Junior football fans face packed weekend

Mar 12 2010

SUPPORTERS should be able to look forward to a full programme of games tomorrow.

Kinnoull are the only team not on league duty as they have a first round East of Scotland tie in which they take on Super League side Camelon at Tulloch Park.

The prospect of a full fixture list of games for the first time in around 10 weeks looks to be very much on the cards in light of the greatly improved weather conditions.

There have, however, been so many false dawns in recent weeks that clubs will be keeping a wary eye on today’s forecasts, but it looks very promising.

Jeanfield Swifts may be considered as outsiders in the race for the Central League championship but they are determined to sustain their challenge, and to help them do so they have strengthened their squad with the new signing of John Cusick from Kelty Hearts. John is a midfield defender who is not shy at scoring the odd goal or two.

John joins three other recent signings, Gordon Bryce, Gordon Findlay and Darren Thomson, in the squad for tomorrows game against Lochgelly Albert at the Riverside Stadium.

This will be Swifts’ first game at the stadium since December 5 and hopefully it will be more successful – they lost that day.

Swifts are favourites to take the points from tomorrow’s game as their opponents are third from bottom of the table and are having a poor season.

They have won only one home game – back in September against Swifts. They will obviously be keen to take revenge and it will be quite a shock if they do not.

Swifts boss Murray McDowell expects to have a squad of 18 available. Johnny McRae, who’s injured, and Chris Dodd (suspended) will miss the game, their first official clash since they met at Crossgates away from home in mid-January.

Meanwhile, Kinnoull have a very attractive East of Scotland first round cup tie at Tulloch Park where they take on Super League opponents Camelon.

This has all the ingredients to make a cracking cup clash, with Kinnoull currently joint leaders of the Premier League and their number one priority this season is to win promotion and move up to the Super League.

Camelon are not having a very successful season so far and have taken only 10 points from the nine games they have played and are in the relegation zone.

It goes without saying that they will both be delighted to progress in the East of Scotland Cup. Camelon’s last visit to Tulloch Park was three seasons ago when Kinnoull were in the Super League and the Lothians side claimed a 3–1 win.

Kinnoull boss Scott Brown has lost the services of Neil Gardiner who has been a key player for his team. Neil is off to Australia for four to five months.

Scott will be without at least four of his squad for this cup clash. Chris Webster is suspended, Callum McKinlay is still nursing damaged ankle ligaments, Gary Sweeney is unwell and Sandy Ross unavailable. If those aren’t problems enough, Chris Anton and Mark Gordon face treatments for injuries and it is very much on the cards that late fitness tests will decide their fate.

Bankfoot have Thornton Hibs as their guests at Coronation Park in a very attractive fixture – Hibs are one of the leading contenders in the championship stakes.

The Bankies trail Hibs in the league table by eight points from the same number of games played, which obviously casts them in the role  of second favourites, but Bankies have a habit of overturning the odds with

Coronation Park often the stage for such an act.

The Hibs will surely be facing this trip with a degree of trepidation while the Bankies will have to be at their best to have any chance of getting a favourable result from what should be a very entertaining encounter.

Bankies, unfortunately, won’t have a full strength squad as Gavin Mackie is still sidelined with damaged ribs, while Mike Jarmuszweski is suspended. Bankies boss Ian Duff expects to have a squad of 16. It would, however, appear to be even on the player front as the Hibs also have two players missing – Tom McAllister and Gary Thomson.

Scone Thistle and Luncarty are both down in the Kingdom chasing points. Thistle are guests of Lochore Welfare while the Bleachers visit Newburgh.

Scone won the corresponding game at their  RDM ground 1–0. As the score suggests, there was not a lot between the teams and it’s the same story in the league table. The Fifers are two places and four points ahead of Thistle who have a game in hand.

The Thistle could have central defender Dave Routledge and midfield/forward Greg Zaczek back – both have been out with injuries. They are back in training and if they feel no ill effects they will be in a strong squad.

Luncarty and their hosts, Newburgh, occupy the bottom and second bottom positions in the table. The Fifers are five points better off. It is their first meeting this season.

But the Bleachers have been improving since Mark Christie took over. He has a pretty much new-look squad and they collected their first point since October a couple of weeks ago.

They will be striving to go one better at East Shore Park tomorrow and give their manager his first win since he joined up at Brownlands Park. The Bleachers will be without defender Colin Wilcox due to work commitments and striker Johnny Bee who has a groin injury.

Fortunately his fellow striker Jordan Brown has recovered from his injury and returns. While central defender Darren Wilcox is expected to make his debut, the Bleachers Boss will make a late selection.

Coupar Angus have a tough assignment in the North League. They are away to Kirrie Thistle who have only lost one league game so far this season. On Monday night they met Blairgowrie in a friendly and beat them 3–0.

Coupar’s new-look side had its first airing last week and although they lost by the odd goal in five, manager Barry Britton was reasonably pleased with their performance. Barry will have Nairn Gellatly and Robbie Black back which will give him a squad of 18. Only Robbie Ellis misses the game as he is suspended afer being sent off last week.

Blairgowrie are at home to Forfar West End. The unbeaten Premier League leaders and Blair will certainly have to buck the odds big time to take anything from this game but the berry pickers are often at their best in situations such as this. Blair gaffer Ross Graham said: “We are looking forward to locking horns with Jim Finlayson’s formidable side and we will be going all out to end their unbeaten run.”

Ross will have Darren Neave back from suspension but Jamie Duncan, ordered off last week, takes over in the sin bin and that is a blow. Richard Thomson also misses out due to a knee injury.

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PERTH junior outfit Jeanfield Swifts yesterday distanced themselves from a soccer school being held in the Fair City by Rangers.

The North Muirton outfit contacted the PA to make clear that they have “absolutely no connection” with sessions being run by the SPL side in public parks adjacent to Swifts’ Riverside stadium.

“Our ground is not involved in any way with this event,” declared Swifts secretary Eric Allan.

PA Sport is pleased to clear up any confusion that may have been caused by previous articles on the Gers’ soccer school.