IF ever there was time to look backwards rather than forwards, it is surely now with the WoSFL season midway through its self-inflicted hibernation.

That much can be said with a certain degree of confidence given the current state of Covid affairs has Tiers 6 and 7 clubs fearing the very real possibility of having tighter restrictions imposed (to the 500 crowd limit) prior to the WoSFL’s scheduled restart date of 8th January.

It would be nothing short of disastrous were the game at this level to suffer a repeat of a year ago when the worsening pandemic situation forced the SFA to suspend the inaugural league campaigns just 12 days into the New Year but were similar drastic measures to be needed this time around then at least we’d have six months of wonderful moments. players, matches and controversy to reflect upon.

Here goes with six of the Besties recollections…

BEST GAME: Kilwinning Rangers overcoming Darvel 1-0 in an early season Buffs Park encounter was a bit special and the same could be said of Auchinleck Talbot  coming from two goals down away to derby foes Cumnock to run out 3-2 winners thanks to the introduction of inspirational substitutes Bryan Boylan and Mark Shankland .

But Saturday 2nd October was something else, a day when we had the rarity of a top of the table clash living up to all pre-match expectations as everything that one imagined could  possibly happen in 90 minutes of football…did at Newlandsfield, where Pollok and  Auchinleck, aided and abetted in no small way by Referee Ross Hardie, were seen at their maximums in playing out a  never less than pulsating 3-3 draw.

Three goals apiece was only part of the story from this truly  unforgettable head-to-head also containing three sending-offs (all Pollok players),three penalty-kick awards (2 for the Southsiders ) and trademark Talbot fightbacks  from 0-2 and 2-3 culminating in a Graham Wilson goal deep into injury time ending 8 man Pollok’s resistance to earn a share of the spoils for the Ayrshiremen.

BEST FORWARD: The WoSFL is fortunate to boast a number of strikers having a claim on this title and Clydebank front man Nikky Little’s is stronger than most while hard not to think it’s become something of a  habit for Boylan  and Jamie Glasgow to make the difference in Talbot’s  crunch games.

The goalscoring exploits of outstanding Conference League hitmen Gary Smith (Arthurlie) ,Ronan Sweeney (Petershill) and 36 goal Scott Williamson (Cambuslang Rangers) cannot be overlooked while one wonders where Premier Division outfit Cumbernauld United might end up in the grand scheme of WoSFL things without Kieran Boubekri or for that matter fellow relegation battlers Largs Thistle if Will Sewell was sidelined for any length of time.

Marvellous players one and all, however  22 year old Lewis Morrison has arguably shown himself to be a cut above the rest with his seemingly inherent ability to score goals out of nowhere marking him out as Hurlford United’s main attacking threat as well as the key factor behind his side’s over-achieving top six placing in the league table.

BEST DEFENDER:  If one is picking out individuals in what is essentially a team game, then they should have weighed in with the kind of contribution that has truly lifted their team to a level they mightn’t have otherwise reached in order to win key contests.

That is the difference Craig McCracken has made at Auchinleck Talbot where his “they shall not pass “ approach to defending from a bygone age allied to a willingness to put his body on the line explains why the Bot have conceded fewer goals (not for the first time) than any of their top flight rivals.

It would be bordering on the churlish not to point out how David Brownlie has bolstered Pollok’s backline , Jamie Darroch  has been at his inspirational best turning out for Clydebank  as well as  David Syme at Kilwinning Rangers or  to say it’s no coincidence for the addition of Craig Reid’s ball-winning qualities to Darvel’s rearguard bringing about  a notable upturn in form by Mick Kennedy’s  side .

But the meanest of defences are built around stoppers who offer something extra in the heat of battle …and 25 year old McCracken does that and more besides.

BEST REFEREEING PERFORMANCE: There is no shortage  of better qualified Supervisors to carry out appraisals of the technical merits and man management skills of whistlers so  “Best” in this category should read as Most Talked About .

No real surprise for Ross Menzies to be a serious contender in this respect after he walked off the pitch during the September staged Scottish Junior Cup second round tie between Irvine Vics and Pollok after an ugly 90th minute brawl erupted between players and backroom staff of both sides. His subsequently declaring the match abandoned led to both teams being fined and thrown out of the competition.

But even this bizarre man in the middle behaviour is put in the shade by Ross  Hardie’s  officiating in the previously mentioned Pollok v Auchinleck encounter which left the question on supporters’ lips as to why manhandling offences inside the penalty box ,witnessed week in and week out at set plays ,  are not always deemed punishable by spot kick awards ?

Maybe the answer can be gleaned from the perception that Mr Hardie’s failure to sustain this following the letter of the law approach (he’s avoided similar controversy ever since) might be attributable to a directive from above?

BEST MANAGER: Having considered Arthurlie out on their own as team of the year, it follows for the Barrhead supremo Andy McFadyen to be a serious contender on the managerial front while backers for Martin Lauchlan have  merit after he overseen Petershill’s recovery from a shaky start to emerge as genuine Conference Division C title challengers.

The ever unassuming Tommy Sloan has again excelled at Auchinleck Talbot’s helm while the massive improvements wrought at Pollok by a driven Murdie McKinnon and his backroom staff promises to make for a wonderfully intense climax to the Premier Division title race.

Not yet one of the elite clubs but looking odds on to join their party before too long are Cambuslang Rangers whose gaffer Paul McColl has stoically rode out the storm from an unfair castigation in years gone by to demonstrate he can recognize a player when he sees one and will not be found wanting for team-building skills.

He and co-manager Billy Campbell assembling a blend of experienced types Scott Anson, Tony Stevenson, Gordon Dick and John Gemmell came in for criticism initially however their carefully controlled introduction of more youthful talents such as Scott Williamson, Jay Nelson and Ben Richford has been rewarded by a  six points lead over nearest challengers St Cadocs atop the B Division standings heading into the New Year.

Nobody but nobody has overcome the same adversity as McColl so he deserves his time in the spotlight particularly when it’s for the right reasons.

BEST SURPRISE PACKETS: It can only be Rutherglen Glencairn whose holding down 7th top spot in the Premier Division standings as the year comes to a close is really quite something.

Tam Miller and Co  taking an impressive 33 points haul from their opening 21 league games has undoubtedly exceeded all manager Willie Harvey’s expectations particularly after defeats in three of their four opening fixtures back in the summer months had most pundits reckoning the Glens would be relegation candidates.

That’s a fate now looking slim at best after the Ru’Glonians ended the year on a high note with five victories on the bounce , inclusive of crucial league wins over Beith (1-0), Cumnock (2-1) and Troon (2-1).

The maturing displays of Harry Mitchell, the Mone brothers Tommy and Michael as well as striker Jack McIlveen has further buoyed confidence in the Hamish B.Allan dressing room and now Harvey and his playing charges have sights set on getting the better of one or more of the top six clubs …something the Glens have not managed up to now.