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Sep 3 2010 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

SCONE Thistle are the only side of the Central League’s Perthshire contingent with a home game tomorrow.

Dundonald Bluebell are the visitors to Farquharson Park.

This is another tough assignment for Alan Cameron’s team as the Bluebells are one of the four teams that are already being tipped as the most likely to be in contention for the League Championship.

The others being Oakley, Kirkcaldy and Jeanfield.

Thistle goalkeeper Steve McInney didn’t play last week is unavailable this week and once again a trialist is in goal.

Scott Lafferty returns and only other players missing from the squad are long term injury victims, Gerrard Kelly, John McGoveren and Liam Pearson. Alan Cameron expects his squad to number 16 or 17.

Last Saturday Dundonald got their league campaign off to a resounding start when they whipped Steelend 5–0, they had a bye the previous week.

Their goalkeeper Iain Rann has a knee injury and is likely to have a late test. Making his debut for them in this game will be Gary Westwater who has joined them from Hill o’ Beath, they expect to be pretty much at full strength.

Bankfoot are guests of Newburgh and are quite confident that they can come home with the points from East Shore Park, their confidence has been boosted after their win over Rosyth last Saturday.

This win was made even sweeter as the Bankies came fighting back after being behind to two early goals.

This was a fact that pleased manager Ian Duff just about as much as collecting the three points, he said: “The players showed great character to come back as they did and if we continue in this vein we will be difficult to beat.”

Bankies are again without Donald McDonald, Gavin Mackie and Craig Whyte.

McDonald and Mackie are suspended while Whyte is still nursing a foot injury. “Bally” Whytock also has a foot injury which he picked up last week but is not definitely ruled out and is likely to have late fitness test.

Ian Duff expects to have a squad of 15 or 16.

Newburgh, who had a bye last week, lost their first league game the previous week by 3–0.

This followed a lack lustre League Cup campaign in which they only collected one point, so they haven’t exactly been setting the heather on fire.

Ian Duff and his troops are however too long in the tooth to pay any attention to those results and will concentrate their attention’s fully on tomorrow’s game.

Newburgh will be without two of their squad – Gordon Davies, unavailable and Scott Murray is suspended.

Kinnoull play their first away game in the Premier League travelling into the Lothians to take on Armadale Thistle and this will no doubt be a tough test for their new look squad who have won one and lost one of the two games they have played at Tulloch Park.

Kinnoull have in their time in the Premier League been able to boast of an excellent away record.

Last season’s visit to Volunteer Park saw them come home with the three points and this completed a double over the Thistle as they also won their earlier clash at Tulloch Park.

Manager Gavin Price will have to await the outcome of a host of late fitness tests before he can decide on a line up as Lee Veitch, Stuart Nicol, Mark Duggan and Lee Deans, are all in the doubtful category.

Robbie Stephen is a definite nonstarter as he is suspended.

There is however a bit more cheering news – Chris Webster, who has been out for a spell with a fractured toe, made a welcome return in Monday’s friendly with Arbroath. Chris played for an hour in this game and if he’s feeling no ill effects he could be in the squad for tomorrow’s game.

The Kinnoull/Arbroath game saw the senior side win what was an entertaining encounter 4–1.

Andy Jamieson was the Kinnoull scorer.

Armadale have been away in their first two league games and earned themselves two hard won points from their games against St Andrews and Ballingry which both finished all square.

Those are very creditable results and now they will want to top them by getting their home season off to a winning start. Kinnoull will of course have other ideas in this direction.

Jeanfield Swifts have a very difficult away game they are guests of Kirkcaldy YM, who like themselves are being punted as likely contenders in the championship race.

They have each already suffered unexpected adverse results.

A fortnight ago Swifts lost heavily to Steelend Vics while the YM, who had a mammoth win over Luncarty the previous week, went down to Lochore Welfare last Saturday.

It’s not the start either of them wanted and a favourable result from tomorrow’s Denfield Park clash, is vital for the aspirations of both teams.

Swifts had two trips to Denfield last season, one in the Scottish Cup, which they lost and the other in the league, which they won.

The YM won the corresponding fixture at the Riverside so of their most recent meetings it’s 2-1 in the Fifers favour and that’s a balance Swifts will be going all out to redress tomorrow.

Swifts boss Scott Brown expects to have a couple of trialists in his squad which will number 16 or 17.

Neil Gardiner, foot injury and Kevin Fowler, unavailable, are definite nonstarters while Sandy Ross is in the doubtful category with a knee injury and will have a late fitness test.

The YM expect to be almost at full strength with only James Roxburgh missing as he is suspended.

Luncarty are away to Lochgelly Albert and the Bleachers after two successive hefty defeats are looking for a favourable result at Gardiners Park and what a shot in the arm that would be for them.

In their visit to this venue last season the circumstances were quite similar and the Bleachers bucked the odds and came home with the points and it will interesting to see if they can produce a repeat performance.

Bleachers boss Mark Potter will be without Mike Hampton and Charlie Lynott, both unavailable. Mark expects to have a pool of 16.

The Albert will have goalkeeper Chris Galloway and midfielder Ryan McLean back. Missing are Stephen Fraser, unavailable and Allan Moody, injured.

Blairgowrie and Coupar Angus meet in the North League at Davie Park.

This is their second encounter in a couple of weeks.

They met previously at Foxhall Park in the League Cup and Blair won by quite a healthy margin.

Blair were disappointed to lose last week to Arbroath Vics and making his debut for Blair was Scott McCabe who had just been signed from Kinnoull.

Scott previously played for Kinnoull and Bankfoot and returned for a second stint at Tulloch Park at the start of this season but has been sidelined with an injury from which he has just recovered and he has been allowed to move on for the time being. Scott is a versatile defender and will no doubt prove to be a valuable addition to the Blair squad.

He is likely to make his home debut tomorrow.

Blair were without four of their players last week, three of whom return for tomorrow’s game – Craig Ferguson, Gordon Pirie and Paul Ireland, but still out with an injury is Calum Rollo.

Blair boss Ross Graham expects to have a trialist in his squad of 16 or 17.

Coupar Angus are still without a win so far this season and to break their duck in this Davie Park encounter or even take a point from it would certainly be a surprise result.

Coupar gaffer Barry Britton has two injury doubts for this game, Craig Stevenson and John Cairney, they will have late fitness tests.

Definite nonstarter is Scott McGrath, groin injury. Barry will make a late selection and expects to have a trialist in his squad.

The first round of the Scottish Cup, in which only about a third of the clubs have ties, was drawn on Tuesday and the only Perthshire club to get a tie was Blairgowrie at home to North Region side MAUD.

Barry Ward is now a free agent and is on the lookout for a club. He can be contacted on 07827343771.

TOMORROW’S fixtures in the ACA Sports Leagues: Premier League – Armadale Thistle v Kinnoull.

Central League – Scone Thistle v Dundonald Bluebell; Newburgh v Bankfoot; Lochgelly Albert v Luncarty; Kirkcaldy YM v Jeanfield Swifts.

North League – Blairgowrie vCoupar Angus.

All kick off’s – 2.30pm.