Holden the front page for Kinnoull

Feb 6 2009 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

TOMORROW Kinnoull and Jeanfield Swifts have attractive home fixtures.

Kinnoull take on Penicuik in the premier league at Tulloch Park while Swifts entertain Kelty Hearts at the Riverside Stadium.

The good news for Kinnoull fans is that Robbie Holden could be back in their team lineup for this game.

Robbie left Kinnoull to join Tayport but never settled and was delighted to get the opportunity to return to Tulloch Park. Robbie was Kinnoull’s leading goalscorer in his last two seasons prior to joining Tayport.

Manager Scott Brown is confident that Robbie’s recognised ability as a predator will bring his team more goals which in turn will keep them to the fore in the race for the league championship/runners up honours and of course promotion to the super league.

Scott has made another signing – Darren Gray, a Cowdenbeath Youth player and was with Scone Thistle for the first half of the season. The Fife club however have farmed him out to Kinnoull. Darren plays in a midfield/forward role.

Mark Gordon returns to the squad and Scott Brown has also listed both new signings for tomorrow’s game. It will be a late selection from Scott.

Penicuik are in the second from the top position in the league table, two points adrift of the leaders Musselburgh and will be chasing a win to keep the pressure on the leaders.

Penicuik are a very experienced side and have a number of ex seniors in their squad. Martin Cameron is their leading scorer with 18 goals to his credit and has played with seven senior teams while Colin McDonald, who plays in midfield, has played with eight senior teams.

Penicuik had a nightmare in their last encounter with a Perthshire team. Blairgowrie thrashed them 6–1. Kinnoull, as long as they win, would no doubt be happy to settle for a lesser margin.

Jeanfield Swifts have a rather daunting task as their opponents in their Redwood Leisure Cup tie Kelty Hearts have just taken over as the super league leaders.

Kelty were however the victims of one of the season’s major Scottish Cup shocks when they lost at home to Thornton Hibs when they were the favourites to win the tie.

Swifts will be delighted to emulate the Hibs success and inflict a further cup shock on their high profile opponents.

Swifts have been going along steadily in the central league and have been picking up points that have taken them into the third from the top position in the league table and they are well to the fore in the race for the league championship. They are only a few points behind the leaders Rosyth and second place St Andrews.

Swifts confidence is high at the moment and while they are aware that the Hearts are the odds on favourites to win this tie. They will be striving to send them away with no further interest in the Redwood Leisure Cup.

Swifts boss Eddie O’Connor will have Mike Gow back in his squad which gives him a full strength squad of 18 available.

Kelty boss Stevie Leighton also expects to have his full squad of 20 available and if it happens it will be the first time this season. The Hearts who have beaten the super leagues two top sides, or they were until last week, Linlithgow Rose and Bonnyrigg Rose, in their last two games.

The Hearts goalkeeper Alan Fleming is a junior international while their striker and leading goalscorer Tam McGeorge was on Hibs books at one time. This could be a very interesting cup tie.

Luncarty are at home to Lochore Welfare in the central league.

The Bleachers are desperate to get their first league win at Brownlands Park under their belt and hope to do so at the Fifers expense, but they will have to buck the odds to do so.

Lochore are in a midtable position 12pts ahead of their hosts who now occupy the bottom rung of the table and they must be favourites to leave for home with the three points.

Bleachers boss Barrie Malcolm doesn’t subscribe to this forecast as he feels there is a great attitude in the club and a lot of positive signs despite the results.

The Bleachers main problem is their failure to convert chances into goals. Barrie has two strikers out of action with injuries they are Kyle Warner and Fraser Stirling. This week Barrie was dealt a further blow in this direction when his veteran striker Peter Gormley announced that he was retiring from football due to business commitments. The Bleachers boss hopes to at least get another one striker on board but so far he has not been successful.

Barrie has however made one new singing – Ross Beattie who played with Bankfoot. Ross is a midfield player and will be in the squad for tomorrow’s game. Chris Dudek and Greg Zaczek return to the squad which will include a trialist. It’s a late selection from Barrie Malcolm.

Blairgowrie and Coupar Angus are engaged in the GA Cup third round ties away from home. Blairgowrie are guests of Broughty who are the current leaders of the north league and have only dropped four points in the 13 league games they have played and have high hopes of winning the championship.

This was a prize Blair pipped them for last season when they won the championship.

Blair boss Billy Mackay is confident that his team will surmount this difficult hurdle and make it through to the quarter finals of this cup.

Blair will travel to Whitton Park with an almost full strength squad. Jamie Duncan returns after completing his one game suspension but they have lost the services of midfield player Mark Duggan who has a dislocated shoulder which will keep him on the sidelines for a few weeks. The Blair squad will number 16.

Coupar Angus have a longer journey as they are away to Sunnybank. The Aberdeen side play in the north region’s super league in which they are going well. Of the nine league games they have played so far they have suffered only one defeat.

This will be a tough assignment for Coupar but they are upbeat about their chances of winning through to the quarter finals. Coupar have already paid two visits to the north region this season and they both proved to be successful. Coupar are looking to produce a further shock result at Sunnybank’s expense and if they do so this would complete a most unusual treble. Coupar striker Ian Petrie is unavailable for this game. Coupar will travel with a squad of 17.

Kinnoull have placed Neil McCallum on the open to transfer list. Neil is a striker who had senior stints with St Johnstone and Forfar Athletic enquiries should be directed to Graeme Chalmers at 01738 630326.

TOMORROW’S fixtures: Bukta Teamwear.com Leagues: Premier League – Kinnoull v Penicuik.

Central League – Luncarty v Lochore Welfare.

Redwood Leisure Cup first round – Jeanfield Swifts v Kelty Hearts.

GA Engineering Cup third round – Broughty Athletic v Blairgowrie; Sunnybank v Coupar Angus.

All kick off’s 2pm.

No game – Scone Thistle.