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By Jonathan Brown DRUMANESS Mills club captain Gary Murdock says the Meadowvale men have to get points on the board early as they look to avoid another late-season relegation battle. The Mills enjoyed a memorable run in the Irish Cup last season before bowing out to Glentoran, but it perhaps came at a cost as they went on to record just one league win after November, finishing fourth from bottom of the Amateur League Premier Division table. Pre-season saw Drumaness lift Castlewellan Town’s Corrigan Cup following comprehensive victories over St Oliver Plunkett and the host club, before suffering defeats to Newry City and FC Mindwell. The season began with a 3-1 win over Mossley, before a disappointing 5-1 defeat away to Ards Rangers in a performance that Murdock admits the Mills “let themselves down” in. That defeat to Rangers was followed by another 3-0 loss to Derriaghy on Saturday, ahead of this weekend’s Steel and Sons Cup tie against Crewe. Murdock is a man who knows the Drumaness club better than most as he prepares to embark on his 20th season at Meadowvale. In the dugout, three of Murdock’s team-mates from the club’s historic Premier Division title-winning side of 2014, Conor Walsh, Sean McQuoid and Steven Rogan, are leading the Mills after taking over from Ciaran Brannigan in April. Murdock believes they are the right men to lead Drumaness this season, praising both their mentality and the work they have put in on the training pitch. “I have a lot of respect for all three of them. “They’ve won trophies throughout their careers and they’ve all played at a high standard. “They’re three different personalities as well, so it’s a good mix,” Murdock explained.