Last games of the year for Perthshire Junior footballers

Dec 18 2009

TOMORROW, the last games of the year are down to be played as there are no official fixtures listed for Boxing Day or January 2, although it will be quite surprising if a few friendlies don’t crop up at some time during this period.

The fixture list for tomorrow is a mixed bag of league and cup games and it has all the ingredients to make it a keenly contested and entertaining one and hopefully the weather will behave and allow the year to end with its final fixtures all being played.

Coronation Park has had its share of stirring cup encounters this season which have produced shock results that saw two premier league clubs Armadale and Montrose Roselea leaving for home with their tails between their legs after being soundly beaten by the Bankies who had it not been for a poor decision would have earned themselves at least a replay with the Scottish Cup favourites Irvine Meadow and that would have been one of the major shocks in the cups history.

Tomorrow Bankies take on Kirrie Thistle who play in the North League which has the equivalent status to the Central League that the Bankies play in so they would seem to be even on that score. Kirrie however certainly have the edge as far as league performances are concerned as they are one of the two teams who are still unbeaten in their league games so far this season the other being Bo’ness in the super league.

The Bankies biggest problem so far this season has been a continuing hefty injury list and it’s no different for tomorrow as they are still without their three players nursing long term injuries, plus David Fyfe, groin injury and Jamie McCainsh, suspended. Steven Moon is doubtful with a calf injury but will have a late test. Little wonder Bankies Boss Ian Duff says it will be a late selection. Ian did say however: "We have produced some of our best results when the odds seemed stacked against us and I am quietly confident we will do so again".

Davie Park is the venue for what should be a cracking premier league encounter between Blairgowrie and Kinnoull.

There’s quite a difference in their respective positions in the league table at this point in time, Kinnoull are third from the top and are involved in the race for the championship and the runners up spot. They are seven points ahead of their hosts from a game more played.

Blairgowrie produced what was an outstanding away result last Saturday when they thrashed Montrose Roselea 5–0 on their own Broomfield Park. This was undoubtedly their best performance of the season which has not only boosted their confidence it has also lifted them out of the leagues danger zone to a near mid table position.

A favourable result is quite crucial for both sides as it could propel Blair into the top half of the table while it will keep Kinnoull well to the fore in the race for those league honours, so it’s all to play for in this Davie Park encounter.

Blairgowrie boss Ross Graham already has the same three players who missed last week’s game again ruled out of the equation – Barry McLean, pelvic problem, while Kris McKaig has  just undergone a hernia operation and Scott Barrie is unavailable. A further problem for Ross is that his key central defender Richard Robertson sustained an ankle injury in last week’s game and it caused him to miss the early training session. His chances are said  to be around 50/50 and he is likely to have a late fitness test. It’s a late selection from the Blair Boss.

Kinnoull’s Duncan Bruce returns after a months absence due to exams. Duncan played in half of last week’s friendly with Coupar Angus and the goalkeeper looked his old confident self.  Steve McAllister out for the past four weeks with an ankle injury has done some light training but it’s doubtful that he will be considered to be fit enough to be recalled to the squad and its pretty much the same scenario with recent signing Chris Webster who has a troublesome hamstring.
Scott Brown expects to have a squad of at least 15.

Luncarty have been a couple of weeks without a game but they are hoping it will be third time lucky and that their Brownlands Park clash with Lochore Welfare will go ahead. They have been filling in with extra training sessions so they certainly should be fit.

There’s one consolation of not having games, it has allowed the Bleachers injury list, which was quite hefty, to get almost cleared up. Only Craig McPhail is still confined to the sidelines with groin injury.

The Bleachers manager Jock Pearson expects to have a squad of 16 and he may also have a couple of trialists on board.

Lochore Welfare are the great unpredictable’s with wins over the two top teams in the league and a defeat from a team who hadn’t won a game and only last week they were rather fortunate last week to get a draw at home with Bankfoot so tomorrow’s game at Brownlands Park could be a very interesting encounter.

Coupar Angus are away to Dundee Violet in the North League and they couldn’t have had a tougher fixture to finish the year with as the Pansies have consolidated their place at the top of the table when they beat their arch rivals Broughty last week and are obviously on a high.

Barry Britton will be without Adrian Kelly, fractured ankle and Robbie Black, unavailable.

Scone Thistle are away to Arbroath SC in the Redwood Leisure Cup preliminary round and this could be a closely contested encounter.

The teams are on level pegging as far as their positions in the respective leagues are concerned.

Thistle boss Derek Adam has his two strikers Allan Cameron and Alan Bailey facing late fitness tests as they are both nursing groin injuries.

He expects to have Grant McGregor and Derek Angus back in his squad this week, Derek will make a late selection.

Scone Thistle are to play a team of former players at their RDM ground on Sunday, December 27. Ian Flaherty is in charge of the Golden Oldies and he has already had a good response and invites any former player who wishes to play in the game to contact him at 07766903069, the kick off will be at noon.

There will be more about the game in next week’s PA.

Jeanfield Swifts and their player coach David Hannah have parted company by mutual consent.

SCONE Thistle F.C. are staging a football  match between present and former players  at the RDM Park on Sunday, December 27,  with a 12 noon kick-off .

The game will be a tribute to Scott Farquharson, a past president, who died earlier  this year. He did a huge amount for the  club.

TOMORROW’S fixtures in the Bukta Teamwear.com leagues:
Premier League – Blairgowrie v Kinnoull.
Central League – Luncarty v Lochore Welfare.
North League – Violet v Coupar Angus.
Redwood Leisure Cup preliminary round – Arbroath SC v Scone Thistle.
First round – Bankfoot v Kirrie Thistle.
No fixture – Jeanfield Swifts.