Blair looking for confidence boost

Sep 5 2008 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

BLAIRGOWRIE have the Big County to themselves tomorrow, at least as far as other junior fixtures are concerned, as the rest of the teams have away games.

There is one exception, Scone Thistle have no game due to the Central League now having a compliment of 13 teams

Blairgowrie entertain Penicuik in the premier league.

Blair are of course newcomers to this league competition and were disappointed at losing their opening game last Saturday.

Blair boss Billy Mackay recognises that this is a highly competitive league competition but he has no doubts that his team will meet its demands and cause a few upsets in the process.

Blair are quietly confident that they will win tomorrow’s clash at Davie Park and get their first points on the board which would be a boost for their confidence.

Blair will still be without striker Jamie Duncan (ankle injury). They will choose from the same 16 as did duty in the opening game. Billy Mackay is intending to add to his squad in the near future.

Penicuik finished in a mid table position in last season’s premier league and the Lothian side have got off to a winning start in this season’s campaign when they defeated Arniston Rangers by 2–1 in the opening game. Martin Cameron is their leading scorer with six goals to his tally so far. This should be a very interesting encounter.

Bankfoot, Jeanfield Swifts and Luncarty are all down in the Kingdom chasing Central League points.

Bankfoot are guests of St Andrews and this is certainly a tough assignment for the Bankies who got off to a winning start with a 5–2 win over Scone Thistle.

Bankies had a number of players missing for that game but they will have a stronger squad available tomorrow although they will still be understrength.

Three players, Chris Riddell, Michael Dickson and Alan Brown return and Danny Dobbie, out with a thigh injury last week, may also be in the squad. George Lamond is unavailable as is Colin Fraser, who is away on a fitness course which is likely to take two months to complete. Also missing is Craig Johnston (injured). Robin Wood expects to have a squad of 16 or 17 available.

St Andrews have already been installed as the favourites to win this season’s championship race and while it’s early days to be talking in this direction they certainly got off to a great start when they walloped Luncarty at Brownlands Park.

Saints manager Jim Hardie hasn’t announced his lineup for tomorrow but it would be safe to assume there will be few changes if any from last week.

Jeanfield Swifts take on Steelend Vics and Swifts will travel to Woodside Park with an understrength squad.

Swifts will be without Nial Cassidy, Graham Nicol, Steven Watt, John Anderson and Kevin Fowler (all unavailable) and Gary Brock is still recovering from an operation.

Manager Eddie O’Connor is keeping his fingers crossed that there will be no further call offs. He intends to have a couple of trialists in his squad and it will be a late selection from the Swifts boss.

Steelend finished on the bottom rung of their league cup section but in their final game they shocked Crossgates who still had an outside chance of winning the section by beating them 3–2.

They produced another surprise in last week’s opening league game when they held Thornton Hibs to a draw away from home.

Vics recently secured the transfer of striker Darren Seath from Kelty Hearts and he has made his mark with three goals in two outings.

Luncarty visit Gardiner's Park where Lochgelly Albert are their hosts.

The Bleachers will be striving to get a favourable result from this game as it would help ease the pain of the previous weeks hefty defeat at the hands of St Andrews. Manager Alan Williams will be without Graham Barnett, Ewan Murray (both unavailable) and Kyle Warner (knee injury) for this game. Alan Williams expects to have a squad of 16 or 17 available.

Lochgelly Albert suffered a shock defeat in their first league game last week when they lost to Lochore Welfare. Not a good start for a game who are nursing aspirations of winning the championship.

The Albert were without a few players for that game but will have a stronger squad available tomorrow.

Coupar Angus are away to Violet in the north league.

Coupar were disappointed at losing their first league game last week when they went down at home to Broughty.

Violet suffered a similar fate in their derby clash with Harp at Glenesk, which is the venue for tomorrow’s game.

Coupar were without their two experienced players for last week’s game, Georgie Grier and Jim Hendrie (both injured), they will have late fitness tests and have a 50/50 chance of being given the all clear. Coupar are confident that they will have a new striker in their lineup for this game. The player in question has been playing with a Fife club. It’s a late selection from Coupar.

Kinnoull met Hill o’ Beath at Keir's Park on Monday night in the semi-final of the ACA Sports League Cup.

This was a repeat of last season’s semi-final and once again the ‘Haws’ were the victors, this time by a 3–0 margin.

This was a surprisingly lack lustre performance from Kinnoull especially in the first half which ended with them trailing by 2–0. Michael Stewart scored both goals.

Kinnoull improved in the second half and came close to reducing the leeway but failed to do so. Shaun Martin went on to make it 3–0 with a goal from close range in 77 minutes and that was the icing on the cake for the Haws.

Kinnoull return to the business of chasing premier league points tomorrow, away to Carnoustie.

This is a tough assignment and they will certainly have to improve considerably on Monday nights performance if they are to have any chance of coming home from Laing Park with a favourable result.

Kinnoull have signed Charlie Bradshaw. Charlie is a striker who has joined up at Tulloch Park from Dunfermline where he played with their youth teams.

Charlie made his debut as a Kinnoull player in Monday night’s game but unfortunately he picked up an ankle injury and is in the doubtful category for tomorrow’s game. He is likely to have a late fitness test.

Andre Tang and Dave Quinn are also unavailable which leaves Scott Brown with a squad of 16 or 17 for this game.

Scone Thistle have no game but will have an early training session so they can watch the Scotland v Macedonia game.

Draw for the first round of the Scottish Cup as far as Tayside clubs are concerned:

Blairgowrie v Crossgates P; Scone Thistle v Coulter; Downfield v Broxburn; Tayport v Broughty Athletic; Blackburn v Harp; New Elgin v Lochee United; East Craigie v Pollock.

Ties to be played on October 4.

Perthshire Juniors

TOMORROW’S fixtures: Premier League – Blairgowrie v Penicuik Athletic; Carnoustie P v Kinnoull.

North League – Violet v Coupar Angus.

Central League – St Andrew’s United v Bankfoot Athletic; Steelend Vics v Jeanfield Swifts; Lochgelly Albert v Luncarty.

Kick offs – 2.30pm.