Helensburgh manager Sam Gemmell says his team won’t be throwing in the towel any time soon, despite seeing his inexperienced squad fall to another heavy defeat on Saturday.

A 9-0 league loss away to Eastwood Parkmount leaves the local side still rooted to the foot of the Greater Glasgow Premier AFL’s first division, with just one point from their 11 matches so far.

Burgh’s form this season is far removed from the run of 14 wins in a row which saw them clinch promotion at the end of the 2018-19 campaign, and with several new players in their squad against an experienced Eastwood side, Saturday’s match was always going to be a challenge.

Playing against the very strong wind in the first half, Helensburgh conceded five goals before the break despite a positive start – and things didn’t improve after the break as the hosts pounced on their visitors’ inexperience.

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Looking back at the team’s season so far, Gemmell said: “It’s been extremely disappointing for everyone involved.

“We looked as if we would have a very strong squad going into this season but it turned out a few guys couldn’t commit to this season due to various reasons.

“Despite that we still reckoned we could compete with the teams in the league, and to a certain extent we have done that, with only three games where we haven’t really competed.

“We have also picked up some long term injuries to important players, and it becomes difficult to replace them.

READ MORE: Battling Helensburgh side secure first league point of the season against Erskine

“Of the squad in Saturday’s game, only six guys were involved last season, so we have lost, or don’t have at our disposal right now, a huge bunch of experience.

“Some might say ‘well, that’s it, might as well throw the towel in’. Sorry, that’s not for us – over the 10 years we’ve been going, we have had plenty of low points, but we’ve kept at it and we have managed to build the team back up a few times, and that’s the intention once again.

“We’ve now managed to get two free weeks from league football to try and blend the new guys in properly and get some of the injured guys back playing.

“We have also been advertising for new players to help bolster the guys here at present.

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“It’ll be difficult but rewarding when it finally clicks.

“We are obviously looking for new players over the next few weeks but not just for this season, although that’s important, as we need to be looking further forward.”

Saturday’s squad: Craig Gemmell, Paul Coyle, Steven Conner, Steven Martin, Keith Thomas, Garreth Burris, Dayle George, Brad Lamington, David Wilkie, Gregor McMillan, Reece Court, David McKell, Caleb Phipps, Marc McNeil.

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Meanwhile, it was a day to forget for Rhu Amateurs on Saturday too, as the local side fell to a 6-2 defeat at home to Kilsyth.

Callum Smith’s double was the only bright spot for the hosts.

This Saturday, February 15, Rhu welcome Holytown Colts to Ardenconnel Park; kick-off is at 2pm.

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