League build-up begins to unwind

Mar 13 2009 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

TOMORROW, there is a packedprogramme of league games to be played.

Jeanfield Swifts and Kirkcaldy YM clash in the Central League at the Riverside Stadium.

The winning of the points from this game is just about a must for both teams in their efforts to stay on the race for the league championship.

St Andrews and Rosyth currently occupy the two top places in the table while Thornton Hibs, Swifts and the YM are a few points behind them but still in contention for this honour.

This is the second time the Swifts and the YM have met in the league this season.

They shared the points in that game which ended all square at 3–3 after Swifts lost a three goal lead.

Swifts and the YM are well aware that a defeat tomorrow for either of them will be a serious blow for their championship hopes.

Swifts expect to have a near full strength squad available.

Only long term injury victim Gary Brown is still missing.

Mike Waring has recovered from his foot injury and returns to the squad.

Mike Gow has a slight back problem but it is expected he will be OK although he may have a late fitness test.

Mark Caldow unavailable last week is expected to return.

Swifts boss Eddie O’Connor expects to include a midfield trialist in this squad of 16 or 7.

Blairgowrie and Kinnoull are engaged in the Premier League and they are both chasing what are vital points for different reasons.

Blairgowrie are one of the five teams who are involved in the relegation zone and while Blair are currently at the foot of the table, they have a number of games in hand of their fellow travellers in the dreaded drop zone.

Blair manager Billy MacKay is, however, a realist and he says of those games in hand “they could prove to be most advantageous if we can win them and that’s the criteria”.

Billy, however, remains quietly confident that his players have the bottle to beat the drop.

Tomorrow, they have quite a daunting task as they have Musselburgh who are the league leaders as their guests at Davie Park.

The Lothian side have lost only one league game so far and are being punted as the favourites to win the championship.

Blair will obviously go into this game as the second favourites and will be striving to overturn the odds and it is not too unusual for them to do so.

Blair are playing with an air of confidence as they are on a run just now and are undefeated.

In their favour is that Gordon Pirie and Nairn Gellatly, who were unavailable last week, return, which should mean that Blair boss will have a full strength squad of 18 available.

Kinnoull are away to Fauldhouse.

They are eight points ahead of the Lothian’s side in the league table.

Kinnoull are chasing the points from this game which will keep them well into the top half of the table.

Fauldhouse have a very different reason for wanting to finish with the points; they are on the fringes of the relegation zone and they would help ease their worries in this direction.

Kinnoull won the corresponding fixture at Tulloch Park and now hope to complete the double.

Manager Scott Brown will have Martin Maher back in his squad for tomorrow’s game.

Martin was laid low by a virus last week but he has now recovered.

There is a slight doubt about Neil Gardiner.

Neil has been having treatment for a tight hamstring but it is expected that he will be given the go ahead to join the squad, which Scott Brown expects will number 16 or 17.

Luncarty, Bankfoot and Scone Thistle are all engaged in Central League games.

Luncarty are the only out of the three to have a home fixture.

They entertain Lochgelly Albert. Bankfoot are away to Steelend Vics while Scone are guests of Lochore Welfare.

Luncarty are yet to win a league game at home and their chances of doing so tomorrow have been made more difficult as they will be without Chris Duneil and Fraser Simpson who will both miss the game due to hamstring injuries.

Manager Barrie Malcolm could have further problems as goalkeeper Craig Houston and full back Graham Barnett are in the very doubtful category.

Craig has a back problem while Graham is nursing a thigh injury. They will have a late fitness test.

It is a late selection from Barrie who will have trialists in his squad.

Bankfoot are hopeful that Gary Campbell who has been out with a recurring hamstring problem but has resumed his training, will be fit for tomorrow’s against Steelend Vics.

Gary may have a late fitness test.

Barry Ward is also expected to return now that he has recovered from a bout of flu that made him miss last week’s game.

Banks will, however, be without Barry Dobbie and Neil McCallum who are injured and Alan Stewart who is unavailable due to business commitments.

It is a late selection from Manager Robin Wood.

Scone Thistle manager Derek Adam may have former Kinnoull centre half Colin Sinclair in his squad for their game against Lochore Welfare. Colin who also played in the Highland League has been training with the Thistle and it is on the cards that he is prepared to make a comeback, probably in tomorrow’s game.

His experience would certainly be a plus for the Thistle.

Alan Cameron who has been unavailable is expected to return but missing will be Dave Routledge who is suspended and Paul Anderson who has a leg injury and is doubtful.

He is likely to have late fitness test. It is a late selection from Derek Adam.

Coupar Angus are away to Arbroath SC in the North League and their manager Derek Grier is hopeful of having two new signings on board for this game.

Derek will, however, be without his centre half Ally Townsley who has a knee injury.

It is a late selection from the Coupar boss.

Kinnoull have placed Chris Anton on the open to transfer list. Chris had senior stints with Forfar and St Johnstone before joining Kinnoull. All enquiries should be directed to Chris Jones on 07940 814370.

TOMORROW’S fixtures: Bukta Team Wear Com Leagues:

Premier League – Blairgowrie v Musselburgh; Fauldhouse v Kinnoull.

Central League – Jeanfield swifts v Kirkcaldy YM; Steelend Vics v Bankfoot; Lochore W v Scone Thistle.

North League – Arbroath SC v Coupar Angus

All kick offs 2.30pm.