Junior Football: Perthshire juniors round-up

Apr 2 2010 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

JEANFIELD Swifts are away to Steelend Vics in the region’s major knock-out competition, the East of Scotland Cup, and they are keen to get this second round tie played at the fourth time of asking.

Swifts will go into this tie as the favourites to move forward to round three given the relative positions between them and their opponents in the league table although it’s not unknown for the form book to be turned on its head in a cup tie.

Swifts boss Murray McDowell has made a new signing who hails from Poland, he is Adam Frydrychowicz, who has been training with Swifts.

Adam, who is a versatile defender, was given the chance to show how he could perform in last week’s game and he so impressed the Swifts boss that he was signed.

Adam will be in the squad for this Woodside Park cup clash which will include Johnny McRae now fully recovered from the hand injury that has kept him on the sidelines.

There’s a question mark over Darren Thomson (hamstring) and he is likely to have a late fitness test.

Striker David Thornton is unavailable but the Swifts boss expects to have a squad of 17 or 18.

Scone Thistle and Bankfoot are both at home in the central league. The Thistle take on Kirkcaldy YM who are one of the leading contenders in the championship race. They were at Bankfoot last week and were held to a draw by the Bankies.

The Thistle, while they lost the corresponding fixture at Kirkcaldy 2–0, their manager Derek Adam felt they were unfortunate not to take something from that game as they had more than their fair share of the chances to do so.

Thistle are quietly confident that they will take revenge for that defeat by sending the YM home pointless from their visit to the RDM ground.

The Thistle Boss was pretty satisfied with his teams performance against league leaders Jeanfield last week and he may have a stronger squad for tomorrow’s game as Keith Dewar and Drew Fleming, missing last week, return. However there are doubts about Andy Smith, leg injury and Bob Nairn, back problem, they are likely to have late fitness tests.

Bankfoot take on Newburgh who after their win against Rosyth last week have gone a point ahead of Bankfoot in the league table, they have played two more games than their hosts.

A win for the Bankies would see them move above Newburgh and depending on other results they could take a further step up the table.

Bankies will have Craig Whyte back in their squad but still confined to the sidelines due to injuries are Scott McCabe, Colin Fraser, Jamie McAinsh and Charlie Bradshaw. Mike Jarmuszewski is unavailable. Bankies boss Ian Duff expects to have a squad of 14 or 15.

Luncarty are away to Rosyth, one time contenders for the championship but now well out of the race, they have lost their last three games and are now in a mid table position.

The Bleachers will still have interim player/manager Gary Robertson in charge and he will be hoping to see his team play as well as they did last week when they were unfortunate to lose by the odd goal in five to a strong Lochore Welfare side.

Gary will be without Colin Wilcox and Chris Rae, both unavailable, while his striker Johnny Bee is nursing a suspected fractured ankle. Gary expects to have a squad of 15 or 16.

Coupar Angus have been on the receiving end those past few weeks and tomorrow they have a very tough encounter as they entertain Broughty Athletic at Foxhall Park. The Ferry side are second top of the table and are its highest scoring outfit.

Coupar will certainly have to buck the odds to take anything from this game. Manager Barry Britton expects to have a squad of 16, only Scott McGrath misses the game as he is unavailable.

Kinnoull and Blairgowrie are both away from home in the premier league, Kinnoull take on Ballingry while Blair are guests of Armadale.

Ballingry who have had a bad run over the past few weeks were dealt a further blow this week when their manager Archie Wyse left them to return to former club Glenrothes.

Ballingry have appointed Lee Dair as their player/manager. Lee has played with the Fife club for a number of seasons and is vastly experienced in both the junior and senior games.

Kinnoull would be delighted to get a similar result as they had when they met in the corresponding fixture which was played at Tulloch Park in the early part of the season when they won 3–0 with Gary Sweeney notching a hat trick.

Kinnoull boss Scott Brown and his players are working hard to maintain their challenge in the championship race and keep the pressure on the league leaders Forfar West End from their second top spot in the table and to come home from Ore Park with a favourable result would be a real boost in this direction.

Scott Brown will await fitness tests on three players – Mark Gordon, Chris Webster and Robbie Holden, they are all reckoned to have better than a 50/50 chance of being given the green light.

Jamie McKenzie who had asked for a transfer has had a change of mind and has decided to stay at Tulloch Park.

Jamie returns to the squad for this game along with Callum McKinlay who has been out with a badly damaged ankle ligaments for two months.

Blairgowrie have been given a boost with the return of their central defender Mark Christison now recovered from his ankle injury and Kris McKaig having completed his suspension stint for their game against Armadale at Volunteer Park. They expect to travel with a squad of 16.

Those are vital points at stake in this game as both teams are in what is considered relegation alley.

Blair boss Ross Graham makes the point this is a tight competition as only three points separate Carnoustie who are third from the top of the table and Penicuik who are third from the bottom. It will be a boost for Blair if they can come home with a favourable result.

Scone Thistle are hosting a sportsmans dinner in the Lovat Hotel on Saturday, April 24, the speakers are ex Aberdeen and Scotland striker Joe Harper and former referee Brian McGinlay along with comedian Frank Robb, Any enquiries regarding this function should be directed to Graeme Campbell on 07745412200.

TOMORROW’S fixtures in the Bukta Teamwear.com Leagues: Premier League – Ballingry Rovers v Kinnoull; Armadale Thistle v Blairgowrie.

Central League – Scone Thistle v Kirkcaldy YM; Bankfoot Athletic v Newburgh; Rosyth v Luncarty.

North League – Coupar Angus v Broughty Athletic.

East of Scotland Cup second round – Steelend Vics v Jeanfield Swifts. Kickoff’s – 2.30pm.