JUNIOR FOOTBALL – PA FRIDAY APRIL 8

Apr 15 2011 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

AFTER two successive defeats, Jeanfield Swifts – who are at home to Lochgelly Albert – would now appear to be out of contention in the championship race.

Swifts’ Bryan Scott, who has been plagued with a hamstring problem since he joined up at the Riverside Stadium from Arbroath, has been back in full training and boss Scott Brown says if Bryan feels no ill effects he will be in the squad for tomorrow’s game.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t long after this piece of good news when he learned that leading goalscorer John Anderson is in the doubtful category with a bruised foot.

It could be a late test that will decide if he can be considered.

Swifts’ other striker, David Thornton, has hardly kicked a ball for the club this season due to having a groin injury.

He continues on the sidelines along with goalkeeper Mark Mitchell and Mark Gordon, who are both injured, plus Neil Gardiner who is suffering from a virus and will also miss the game.

Scott Brown lists a trialist keeper in his squad which he expects will number 16 or 17.

Swifts have released their midfield-cum-defender Mike Waring at his own request.

Lochgelly, who suffered a shock defeat at Scone last week, were back in action in midweek against Lochore and this Gardiners Park Derby clash ended one nil in the Albert’s favour. This puts them two points ahead of Swifts from a game more played.

Like their hosts, they would appear to be out of contention as far as the championship is concerned.

Albert’s away record is poor as five of their six defeats have been in away games.

Swifts and Lochgelly, whatever future results will mean to them, will be going all out to finish with the points from tomorrows game which could be a real cracker.

Kinnoull’s hopes of avoiding relegation were given a boost by their excellent performance last week that earned them three valuable points.

Tomorrow they are away to Glenrothes and they will have to produce another of the same if they are to give themselves a chance of taking anything from this Warout Park encounter and continue to keep those slim hopes of avoiding the drop alive.

Kinnoull Boss Gavin Price would have been happy to have the squad that did duty last week and played so well, but this won’t be possible as two players are unavailable.

Lee Deans misses out due to having an operation and is unlikley to play again this season. Gavin Tinley is their other absentee. He is unavailable.

On the plus side, the news from the Tulloch Park Camp is that Adam O’Conner who was playing really well but sustained a foot injury that kept him on the sidelines last week could get the all clear to return.

He may have a late fitness test.

Gavin Price expects to have a squad of 16 or 17.

Glenrothes who were relegated from the Super League last season are quite desperate to win promotion and return from whence they came, but obviously they will have to finish in one of the two top positions in the table to do so.

They are currently fourth from the top of the table with nine wins in 13 games and one draw and obviously three defeats.

They trail the league leaders St. Andrews by eight points but have three games in hand.

It’s worth a mention that of the three games they have lost, two have been at the Warout.

Glens Boss Archie Wise says his team will have to be at their best as he feels that Kinnoull are a much better side than their lowly place in the league table would indicate.

There are three former Kinnoull players in the Glens squad, they are Mark Morrison, John Kelly and Steve McAllister.

Scone Thistle are away to Newburgh and after their convincing win over Lochgelly last week the Thistles confidence will be on a high after this

result. They travel to East Shore Park with the squad that did duty in that game.

Newburgh who are second from the bottom of the table were at Luncarty last week and won six-one so they too will be on a high.

Luncarty are away to Rosyth and there’s a reasonable chance that Dave Marnoch could be back in the Bleachers defence now that he has recovered from the ankle injury that sidelined him for a few weeks.

Dave has been back training and if he feels okay he will be in the squad which Manager Mark Potter says will number 17 or 18 and will include trialists.

Rosyth are third from the foot of the table. They were in action in midweek and were at home to Steelend Vics losing to their guests by three-two.

Bankfoot were away to Broughty on Wednesday night which was their second visit to Whitton Park in four days. This time it was in the East of Scotland Cup and Bankies were without Danny Dobbie, Donald McDonald and Gavin Mackie who were injured plus, Jamie McAinsh due to work commitments and Mike Jarmuszewsk on holiday.

Despite their squad being depleted Bankies took the lead in this tie when Iain Wilkie put them ahead with a well taken goal from 15 yards. Midway through the half, a bout of pressure from the Ferry side saw them equalise on the half hour mark, their striker “Birdie”Craik met with a cross and headed home the ball into the back of the net.

Bankies, although they continued to have their fair share of the play, went in at the interval trailing by three-one when Lee Bertie and Marcus Watt scored in the last five minutes of the half.

The Ferry side went on to win by five-one with further goals in 75 and 78 minutes from Graham Dailly and Jamie Winter. Winter had a chance to get his name on the score board for a second time a couple of minutes later from the penalty spot but he was denied by keeper David Rice who brilliantly saved his spot kick.

Tomorrow Bankies are back chasing league points and they have a tough away fixture they take on Kirkcaldy YM who are in the second top spot of the league table and like the Bankies are well to the fore in the race for the championship.

Bankies at present trail the YM by 11 points but have five games in hand, which could eventually add up to a four-point lead over their hosts.

The YM were at home to Crossgates in midweek and came very near to losing as they were two-one down with just 17 minutes remaining but went on to win three-two.

Bankfoot Boss Ian Duff wasn’t in a position to name his squad for tomorrow’s game as he is waiting to review the injury position. He will make a late selection.

Coupar Angus are away to Arbroath SC and will have two trialists in their squad which is expected to number 15.

TOMORROW’S fixtures: ACA Sports Leagues: Premier League – Glenrothes v Kinnoull. Central League – Jeanfield Swifts v Lochgelly Albert; Kirkcaldy YM v Bankfoot Ath; Newburgh v Scone Thistle; Rosyth v Luncarty. North League – Arbroath SC v Coupar Angus. All kick offs, 2.30pm.