Juniors: New Year brings same old rivalries

Jan 2 2009 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

Perthshire Juniors

TOMORROW’S fixtures: Bukta Teamwear.com Leagues: Premier League – Kinnoull v Ballingry R; North End v Blairgowrie.

Central League – Jeanfield Swifts v Bankfoot Athletic; Luncarty v Thornton Hibs.

North League – Coupar Angus v Lochee Harp. All kick off’s – 1.45pm.

THE new year kicks off with a full programme of league fixtures.

Kinnoull take on Ballingry Rovers at Tulloch Park and there’s little between them as far as league form is concerned. Kinnoull are two points better off than the Fifers but have played a game more.

Ballingry progressed to round four of the Scottish Cup a couple of week’s ago when they beat super league side Bonnyrigg Rose in round three.

They were left idle last week after their league game was cancelled.

Kinnoull have certainly improved their league position with four points from their last two games.

A win tomorrow would see Kinnoull join a posse of teams who are on the fringe as contenders in the championship race.

Scott Brown will have the squad that did duty in last week’s game against Blairgowrie plus striker Neil McCallum and midfield/forward Martin Mailer if he has fully recovered from the bout of flu that caused him to miss last week’s game. All going well the Kinnoull gaffer should have a squad of 17 available for what should be a very entertaining encounter.

There’s a very attractive central league fixture down to be played at the Riverside Stadium where Jeanfield Swifts take on Bankfoot.

Swifts are 10 points ahead of the Bankies in the league table which indicates that they will go into this game as the favourites to finish with the points.

Form however doesn’t count for too much when those great rivals clash.

Swifts and the Bankies both had disappointing results last week and are equally desperate to get back into the winning vein.

Swifts are likely to have a squad of 17 available.

Bankfoot’s new signing, goalkeeper Mike ‘Chipper’ Whyte, who has joined Bankfoot from Carnoustie, should prove an asset once he settles in.

Bankies unfortunately won’t be at full strength for this game as missing are Barry Ward (suspended) and Alan Stewart (unavailable).

Jim Weir and Scott McCabe are both in the quite doubtful category with injuries and may have late fitness tests.

On the credit side Danny Dobbie and Gavin Mackie who were unavailable last week return. It’s a late selection from Bankies boss Robin Wood.

Luncarty have the Scottish Cup shock side Thornton Hibs as their guests at Brownlands Park. The Hibs made it to the semi-final of the cup last season and are through to round four this season and this has been achieved by once again bucking the odds in the last two rounds.

Luncarty had a really disappointing result last week when they lost to Scone Thistle. The Bleacher’s boss Barry Malcolm pulled no punches when he said of his team’s performance in this game: “We played poorly and were punished to the full.”

Barry is confident that the players will respond with a much improved performance in tomorrow’s game and get a favourable result. Barry expects to have a full squad available.

Blairgowrie are away to North End in the premier league and both teams are in the relegation zone and are very much in need of points. This clash between them could be classed as a six pointer.

Blair boss Billy Mackay will be without Jamie Duncan.

The forward was sent off in last week’s game with Kinnoull and is suspended. Billy expects to travel with a squad of 16.

Coupar Angus are at home to Harp in the north league.

The Harp were up with the leaders in the championship race until a few week’s ago but they have slipped down the table a bit.

Coupar are a couple of points behind them but if they win tomorrow’s encounter they will leapfrog over the Dundonians and regain their place in the league table.

Coupar have two doubts for this game Stephen Williamson has a rib injury while Duncan Cocker is nursing a knee injury. Both players are likely to have late fitness tests. It’s a late selection from Coupar