East Kilbride boss Chris Aitken praised hat-trick hero Cammy Elliot then revealed the Kilby striker wasn’t chuffed to get substituted during a thumping 5-2 win over Gala Fairydean Rovers.
Aitken was pleased to see his ‘patchwork’ side sweep Gala aside, with the match switched to Netherdale at short-notice due to a snow-covered K-Park.
The venue change (EK now host Gala in the reverse fixture on March 19) meant a number of Kilby players were unavailable, but it didn’t seem to affect them as Elliot hit a treble, while Neil McLaughlin and Joao Victoria also netted.
Aitken said: “We were missing a few on Saturday; because we had switched the tie, a few of the boys had other stuff on, so it was another really pleasing Saturday for me.
“Cammy has been superb for us. Cammy doesn’t miss training, he doesn’t miss many games. He scored a hat-trick on Saturday and when I substituted him he said to me after the game ‘what are you taking me off for?’
“I took him off just to give him a rest because he’s played every minute for me.
“But that’s the way Cammy is, that’s why I knew in bringing him to the club that he’d be a massive asset, and it’s starting to show.
“To be fair, they’re getting their rewards because they’re working extremely hard in training on Tuesday and Thursday and getting the pay-back on a Saturday.
“There were a lot of pleasing aspects on Saturday, a lot that I can be extremely pleased with.
“Joao in recent weeks at times has been absolutely breathtaking and it has been a joy to watch him.
“He’s not scored the goals that he deserves, but his all-round game and the way he’s linking the game up, it’s only a joy for guys like Neil McLaughlin who are playing alongside him.
“But I keep saying to them it’s not me who sets the standards, it’s them, and it’s up to them to try and maintain that.
“They deserve a lot of credit because they make my week easy, because they’re producing on a Saturday – and long may that continue.
“They’re in a good place just now.
“They went about their business right from the first whistle, got themselves into a good position.
“Don’t get me wrong – it’s the first time I’ve seen us concede a goal after six seconds of the second half – especially since I told them at half-time to make sure they started the second half right!
“But it was another good day at the office, the boys have been excellent.”
The result leaves Kilby joint third in the table with Rangers and Celtic B teams and just one point off second place Spartans, with two games in hand. Bonnyrigg Rose were crowned champions last night.
East Kilbride now travel to Bo’ness Athletic in the South Challenge Cup fifth round this Saturday, and Aitken reiterated his desire for silverware.
He said: “It takes us away from the league on Saturday, so it will be a tricky tie down there, but if the guys keep performing the way they’re performing, and keep playing at the level they’re playing, then we’ll be fine.
“I’ve said before that this is a cup I want to go and win. I want to win every game between now and the end of the season.”
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