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Similar to waiting on a bus, the boys at and now we've played three in a week.

Granted, two of those matches have been reserve fixtures but it's predominantly been the first-team squad that has taken part in those games due to our lack of match action.

In the three games, we've won one, drawn one and lost one - and .

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At long last we have managed to get a game in - and a proper one at that!

Each and every one of the players involved in the rearranged reserve game at Ochilview this week were thankful of the run-out prior to our hugely important game at on Saturday.

A lot of the players were likening it to the first game of pre-season - without the warm conditions of course.

I can certainly vouch for at least two dodgy hamstrings and I'm certain that both our physios will be busy men at our next training session.

It has been more than five weeks since most of us had our last run out so I'm sure we can be forgiven a few aches and pains.

In all honesty I was quite surprised at how well we did, especially in the second half. We were all saying to each other before the game there were no excuses for not performing and how we weren't just here to blow the cobwebs away.

You can train as much as you like but it still doesn't give you the same fitness and sharpness that playing competitive matches do.

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I hope you are all well and are gently easing yourselves back to normal life after the festive season.

We were without a competitive game at the weekend due to the Scottish Cup, although the weather would have put paid to our fixture at Forfar regardless.

Unfortunately Annan, along with Dumbarton (and countless other clubs for that matter) were unable to get use of the magnificent indoor facility that is Toryglen, so it was the gym hall for us once again but this time at Annan Academy.

It would be very easy for the players to get fed up with the way things have gone in the last month but to be fair to Harry Cairney and Derek Townsley they have kept the sessions fresh, which has meant that our training has been good fun while continuing with the hard work.

The recent weather that has brought parts of the country to a standstill has once again brought up issues that we're all too familiar with; and all-weather facilities.

I'll start off with the latter and admit that I was not familiar with the facilities at Toryglen until recently. The clamour for the use of this flagship centre has been well documented in the press recently and questions are being raised as to why there aren't more of these places in Scotland.

Just like most things in life, I'm sure this all comes down to money but these are the only kind of facilities able to cope with severe weather and provide playing time for clubs not lucky enough to have undersoil heating.

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Hello everyone and a very happy New Year to you all. I hope you enjoyed the festive period as much as I did.

First of all I'd like to apologise for my lack of activity over the festive season.

My home internet has been down and I've not been able to access my column until recently, but I will get round to checking my comments from the last entry and ensure I reply to everyone.

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