Kinnoull Juniors continue to do well in league

Nov 27 2009

KINNOULL are going well in the Premier League and have taken over its leadership after their win over Montrose Roselea last week.

Tomorrow they will be chasing points that will keep them ahead in the race for the championship.

Kinnoull boss Scott Brown has always said there are no easy games in the Premier League and he is well aware that tomorrow’s trip to Laing Park to take on Carnoustie is a difficult assignment. However his team has only lost one game in the league and are playing with great confidence and panache and are quietly confident that they will come home with the points and increase their lead at the top of the league table.

Scott Brown expects to have a near full strength squad available. Goalkeeper Duncan Bruce is unavailable but Matt Curtis signed last week, takes over. Steve McAllistair is ruled out for a second week with an ankle injury and they expect to travel with a squad of 16.

The Gowfers aren’t the force they once were and they had a very poor start in the league as they only took one point from their first four games but they found their feet and went on to win  their next four. That run was brought to an end last week when they lost to Ballingry by the only goal of the game which was scored from a penalty.

In the Central League the championship race has been blown wide open when the two teams leading it suffered defeats. Oakley, who were unbeaten, saw this record demolished when they were thrashed to tune of 4–0 by Lochore Welfare and had their points lead cut from five to two.

Jeanfield Swifts are the team that are breathing down their neck after their convincing 4–1 win over Rosyth who were second from the top and that’s the position Swifts now occupy and they have emerged as one of the leading contenders in the championship race when just a few weeks ago they looked to be out of contention.

The arrival of new boss Murray McDowell has certainly had its effect as he has instilled self belief in the players and this has been shown in their performances in the three league games they have played since he appeared on the scene which incidentally were against the three top teams in the table Oakley, Thornton and Rosyth.

Six points were taken from those games and they only lost to Oakley the league leaders and by all reports they were unfortunate not to take something from that game and they have played two friendlies against premier leaguers Tayport and the unbeaten North League leaders Broughty, both those games ended at 3–3.

Tomorrow Swifts are away to Newburgh who are well down in the lower half of the league table and one would expect them to come home with three points if form is any guide. Having said that the Swifts Boss will no doubt be warning his players about the dangers of letting complacency slip in as he certainly doesn’t want to see them finish on the wrong end of a shock result. The Swifts are currently in negotiations for an experienced player and if he has been signed in time he will be in Swifts squad for this game. They will however be without Craig Milne who is again sidelined with a continuing groin problem and David Hannah suspended, Murray McDowell has a hamstring injury but hasn’t ruled himself out and he will have a late fitness test. Murray expects to have a squad 16–18.

Scone Thistle are at home to Lochgelly Albert and the Thistle would certainly look to have a very good chance of improving both their points tally and their league position at the Fifers expense.

The Lochgelly side got their season off to a great start as they took seven points from their first three games. Their two wins were against Jeanfield and Dundonald and their prospects were obviously looking bright but since then they have lost seven games on the trot between league and cup games.

Thistle will no doubt be pleased to extend this quite horrendous collapse to eight games and give their guests more woe. The good news from Manager Derek Adam is that he has no definite non starters only Bob Nairn is in the doubtful category. The central defender  is nursing a groin injury and he may have a late test.

Derek Adam is very hopeful that he will have a new signing on board in time to join the squad but he gave no hint to the identity of the player concerned or his position Derek expects to have  a squad of 17 or 18 for this game.

Luncarty have league leaders Oakley as visitors to Brownlands Park. The Fife side were the unbeaten league leaders up until last week when they were brought to earth with a bump when they were routed at home to the tune of 4–0 by Lochore Welfare who are in a mid table position. This was obviously a real shock result and it would be an even bigger one if the Bleachers were to make it two shock defeats on the trot for the leaders.

Luncarty boss Jock Pearson's comments on this happening were: “As always we will give it our best shot.” Jock is still without Dean Howie and Rab Nicol who are injured on the credit side Noel Meechan returns. Jock expects to have a squad of 17 plus a trialist.

Bankfoot are away to Rosyth and Bankies Boss Ian Duff’s squad is very tight as four players will miss the game – Danny Dobbie and Barry Ward are injured Jamie McCainsh is suspended and Ross Mitchell is unavailable, plus the three that are out with long term  injuries and one can see Ian Duff’s predicament. There’s every possibility of a trialist being called into the squad and it’s a late selection from Ian.

Blairgowrie are away to St Andrews who are just below them in the league table with a point less from a game more played. The teams have already met at Davie Park in the league and that game ended all square with the Saints getting the equaliser in stoppage time.

Blair Boss Ross Graham will be without his central defender Mark Christinson, ruled out with a hamstring problem and there are doubts about Paul Ireland who is struggling with a toe injury, he may have a late test. Ross Graham expects to have a squad of 15 or 16.

Coupar Angus are at home to Brechin Vics in the North League and they are hopeful of registering their first league win at Foxhall Park. Manager Barry Britton has unfortunately been deprived of his striker Duncan McLean who has fractured a bone in his hand and is likely to be out of action for four weeks and Nairn Gellatly is still out with a calf injury. A likely squad of 17 or 18 is listed.

Coupar have a new addition to their coaching staff, he is Andy Cargill, who played senior with Dundee and Dundee United and will no doubt prove to be a valuable asset to the Coupar back room staff. Barry Britton said he was delighted to have Andy on board.

JEANFIELD Swifts have placed ross Brock on the open-to-transfer list. All inquiries regarding the player should be directed to Eric Allan, tel 01738 443504 or 07984005605.