Yoker Athletic boss Steven Reilly says his side need to look to keep more clean sheets if they are to do well this year.

While scoring on average over four goals a game during pre-season, the Whe-Ho first managed to keep a clean sheet on Monday night against Rhu Amateurs, dispatching them 6-0 But the boss says he cannot be too critical of his side, as he has tried to give all the players good game time in pre-season, and the defensive restructuring gets impacted when a raft of substitutions are made.

He said: “We’re scoring lots, but again it comes down to getting as many players as much game time as we can.   “That’s the first clean sheet that we’ve managed to keep in pre-season so far.

A trip over the water to face Port Glasgow was next and the visitors won 4-3 with goals from Davie Crerand, a Ryan Hynes brace and a Shaun Kelly diving header.

But in truth the Whe-Ho were well in front, but sloppy play late on made the scoreline far tighter than it should have been.

“We were 4-1 up against Port Glasgow last Tuesday, and when  you’re making loads of changes it disrupts the play a bit and that’s what happens.

“Apart from that we’re doing well, we’re getting there so we’re looking forward to Saturday. We had another few trialists in on Monday night.”

On Saturday, they travelled east to face Haddington Athletic, running out 4-1 winners.

Again gaffer Reilly rotated his squad and saw his side run out comfortable winners 4-1. Davie Crerand bagged himself a double whilst strike partner Ryan Hynes also got his name on the scoresheet but the pick of the goals was undoubtedly Greg Maitland’s free-kick equaliser to cancel out the hosts’ early opener.  Reilly added: “We won 4-1 against a strong side in the east, so that was a good wee test and a good session.

“We had a good time down there, there’s a great set up there at Haddington and it took us an hour and a half for us to get there.

“So it was a good bus journey for the lads and a good bonding session for the players.”

Yoker begin their competitive fixtures this season with a local derby against Clydebank in the Sectional League Cup Fixtures.

They then go on to face Ashfield, Glasgow Perthshire and Maryhill before their league campaign gets under way on Saturday, August 27, against Irvine Victoria.