6-1 last weekend in the Ramsdens Cup.
The Elgin squad came through the game last weekend relatively unscathed, with Ross O’Donghue (back) and Daniel Moore (calf) the only concerns this week.
Jack hopes to add to his squad of 18 with the loan signing of Ross County youngster Archie MacPhee, however, while a deal has been agreed he won’t be able to play in either of the East Fife cup matches, and is set to come into the reckoning for the opening third division clash against Berwick Rangers at Borough Briggs on August 6.
