BY RYAN FERRY
MILFORD United manager Noel Gillespie admits there is frustration with his club this season as they haven’t been able to turn enough draws into victories.
Gillespie’s charges started the season brightly by winning their first three games.
However, they have only won one of the seven that have come since then.
There has only been one defeat in that run but a lack of ruthlessness when on top has been a recurring problem.
Last week, it was Milford that struck late on for an equaliser in a 2-2 draw against Convoy Arsenal.
However, they did have the lead before that and weren’t able to put daylight between the sides.
Seasoned campaigners such as Cathal McGettigan and Kyle Black were absent and their absence was felt, but the killer instinct has been missing over the last few months.
“We’re just struggling to win games. We’ve had too many draws.
“We’re not that far off but you have to be winning games.
“Convoy were better on Sunday than probably what they have been this year but we still had chances to win the game.
“It’s frustrating when you put yourself in positions to win games and you don’t see them through.
“It’s probably down to inexperience. We have a few older heads in Caolan (McGettigan), Joey (Cullen), Lorcan (Friel) and Darren (McLaughlin) but the rest are all under 21.
“We started three 17-year-olds last week and they are all good players but there is just that bit of inexperience.
“We’re not putting teams away and then we’re getting caught on counter-attacks.
“We’ve drawn five of our last seven games and we were probably leading in all of them.”
There has been a good infusion of youth for Milford this season.
Shay Gibbons and Conor McLaughlin were involved with the Donegal Youth League team and have been lining out while another teenager George McNulty has caught the eye up front.
Caolan McBride has also signed back for his home club from Finn Harps and there is a host of youngsters playing for Milford’s Saturday team.
The interest is high which augers well for the future but the Donegal Junior League can be a tough place to cut the teeth.
“It’s a good lesson for the young boys but they have to get to grips with it quickly.
“We’ve nearly a headache this year because we have so many players.
“We had 29 players training last week and we had six seniors missing and probably a few of the reserves away too.
“There’s big numbers there but they are all very young.
Milford are still very much in the mix for promotion.
However, Gillespie stressed that they will have to find some momentum if they are to make their mark and have something to push for later in the year.
“There’s nothing in that league.
“Kerrykeel are top at the moment. They are scoring goals and they have a good bit of experience but they do have a mixture of young fellas as well.
“There’s plenty of points to be won and lost yet I would find.
“But you would need to be going on a wee run now otherwise you’re going to be left behind.
“We are home to Swilly this week and home to Cappry next week but we still have to go to Castlefin, Gweedore Celtic and Kerrykeel.
“We had a good win over Ballybofey and I was thinking that might have kicked us on and get a bit of momentum going.
“It didn’t happen against Convoy but hopefully we can beat Swilly and try and get ready for Cappry then.
“We need wins. Draws are no good to you at all – they’re crucifying us.
“Any side that can find form now will be in the shake-up. Gweedore Celtic started poorly but they got a couple of good results and now they are back up there.
“Kerrykeel, Cappry and Gweedore Celtic are the three teams who have the form now but Rathmullan are picking up results too. They’re winning the games that we have been drawing.”
Milford host neighbours Swilly Rovers at 1pm this Sunday at Moyleview Park.
Swilly have been struggling with just two wins from eleven games and could be under pressure to stay in the league.
However, they drew with Milford 2-2 when the sides met in Ramelton and Gillespie doesn’t expect to get anything handy from their local rivals.
“We were up in Swilly Park before Christmas and we were 2-0 up and cruising and we let them back into it.
“They didn’t stop. They kept going right until the end and we couldn’t get the winner.
“We were in total control for the first half but like every game this year, there’s no easy games.
“You have to go out and earn your points. Some of these teams that have young fellas playing – they are fearless and they keep going and going.
“I’m not expecting anything easy against Swilly.”
