Points chase is back on

Feb 22 2008

TOMORROW it’s back to the business of chasing points as there is a full programme of league games to be played.

Jeanfield Swifts, Bankfoot, Luncarty and Scone Thistle are engaged in central league games and it’s fair to say that none of them are going to be chasing points that would take them towards challenging for the championship, as that honour is well out of the reach of all four, as they are all in the lower half of the table. The points at stake could help them move up the table which they are keen to do.

Jeanfield Swifts have an attractive and what is likely to be a very difficult game, at their Riverside Stadium as they have the league leaders St Andrews as their guests.

Tony Holt who is a key player in midfield for Swifts returns after his three game ban and manager Eddie O’Connor was delighted to announce that unless there are any late snags he will have a full squad of 16 available for the first time in many weeks and that’s a boost for Swifts.

St Andrews are going well and have won their last five league games and despite being the league leaders they are second favourites to Ballingry to finish the season as champs.

Swifts, when they met the Saints in the corresponding fixture lost by 3–0 and it’s a defeat they are very keen to avenge.

Bankfoot take on Lochgelly Albert at Coronation Park and this has all the ingredients to make it a very keenly contested encounter.

Bankies and their guests are desperately chasing points which could improve their respective positions in the league table.

Bankies lost the corresponding fixture at the Albert’s Gardners Park by 4–0 and their manager Robin Wood said: “We didn’t start to compete in that game until it was too late.”

Robin feels it will be a different story tomorrow as the Bankies are a much stronger outfit now. The only doubt for this game is Alan Stewart, who has a groin strain, but he may have a late fitness test. Bankies will have a pool of 17 or 18 available.

Luncarty and Scone Thistle meet at Brownlands Park and they are both desperately keen to finish with the three points as it could lift them up the table quite a bit, depending on results elsewhere.

The Bleachers have one more point than Thistle at the present time and they have already beaten them 4–0 in the league cup. A similar result tomorrow would suit them fine but Thistle will have other ideas in this direction.

Luncarty and Scone could both cite the same reasons as to why they haven’t lived up to expectations so far and that is that for a variety of reasons their squads have been very much understrength for many of their games.

Luncarty could have a near full strength squad tomorrow with only definite non starters being goalkeeper Alan Duncan and midfield/forward Greg Zaczek. Skipper Chris Dudek returned to light training after his hamstring problem and may be in tomorrow’s squad which will number 17 or 18.

Scone aren’t so fortunate as they could be without four of their squad. Gary Christie (groin strain) is joined on the sidelines by Craig Ferguson (ankle injury). It will be late fitness tests that will decide if full back Grant McGregor and striker Alan Cameron will be considered. On the credit side Craig Innes has completed his suspension and returns to the squad.

Kinnoull are away from home to Rosyth in the premier league and they will be striving to continue their unbeaten away run to nine games tomorrow which would keep them in contention for the premier league championship or the runners-up spot.

Rosyth are currently in the second from the bottom spot in the league table while Kinnoull are third from the top and Rosyth haven’t won a league game since they beat Kinnoull at Tulloch Park in November.

Kinnoull after their mammoth win at Dundonald last week are likely to be on the same lines although missing from the squad will be Dave Quinn who picked up an injury in training and is ruled out. Steve McManus returns to the squad which is likely to number 17.

Rosyth are still without a manager and their most senior player Kevin Bain along with coaches Jerry McGuire and Jock Ford are running the team at the moment. So far they haven’t announced a squad for this game.

A surprise piece of news to come out from the Rosyth camp is that they have transferred their midfield player Andy Lawson to Tayport, which is a strange move for a team that is struggling to avoid relegation.

Blairgowrie and Coupar Angus have games in the north league. Blair are at home to Forfar Albion while Coupar Angus are guests of Kirrie Thistle.

Blairgowrie have their sights set on winning the championship and they should certainly take three points from tomorrow’s game to help them in their quest for this honour as the Albion are on the bottom of the table and are still without a win.

Blair will have their skipper Mark Brash back in their squad and he could be joined by full back Kevin Hirons. Kevin has been out for a spell with a foot injury but has been back training and should return to the squad. They will be without Paul Ireland and Richie Robertson who are injured and Zdenek Halaka, suspended. Blair expect to have a squad of 14 available.

Coupar Angus lost out to an injury time goal last week but they were obviously reasonably satisfied with their performance as they list the same squad which included two trialists, who are down to play again in tomorrow’s game. Co-manager Derek Grier lists a squad of 16.

Central League

Premier League

Blairgowrie goalkeeper Arik Szczygel. Arik has been a real stalwart in the Blair team who are one of the leading contenders in the race for the North League Championship.