Junior Football

Jan 18 2013 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser

The return of the wintry weather will no doubt be causing clubs much concern as it could have a disruptive effect on tomorrow’s fixtures.

But should their games get the green light Kinnoull and Jeanfield Swifts are both engaged in Scottish Cup fourth round ties. Kinnoull are at home to West of Scotland side Kilsyth Rangers while the Swifts are away to Montrose Roselea.

The rest of the fixtures are in the respective league competitions and they too are in the very doubtful category.

Kinnoull, who had a bye in the first round, have already accounted for two West Region Central District League sides in rounds two and three - Carluke after a replay and East Kilbride.

Kilsyth play in their region’s second top competition Super League Division one which is equivilant to this region’s Premier League. They are ninth in their league table after fourteen games played. Like their hosts they also had a bye in the first round and have progressed to this stage of the cup with a home win over Irvine Vics and an away win over Kirrie Thistle.

Kinnoull boss Gavin Price, while he recognises that the Rangers will be a tough hurdle for them to overcome, is quietly confident they will do so. He expects to have a squad of seventeen.

Jeanfield Swifts have played in all three rounds of the cup and they have dispossed of West Region Central Division sides, St.Rochs, and Port Glasgow after a reply. They then went on to thrash Super League side St Andrews 3-0 away from home, which really was a terrific result.

Swifts now face a tricky away fourth round tie against one of the North League’s top sides, Montrose Roselea, who have arrived at this fourth round tie after wins against West Region Central Second Division sides Royal Albert and Maryhill.

Swifts Boss Scott Brown said the confidence in his squad, which will be the unchanged from last week, is high.

Scone Thistle entertain Kirkcaldy YM and they will have to upset the odds to get a favourable result from this game as the YM are one of the leading contenders in the race for the Central League honours.

Thistle player/manager Derek Keir fielded his two new signings, defender Andy Smith who has rejoined the club from Kinnoull and Charlie Fertacz who is a striker, in last wee’s away game against Newburgh and they both played well. Derek will again be without defender Willie Laing and his leading scorer Jordan Brown due to suspensions.

He has the same squad of sixteen that he played in last week’s game.

Bankfoot are away to Thornton Hibs and this is the second week on the trot Bankies have been down in the Kingdom chasing points and they will be delighted if like last week they came home with the three points.

It would avenge the 2-1 defeat they suffered at the hands of the Hibs when they met in the corresponding fixture at Coronation Park earlier in the season.

Bankies have signed their former central defender Gary Campbell, who joined Kinnoull at the start of this season but has spent much of his stint with them confined to the sidelines with injuries. He was released by the Tulloch Park club last week and has returned to the Bankies.

Bankies boss Eric is also on the trail of an experienced forward and he is nursing high hopes that the player concerned will join the Bankies. He expects to have the same squad that won them their first away points of the season plus Steven Moon. Only

Donald McDonald, who is nursing a fractured nose, misses out.

Luncarty are away to Newburgh and they will have the same squad that did duty in last week’s cup win against Brechin Vics.

Newburgh will have former Luncarty striker Scott McKain in their squad.

Blairgowrie are away to Arbroath Vics and both sides will be very keen to take the points from this game as they will keep them within touching distance of the leaders in the Championsip and promotion race. Blair striker Andy Murison has missed the last two games with a knee injury but may have a late fitness test. Blair expect to have a squad of 17 or 18.

Coupar Angus are at home to Forfar Albion and they expect to have a squad of sixteen or seventeen. Their only doubt is defender Cameron McDonald who has an ankle injury.

■ Transfer news: Jeanfield Swifts have placed Paddy Deane on the transfer list at his own request.Paddy is a striker who has played with a number of senior clubs. All enquiries re Paddy should be directed to Swifts secretary Eric Allan at 01738-443504 or mobile 07922721251.

Tomorrow’s fixtures: Emirates Scottish Cup, Fourth Round, Kinnoull v Kilsyth Rangers; Montrose Roselea v Jeanfield Swifts

Central League: Scone Thistle v Kirkcaldy Y.M. Thornton Hibs v Bankfoot Ath. Newburgh v Luncarty

North League: Arbroath Vics v Blairgowrie. Coupar Angus v Forfar Albion

All kick offs 1.45pm