McGill plants five on Primrose

”There is really strong competition for places but at least I have given the gaffer something to think about and that`s all I can keep doing by giving everything.”

For a striker hoping to catch the eye of the first team manager there can be little better than netting five goals in a reserve game. On Sunday against Crossgates Primrose, 19 year old Gabby McGill bagged a hat trick within 24 minutes of the kick off and went on to score five before being subbed in the second half.

The Yorkshireman who joined Dunfermline from Middlesbrough in the close season on a two year deal, admitted he could not recall, scoring five ever before, he told this website

“I don’t think I have ever scored five goals in a game other than in under thirteens and the like.” But he praised his team mates for the part they played in his success beginning in just the third minute with a well taken goal:-

”Everyone has done really well with good movement and a great ball to start the game off well. It never really slowed up.

”Credit to everyone, we could have slackened off after three or four but we wanted more and that`s what we got, it was good.”

Gabby who had not opened his Dunfermline account before Sunday revealed that coach Greg Shields had sent the team out with the instruction to go out and do their stuff.

”There were boys who have been in and around the first team, maybe on the bench on Saturday or who were in the squad so we knew that we were going to have a strong team although it was still youthful.

”There is a way we want to play, building out from the back but up top I was told just to express myself and that’s just what I did.

”We realised that they were playing quite a high line and my movement was making that arcing run and getting in beyond. To be fair the service was brilliant finding the balls through to me.

”Even when I was scoring there some of the boys were having a bit of dig at me that I could have passed a couple. I felt there was a goal there and thought ’I`m shooting’ thankfully everything has gone in.”

Gabby scored 16 goals in 19 matches last season including four against Manchester United and he selected his hattrick concluding goal as his best of the bunch against the East of Scotland Premier Division club:-

”My third from 25 yards out, I just thought hard and low, aim for the corners.”

On Saturday Gabby was thrown on for the last few minutes of the match against Edinburgh City after the Citizens had taken a shock lead. He could not avert the defeat but considers that just a small set back in the team’s preparations for the Championship season that starts a week on Friday. One final Betfred Cup game before that though brings the Lowland League Champions to East End Park. Gabby added:-

”We are looking forward to the East Kilbride game and getting a good result. Everything is still in our hands, we are confident about that but it was good to set the record straight on Sunday.”

Stevie Crawford watched Gabby’s goal scoring demonstration on Sunday and no one could argue to the young man’s observation:-

”I am definitely knocking on the door. I am not saying that I should be starting because Kevin Nisbet has come in and scored a hat trick against Albion Rovers. Andy Ryan scored a great goal against St Mirren and all round played brilliantly, Kyle Turner is a great player and again scored two against Albion and came on against Edinburgh City and played well.

”There is really strong competition for places but at least I have given the gaffer something to think about and that`s all I can keep doing by giving everything.”

Above: Matty Bowman shields the ball from Gabby McGill

Moving to Scotland is proving to be really good claims Gabby:-

”I`m loving it in and around the club. Living in a flat with Matty (Bowman) and Josh (Coley) is brilliant. Josh has spent time in York, Matty is in and around Yorkshire. We are good and it is a good environment to be in. I am happy and really enjoying it.

”It is completely different from Middlesbrough. The facilities at Middlesbrough are unbelievable but you are not getting the same experience as you are getting here at Dunfermline. Although it is a risk for both parties but I think it is paying off.”

Mum and Dad came north from his family home near Malton in North Yorkshire for the St Mirren game and Gabby smiled as it turned out to be a good choice. He continued:-

”Obviously St Mirren are a good Premiership side, the first half against them was brilliant. It set the whole campaign off and although Edinburgh City played well, we could have done more in the first half. We picked it up in the second half and looked more dangerous. I never thought that we looked like losing the game but unfortunately we did. It`s still a high standard I think.”

The coaching staff are really impressing Gabby and after Sunday`s success singled out Greg Shields:-

“It is brilliant to see his passion and I think it feeds through to the players. Just how committed and dedicated and enthusiastic for his job. It definitely rubs off.”

All this has filled Gabby with confidence for the season ahead:-

“I think with the squad that we have got, the players, the environment and the atmosphere about the place it is looking really positive. We just have to take each game as it comes, finish as high as we can but I am feeling really positive and it is a good place to be

“I am not setting too many goals but you never know how the season is going to pan out but in every game, in every training session, every day you give a hundred percent and give the gaffer something to think about by pushing for that first team spot.”

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