Perthshire Amateur season kicks-off with Smith League Cup

Aug 20 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

IT WAS business as usual after the first round of Smith League Cup matches this week as the pre-game favourites flexed their muscles and moved closer to the competition’s next stage.

A hat-trick from last season’s top scorer, Thorne, ensured Vale of Atholl were too much for Highland Perthshire rivals Star.

While Smith, on his return from Kennoway, was the difference for Letham, terrorising the Rattray defence and notching a double.

Both Roselea and Breadalbane shared the spoils. The visitors, Breadalbane, held on for 30 minutes with 10 men, as a new recruit fell foul of the referee.

Letham Lads shocked Comrie, although the west Perthshire side’s lengthy list of suspensions played a prominent role.

Craigie and Bridgeton Utd will battle it out for top honours in Section Three after both sides secured opening wins.

Wolfhill will be favourites for Section Four after a seven-goal rout of new boys Glenfarg.

East Perthshire side Balmoral Utd and Burrelton Rovers could only manage a draw, which will put Vale of Earn in the driving seat.

St John’s, who defeated Tay Thistle in the week, will be looking to tie-up their group with a victory over an impressive, young, Fairfield side – who also won their opening match – when they face each other tomorrow.

In section seven, Bridge of Earn will be out for revenge when they face Ballinluig shortly. The Highland Perthshire charges took their impending opponents’ Division One status last term.

Finally, tomorrow’s Auchterarder v Coupar Angus tie will decide the group after the latter hit local rivals Kettins for seven, and the Lang Toon outfit showed the loss of Deans and Carle will not dent their prospects, as they dispatched Jeanfield Swifts.

RESULTS for Tuesday (August 17): Smith League Cup – Section One, Vale of Atholl 5 Star of Atholl 0, Letham 4 Rattray 2. Section Two – Roselea 2 Breadalbane 2, Comrie Rovers 0 Letham Lads 3. Section Three – Newtyle Hearts 3 Bridgeton Utd 4, Meigle Vics 1 Craigie 4. Section Four – Strathearn Grove 1 Alyth 1, Glenfarg Utd 1 Wolfhill 7. Section Five – Balmoral Utd 1 Burrelton Rovers 1. Section Six - St John’s 4 Tay Thistle 2, Kenmore 0 Fairfield 4. Section Seven – Bridge Of Earn 4 Kinrossie/Caledonian 0, Ballinluig 4 Methven 2. Section Eight – Jeanfield Swifts 1 Auchterarder Primrose 3, Coupar Angus 7 Kettins 1.

FIXTURES for Saturday (August 21), all kick-offs 3pm: Smith League Cup, Section 1 – Rattray v Star of Atholl (M Sharpe), Letham v Vale of Atholl (B Reid). Section Two – Roselea v Letham Lads (W Grieve), Breadalbane v Comrie Rovers (R Thomson). Section Three – Bridgeton Utd v Meigle Vics (D Brydie), Craigie v Newtyle Hearts (K Stewart). Section Four – Strathearn Grove v Wolfhill (K Barclay), Alyth v Glenfarg Utd (S Robertson). Section Five – Burrelton Rovers v Vale of Earn (P Aitken). Section Six – Tay Thistle v Kenmore (P Montgomery), Fairfield v St John’s (E McIntosh). Section Seven – Methven v Bridge Of Earn (G Graham), Kinrossie/Caledonian v Ballinluig (J Richardson).

Section Eight – Auchterarder Primrose v Coupar Angus (P Lynch), Kettins v Jeanfield Swifts (J Hunter). Balmoral Utd have a free weekend.

Tuesday (August 24), all kick-offs 6.30pm: League Division One – Breadalbane v Craigie (D McCorquendale), Roselea v St John’s (D Brydie), Balmoral Utd v Ballinluig (P Montgomery), Vale of Earn v Burrelton Rovers (K Shaw), Alyth v Auchterarder Primrose (K Stewart). Division Two – Letham v Jeanfield Swifts (N Fraser). Thursday (August 26): Division Two – Letham Lads v Bridgeton Utd (B Reid), Wolfhill v Tay Thistle (R Thomson), Rattray v Coupar Angus (J Hunter), Vale Of Atholl v Fairfield (S Robertson), Comrie Rovers v Bridge of Earn (P Lynch).

Division Three – Newtyle Hearts v Kinrossie/Caledonian (M Sharpe), Glenfarg Utd v Methven (E McIntosh), Kettins v Meigle Vics (P Stevenson), Strathearn Grove v Kenmore (G Graham). Star of Atholl are without a game.

Kingdom Caledonian AFA

TOMORROW’S fixture: League – Strathmiglo United v Fair City, kick off 2pm.