PERTHSHIRE JUNIOR FOOTBALL

Aug 6 2010 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

THE season kicked off on Wednesday night with the first games in the League Cup and it saw Kinnoull and Luncarty both finishing as winners.

Tomorrow, they face up to each other at Brownlands Park with the section leadership at stake.

Luncarty got their season off to a winning start with an odd goal in three win over their hosts Scone Thistle in what was a hard fought and entertaining encounter.

The Bleachers boss Mark Potter said: “I felt we deserved our win and while we will no doubt be cast once again as the second favourites tomorrow, but we are looking forward to the game and bucking the odds for a second time this week.”

The good news from the Bleachers camp is they will have three players who were unavailable on Wednesday back in their squad – Neil Ritchie, Sam McCallum and Angus Wilson. Goalkeeper Scott Christie is unavailable, Chris Gunn will take over, Mark Potter expects to have a squad of 17.

Kinnoull manager Gavin Price was delighted his side got off to a winning start in their League Cup campaign and what made their 2–0 win even sweeter was the fact that it was at the expense of city rivals, Jeanfield Swifts.

Gavin Price has strengthened his squad with another signing, the latest addition at Tulloch Park is Jim Scott who is an experienced full back and previously played with Carnoustie before moving to the west of Scotland and was transferred to the Vale of Clyde.

Jim has returned to this area and Kinnoull secured his transfer from the Vale which will be a disappointment to a few clubs who were keen to get him on board. Jim made his debut in Wednesday nights game and played very well.

Kinnoull expect to be much on the same lines for tomorrow’s away game at Luncarty.

They will however be without Gavin Tinley and David Carr both unavailable. Gavin Price expects to have a squad of 15 or 16 available.

The Riverside Stadium is the venue for what is a very intriguing clash between hosts Jeanfield Swifts and Bankfoot.

Swifts boss Scott Brown is well aware that after their defeat on Wednesday night they must win tomorrow’s game if they are to retain any hopes of staying in contention for the semi final spot.

The Swifts boss made two more signings earlier this week, they are Arron Whitehead who has been reinstated from East Stirling.

Arron is a midfield/defender and he came on as a sub midway through the second half in Wednesday night’s game.

The other new man is Scott Nicol, who is a forward and has joined Swifts from Kinnoull.

Scott has yet to make his debut.

It will be a late selection from the Swifts camp for tomorrow’s game.

This is Bankfoot’s first game in this League Cup section and a win for them would certainly see their hat in the ring as challengers in the race to finish as the section winners. So it’s all to play for at the Riverside tomorrow.

Bankies boss Ian Duff has also made two signings – Iain Wilkie, who has played with a number of clubs and can play in defence or up front; Max Smith, a striker, who has been signed from Tay Thistle Amateurs. Max will add weight and fire power to the Bankies attack. Ian Duff will make a late selection for tomorrow’s game.

Blairgowrie lost their opening game in the DJ Laing League Cup when they went down at home to Forfar West End, 3–0.

They are away to Forfar Albion who got off to a winning start with a 4–2 win over Coupar Angus.

A win for Blair is a must if they are to retain any hopes of finishing as the section winners.

Manager Ross Graham expects his squad to be on its usual lines.

Coupar Angus and Scone Thistle, who have no official fixture tomorrow, have agreed to play a friendly at Foxhall Park. Both managers are likely to play trialists in this game.

Scone manager Alan Cameron has signed former Coupar player Willie Laing. Willie who plays at centre half has joined them from Ballinluig Amateurs. The other new man is Greg Browning who is a real utility player and should prove a very useful asset to the squad.

KINNOULL went ahead in their game against Jeanfield Swifts when Billy Carle met with a cross from the right and beat the keeper with a header from close range the “Noull” finally clinched the points in 85 minutes with an excellent goal from David Carr who fired home a free kick from around 25 yards.

Scone Thistle went behind in their home game against Luncarty when Liam Haire put the Bleachers ahead in 31 minutes. Thistle fought back after this setback when Ally Vannett equalised for them in 39 minutes. A few minutes later however they were reduced to 10 men when Andy Smith was sent off.

The Bleachers scored what proved to be the winning goal in 75 minutes when a cross to the back post found Colin Wilcox unmarked and he bundled the ball over the goal line.

Blairgowrie at home to Forfar West End were trailing 2–0 at the interval. Mark Pirie in 22 minutes and Robbie Holden in 40 minutes were the goal scorers. A second goal from Holden in 85 minutes made it 3–0.

Coupar Angus were away to Forfar Albion in what was a rather torrid encounter which saw both sides have two men ordered off. Coupar eventually lost 4–2. The Coupar scorers were Darren Duncan and Fraser Smith.

A minutes silence was observed before the kick off’s at Wednesday League Cup games in honour of Bankies official Ian Wood who died earlier this week.

Bankfoot Chairman Robin Wood, said: “Ian’s contribution in keeping the Junior football flag flying in Bankfoot was immense and his guiding hand and common sense approach in all matters appertaining to the running of a Junior Football Club will be missed at Coronation Park.”

East Region General Secretary John Reilly paid tribute to Ian of whom he said: “Ian was a terrific club servant who carried out the onerous duties of club secretary right up until a few weeks ago, he was also a very astute legislator. He will be sadly missed by his many friends throughout the East Region.”

SCONE Thistle will take on a former players select side on Sunday (KO 2pm) as a tribute to the memory of a Scone Thistle legend and one of football’s great characters Scott Farquharson who passed away last November.

This game had been arranged to be played earlier this year but had to be cancelled due to the wintry conditions that prevailed at the time.

Scott Farquharson served his beloved Thistle for close on three decades and held every office within the club at one time or another and he turned his hand when required to any chore that needing doing no matter what it entailed.

Scott was also a very knowledgeable and valued legislator and as a delegate to the Regional meetings he was never shy of putting over his point of view, Scott was a life member of the East Region.

“Farkie” as he was known to almost everybody was a father figure to Thistle players past and present and quite a few sought his wise council on matters not related to football years after they had left the club such was the esteem he was held in.

Mrs Elsie Farquharson and family will be the Thistle’s guests of honour at the game.

Derek Adam a former manager and player who is in charge of the Legends select, has had a great response and expects his squad will number at least 20, with players from quite differing “Era’s” performing at some stage of the game.

Here are some of the legends who will be taking part, David Rice, Brian Martin, Jimmy Fenton Jimmy Fotheringham, Mark Hamilton,Gerry Kelly, Gary Christie,Garry Miller, Andy Gordon, Dean Laing, Dean Mitchell and Ian Flaherty.

TOMORROW’S fixtures in the Aca Sports League Cup:

Section Two – Jeanfield Swifts v Bankfoot Athletic; Luncarty v Kinnoull.

DJ Laing League Cup: Section Two – Forfar Albion v Blairgowrie; Kirrie Thistle v Forfar West End.

Kick off’s – 2 30pm.

Midweek results: League Cup – Kinnoull 2, Jeanfield Swifts 0; Scone Thistle 1, Luncarty 2; Blairgowrie 0, Forfar West End 3; Forfar Albion 4, Coupar Angus 2.