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Defender Morgyn Neill spoke to the media ahead of tomorrow’s SPFL Trust Trophy clash with Stenhousemuir at Balmoral Stadium.

Morgyn, who used to play for The Warriors, said: “This will be the first time I’ve played against Stenhousemuir since leaving the club, so I’m really looking forward to it.

“It didn’t work out as well as I wanted with them, but I really appreciated the opportunity they gave me.

“It’s a good club, run by good people.

“My chances weren’t helped by suffering a fractured foot, just after we lost narrowly to Aberdeen in a Scottish Cup replay, which kept me out for 10 weeks.

“Stenhousemuir have made a lot of changes since I was there, so I know we are going to be in for a very testing cup tie.”

That close tussle with the Dons in 2019 – the sides drew 1-1 at Pittodrie before Aberdeen won the replay 4-1 at Ochilview – helped maintain a Neill family tradition of doing well in the Scottish Cup against top flight sides.

Morgyn’s father, Alan, played full-time with Clyde and famously captained the Berwick Rangers side that held Rangers to a 0-0 draw in the Scottish Cup in 2002.

Morgyn also lost 1-0 to Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup last season, while playing for Dumbarton, but admitted his  record in the SPFL Trust Trophy – which was previously known as the Challenge Cup – hasn’t been all that exciting.

He said: “I’m obviously eager to improve that.

“It doesn’t matter what game or competition I’m playing in my attitude is always the same.

“I go out there ready to give my all in the hope that I will come away with a win.

“You have to do that because you know you are also playing for the jersey, for the right to stay in the team.”

Our season has been a bit stop-start so far, a fact Morgyn was quick to acknowledge.

“It’s been the strangest start to a campaign that I’ve experienced as a player,” he said.

“A lot of that has been down to the manager having to make changes due to the Covid situation and the full squad being unable to train together on a regular basis.

“I accept other clubs have suffered too, but it’s been hard because I’m only one of several new players to have come to Cove over the summer.

“Once we have had the opportunity to gel properly we will be fine, we certainly have the quality needed to compete at this level.

“We will also need to cut out making the mistakes that have cost us cheap goals in some games so far.

“I’ve been as guilty as anyone, I know I can do much better than I have and I will be working hard to ensure that is the case.

“Despite all of that, I have to say it’s just great to be back playing football again after the year we all had to go through.

“It’s brilliant seeing and hearing fans back inside stadiums, it’s something we maybe took for granted before the pandemic.

“Because of my father, Saturday’s have always been the big football day in my family.

“There is nothing to beat the excitement you feel in the build-up to a game and playing in front a crowd and you don’t really realise how much that meant until it is taken away, as it was for well over a year.

“Now that the fans are back you go out there eager to do well in the hope that you can send them home with something to smile about after all the other things that have happened recently.”

Tomorrow’s game will be screened live on CRFC TV, with commentary by Scott Davie. To purchase your PPV pass click here

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Match Report | Cove 0-0 Stenhousemuir (Cove win 4-2 on penalties) »