B team champions can be ‘catalyst for the club’
SEAN CRIGHTON praised his Queen’s Park B champions for their heroic comeback to lift the SPFL Reserve League title at Lochinch… and for keeping him going throughout an incredibly busy spell – both on and off the pitch!
The head coach was moved into the Spiders’ first-team set-up as interim assistant to Steven MacLean last month – and also welcomed the birth of baby boy Jack on his own birthday, March 26.
On and off the park it’s been a rollercoaster for Sean, and he’s delighted to have his son home, the league trophy back in the cabinet – and now he’s hoping the feelgood factor can extend to the first-team this weekend.
Queen’s Park needed to avoid defeat against Livingston at Lochinch on Monday to land their second consecutive league title, but with three minutes left of the match – and the season – the Lions had a penalty after veteran Andrew Shinnie was caught by goalkeeper Milosz Sliwinski.
Dylan Mauchin despatched the spot-kick – but the resilient home team worked out an equaliser through Josiah Sowa, Jay McGarva and Ross McLean’s crucial header in the 94th minute.
It was a dramatic end to the match, and an epic finish to the season with the ribbons already being prepared for the trophy.
Delighted Crighton said: “It’s been the story of this group – they go to the end all of the time.
“There are plenty of games – even in friendly games – that’s now our 38th game of the season we’ve played.
“With the league organisation and Glasgow Cup there are only 15 games which are actually organised.
“Outwith that, I’ve had to try to get as many games as we can so we continue their development, get them into the first team, get the minutes into them and you could see the fitness at the end – they were magnificent.
“I couldn’t be happier for each and every one of them.
“I said it to them after the game – they actually deserve it. They’ve worked really hard this year.
“We have had a lot of players going into the first team group and a lot going out on loan.
“That’s why I wanted it to be for them, it was so important for all the B team players to get together and do it – because there are changes to the league system and there’s not going to be a Reserve League for the B team next season.
“So it was a really positive finish and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
McLean’s late header was watched from the pavilion balcony by first-team head coach Steven MacLean and the roar from the crowd was matched by first-team players banging the gym windows in celebration.
Now Crighton hopes the result will give a lift throughout Lochinch and beyond – into Lanarkshire, and Hamilton this weekend in his role with the Spiders’ first team in the William Hill Championship.
He added: “It’s been an unusual situation I’ve found myself in – but it’s a very fortunate position.
“It’s been a very busy time, but I’ve embraced it – it’s not been easy. In amongst everything on the football side I’ve been trying to enjoy the birth of my son!
“But the B team have really kept me going and hopefully now with the first team group this week we can also take this on and get a massive result.
“I hope the positivity from this result and the celebrations around the B team can be a catalyst for that, and hopefully we can try and bring three points that would add a good buzz and added energy around the place to make for a good ending to this season.”
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