Before their first game, a plurality of Annbank United fans (45.5%) voted in a twitter poll to estimate that their team would finish in the bottom four of the 12-team Conference A. Hopefully that bodes well for the Hill as first-year manager Matt Maley and his South Ayrshire side make their way to Lochburn Road this Saturday.
Like ourselves, the Bankies first planned game of the season didn’t go ahead but eventually managed a home draw, 2-2 against Bellshill to notch their first point of the season.
The White Brigade formed in the small former mining town of Annbank in 1939, moving to their current home at Pebble Park in 1949, just a few years ahead of their sole Junior Cup final tie appearance, in which they lost 1-0 to Vale of Leven at Hampden Park. In defeat, that is arguably still the clubs greatest honour to date, with their best years coming in the 1980’s and 90’s with nine trophies in local competitions, most recently the South Ayrshire Cup in 1998.
Key Player: Jordan Ryan
Both of the Bankies’ front-two (Mitchell Ewing is the other) found the net in their last outing, but I’ve stumped for Jordan Ryan as he also bagged a brace in their last friendly game, an emphatic 5-0 win over Ardeer.
Also keep an eye on midfielder Alan “Jokey” Orr, reigning Annbank Player of the Year who also won goal of the season for his spectacular overhead kick