Football: Perthshire’s amateur sides prepare for big kick-off

Aug 10 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

THE FIRST round of the Smith League Cup will be the curtain-raiser for the 2010/11 local amateur season.

The big kick-off gets underway next Tuesday (August 17), with Perth side St John’s hoping to secure the silverware for the third year in succession.

They face Tay Thistle in the first round.

Both Letham and Rattray were two divisions apart last season, but they will get an early look at each other ahead of the coming league campaign as they battle for top spot in Section One.

Section Two has been billed as the ‘group of death’ as it contains last season’s league runners-up Roselea, North of Tay Cup champions Breadalbane and Division Three winners Letham Lads.

Auchterarder’s capture of ‘Dr Goals’ Billy Carle should give them the bite they missed last season and justify their position as favourites in Section Eight.

Ballinluig and Bridge of Earn look the best bets for qualification in Section 7.

Finally, following the late withdrawal of Taybank, First Division outfits Balmoral Utd, Burrelton and Vale of Earn will make up Section Five.

The next monthly meeting will held on Monday (August 16) in Luncarty Juniors’ Social Club at 7.30pm.

Fixtures for August 17 (kick-off 6.30pm): Smith League Cup, Section One: Vale of Atholl v Star of Atholl, Letham v Rattray.

Section Two: Roselea v Breadalbane, Comrie Rovers v Letham Lads.

Section Three: Newtyle Hearts v Bridgeton Utd, Meigle Vics v Craigie.

Section Four: Strathearn Grove v Alyth, Glenfarg Utd v Wolfhill.

Section Five: Balmoral Utd v Burrelton Rovers.

Section Six: St John’s v Tay Thistle, Kenmore v Fairfield.

Section Seven: Bridge Of Earn v Kinrossie/Caledonian, Ballinluig v Methven.

Section Eight: Jeanfield Swifts v Auchterarder Primrose, Coupar Angus v Kettins.

Vale of Earn have no game.

August 19: League Division One – Ballinluig v Breadalbane, Alyth v Balmoral Utd, Burrelton Rovers v Roselea, Auchterarder Primrose v Vale of Earn, Craigie v St John’s.

Division Two: Tay Thistle v Letham Lads, Coupar Angus v Letham, Bridgeton Utd v Vale of Atholl, Jeanfield Swifts v Comrie Rovers, Bridge of Earn v Wolfhill, Fairfield v Rattray.

Division Three: Methven v Kenmore, Meigle Vics v Newtyle Hearts, Glenfarg Utd v Kinrossie/Caledonian, Star of Atholl v Strathearn Grove.

Kettins have no game.

August 21 (kick-off 3pm): Smith League Cup, Section One: Rattray v Star of Atholl, Letham v Vale of Atholl.

Section Two: Roselea v Letham Lads, Breadalbane v Comrie Rovers.

Section Three: Bridgeton Utd v Meigle Vics, Craigie v Newtyle Hearts.

Section Four: Strathearn Grove v Wolfhill, Alyth v Glenfarg Utd.

Section Five: Burrelton Rovers v Vale of Earn:

Section Six: Tay Thistle v Kenmore, Fairfield v St Johns:

Section Seven: Methven v Bridge Of Earn, Kinrossie/Caledonian v Ballinluig:

Section Eight: Auchterarder Primrose v Coupar Angus, Kettins v Jeanfield Swifts:

East Perthshire side Balmoral Utd have a free weekend.