JUNIOR FOOTBALL – PA FRIDAY MAY 13

May 13 2011 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

THE season is certainly winding down ...

Two clubs – Kinnoull and Coupar Angus – are already finished while Scone Thistle bring down the curtain on their season tomorrow.

The rest of the clubs, with one exception, will finish up next Saturday, at least as far as league games are concerned.

While it had been predicted the season would run well into June, and it may well do for a few clubs who are involved in cup semi finals and finals, the majority of games will be finished much in line with previous seasons.

This is despite the horrendous winter which was responsible for a host of cancellations over a period somewhere around nine–10 weeks.

Jeanfield, Scone Thistle and Bankfoot are all at home tomorrow and the outcome of those games are of no consequence as far as the destination of the championship is concerned, but all three will be going all out to finish on the winning side and enhance their points tally and possibly improve their respective positions in the league table.

Jeanfield take on Newburgh and if form is any guide Swifts should finish with full points from this game as they are well into the top half of the table and are chasing points that could see them finish in third or fourth place.

Swifts had one of their best results of the season last week when they trounced Kirkcaldy YM, who were second top of the table at that time, by 4–1.

Manager Scott Brown expects to have the same squad plus Jamie McKenzie, who missed out as he was suspended.

There is a doubt about Arron Whitehead who has a knee injury he may have a late fitness test. Scott Brown expects to have a squad of 17 or 18.

Newburgh who won at Scone last week were playing at home in midweek to Crossgates and lost by 1–0. So far they haven’t named a squad.

Bankfoot, after a very successful 11 game unbeaten run, have lost their last three league games, the latest of which was on Wednesday night when they were away to Dundonald and lost by 4–1.

Obviously those adverse results have caused them to slip down the table and ended their hopes of being in at the death of the championship.

Tomorrow they are hosts to Lochore Welfare who had a 2–1 win in their midweek game against Steelend Vics.

They trail Bankies by seven points in the table.

Bankies have been hit by a host of injuries which no doubt has had much to do with those adverse results and on Wednesday night they had a number of their squad missing and were forced to field trialists.

Manager Ian Duff wasn’t in a position to name a squad for tomorrow’s game as he will again be without Iain Wilkie (unavailable), Gavin Mackie (damaged ribs), Billy Carle (fractured thumb) and Bally Whytock (suspended) while Mike Jarmuszewski, who had to come off in the second half in the midweek game with a hamstring injury, is doubtful and he may have a fitness test.

It’s no surprise that Ian Duff said it will be a late selection and his squad will again include trialists.

Scone Thistle entertain Steelend Vics in what is the last game of the season for both and obviously they will each be looking to finish in a blaze of glory.

In the corresponding fixture at Steelend the teams shared four goals and the points.

Steelend after an eight game undefeated run have lost their last three games, the latest of which was on Wednesday night at Lochore.

Thistle will be going all out to make it four defeats on the trot.

Thistle have a few players missing for this game, Paul Anderson and Craig Jack (both unavailable) and skipper Andy Smith (knee injury).

Manager Alan Cameron’s problems don’t end there as he will await the result of fitness tests on Kenny Hynd (dead leg) and Max Smith (ankle injury).

On the plus side John McGovern returns to the squad. It’s a late selection from the Thistle gaffer.

Saturday will be a real busy day for the Thistle as they are hosting a race night in the Wheel Inn which commences at 7.30pm. Anyone who wishes to come along and join in will be made most welcome.

Blairgowrie suffered a set back in midweek when they lost 4–1 in their away game against North End.

They are back in Dundee tomorrow as guests of East Craigie and team boss Jim Lock expects to have a full squad available.

Kinnoull who have been finished for three weeks are still in limbo as far as knowing what league they will be playing in next season, the Tulloch Park side are at the present time fourth from the bottom of the Premier League table with 23 points.

They are in the unwanted situation of being involved in the battle for the third relegation place with Armadale and Arniston and with no further say in deciding their own future as they now have to depend on those two dropping points in their remaining games if they are to remain a PremierLeague side.

Midweek reports

Dundonald Bluebell4

Bankfoot 1

BANKFOOT came close to taking the lead in this game in 15 minutes when Mike Jarmuszewski fired in a shot from around 20 yards which was right on target and the keeper did well to get down and tip it round the post.

Dundonald broke the deadlock 10 minutes later when Steven Forbes finished of a good move when he put his side ahead with a shot from the edge of the penalty box.

Steven Forbes was on the mark again to put his side 2–0 ahead in 59 minutes with a shot that sneaked in at the near post. There was more woe for Bankies a minute later when a mix up in their defence left Derek Wallace with the easy task of knocking the ball into an empty net.

The game was in its final two minutes when Shaun Fergus turned his marker on the edge of the penalty box and shot into the top corner of the net to make it 3–1.

Dundonald retaliated to the loss of that goal with immediate effect when Gary Greenhill made it 4–1 a minute later.

North End4

Blairgowrie 1

BLAIR got off to a great start in this game when they took the lead after four minutes with a 22 yard volley into the top corner of the net from Keith Dewar and they held on to this lead until the final minute of the half when Chris Glennie squared the game for North End.

The second half however saw the Dokens, who are hot tips to win the championship, go on to finish the winners by a 4–1 margin.

Gary Muckersie, Ronnie Valentine and Ryan Duncan were their scorers.

TOMORROW’S fixtures in the ACA Sports Leagues:

Central League – Jeanfield Swifts v Newburgh; Bankfoot Athletic v Lochore Welfare; Scone Thistle v Steelend Vics.

North League – East Craigie v Blairgowrie.

All kick off’s – 2.30pm.

Midweek results – Dundonald Bluebell 4, Bankfoot Athletic 1; North End 4, Blairgowrie 1.