Weekend sees shortened fixtures list for Perthshire Amateurs

Dec 18 2009

THERE is a shortened card this week due to the upcoming winter shutdown and many celebrating Black Friday.

Ballinluig will try to advance to the last 16 of the North of Tay this week and standing in their way are Midlands Premier league side Morgan FP, who although are near the bottom with only two league wins from nine, they can be a formidable team on their day.

In the Perthshire Cup, Breadalbane are red hot favourites to make it 11 unbeaten on the bounce as a Swifts outfit lacking in confidence head North. Letham, have made some new signings this week and welcome Powrie back to the club with Jackson and Nicholson new recruits, but they have tough opponents in the shape of Craigie who are on form.

Fellow second division outfit Wolfhill await top boys Roselea in the other outstanding tie looking to spring a cup shock if they can continue their recent good league form while in the Ashleigh Cup, Kettins await the visit of Vale of Atholl in what could be potential banana skin if the Kettins hit top form.

On league duty there are two crucial ties in the offing, firstly the Brig are in dire need of points as they trail their opponents Alyth by five points and a defeat could see that increase to eight, which they might not be able to claw back, while if Burrelton Rovers obtain a win at home to bottom club Vale of Earn they too will open up a gap leaving both the Brig and the Vale hovering at the bottom. Only one tie on the card for division two as league leaders Coupar Angus entertain high scoring Fairfield, decimated by suspensions.

In division three, there are potentially five draws expected from the five ties as all clubs are evenly matched.

Rattray sit top of the tree, but face the second real good test of the season as Newtyle are sometimes unplayable at home. Errol go in search of their first win in their last game of 2009 and this could be achievable as Kenmore visit with midfield man Harrison missing due to suspension.

Meigle Vics have again underachieved, but have a good previous record against visitors Letham United, while Methven host Star, licking their wounds from their drubbing from Letham Lads last week, who travel to face the Strath at home who are going good guns.

Any clubs who have not paid the Public Liability Insurance premium due by this Friday will be debt suspended.

The Perthshire Amateur league will shut down for their winter break following this weekend’s ties with the scheduled restart on Saturday, January 9, 2010. Happy Xmas and a Merry New year from all the Committee.

RESULTS (December 12):
Scottish Cup fourth round – Breadalbane 3, Lowson Utd 2.

North of Tay Cup third round – Caird Park 6, Letham 3 (aet).

Marshal Cup first round – Errol 2, Wolfhill 9.

League Division One – Bridge of Earn 1, Vale of Earn 1.

League Division Two – Craigie 6, Perth Villareal 2.

All other games postponed.

FIXTURES for tomorrow (Saturday), kick off’s – Cup 1.30pm, League 2pm:

North of Tay Cup third round – Ballinluig v Morgan Academy FP (P Lynch).

Perthshire Cup third round – Breadalbane v Jeanfield Swifts (D McCorquendale); Letham v Craigie (K Shaw); Wolfhill v Roselea (E Dow).

Ashleigh Cup second round – Kettins v Vale of Atholl (P Stevenson).

League Division One – Bridge of Earn v Alyth (B Reid); Burrelton Rovers v Vale of Earn (K Stewart).

League Division Two – Coupar Angus v Fairfield (D Brydie).

League Division Three – Newtyle Hearts v Rattray (R Thomson); Errol v Kenmore (C Turner); Meigle Vics v Letham Utd ( M Sharpe); Methven v Star of Atholl (G Graham), Strathearn Grove v Letham Lads (R McDougall).

Free Day – Kinrossie/Caledonian, Auchterarder Primrose, Bridgeton Utd, Perth Villareal, Tay Thistle, Comrie Rovers, Balmoral United and St Johns.

No Game – Taybank.