Sauchie Juniors manager Fraser Duncan was delighted after his side got their pre-season campaign off to a flyer.

The Beechwood Park side hosted Tynecastle in a friendly on Saturday and Duncan watched his side run out 3-1 winners.

And the manager pointed out that the performance and result show promising signs ahead of the new season, writes Jamie Hall.

Duncan told Advertiser Sport: “The game on Saturday was one of the more difficult ones we maybe would have liked to have kept for later in pre-season. They showed up at Stirling Uni very organised. It was the first game for our boys together and we knew it would be a difficult one, but to give our boys their due, they went about their business really, really well and were outstanding.

“We played some good football, we had loads of energy and I’m happy with the way things have started.

“The boys are looking fit and sharp, but I do still think we are maybe a couple of players short. At the minute though we have squad of 16 boys who are looking very, very fit and eager. We certainly won’t have any teams this season who beat us in terms of fitness and effort on the park.” The manager also revealed that although defender David Morrison was close to agreeing a new deal, goalkeeper Darren Dolan would be leaving the club.

He said: “David Morrison is close to an agreement, but Darren Dolan won’t be staying. That’s a bit disappointing, I feel a bit kicked in the teeth, but that’s the way football goes. I gave Daz his chance last year and I worked with him to improve him all year.

“We saw the fruits of that in the last couple of months and it would have been good to get another year out of him, but he’s jumped ship straight away. That’s just what happens in football nowadays.

“The players we have added though have been quality and the three players we have brought up from the Under-21s have really stepped up, so I hope we can keep that going. We’ve got the opportunity to keep bringing those players on. We’ve also got a couple of boys in on trial over the next couple of weeks and we’ll still be looking to add a couple more faces.” Duncan announced that Sauchie would play four more pre-season friendlies before getting back into competitive action against Bo’ness, who feature former Juniors hero Darren Cummings among their ranks.

He added: “We’ve got Craigroyston on Wednesday before we play Petershill on Saturday, then next week we’ve got Bannockburn Amateurs on Tuesday night and Beith Juniors on the Friday night.

“We’ll give the boys the weekend off and then we’ll be back in training Monday and Thursday for the Bo’ness game. It will be Daz’s first game for them as well, but we just have to get on with it and make sure we go out and do our jobs.”