JUNIOR FOOTBALL – FRIDAY MAY 20

May 20 2011 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

SCONE Thistle manager Alan Cameron has resigned from his post.

He announced his decision to the committee when they met in midweek and while they were disappointed they respected Alan’s decision.

Alan said he wished to thank the Thistle committee for giving him the chance to be their manager even although he had no previous experience in this field. He had enjoyed his stint at Farquharson Park and his decision to quit was a personal one.

Tomorrow as the season reaches its climax there are only three fixtures down to be played. The teams involved are Jeanfield Swifts, Bankfoot and Luncarty. For both Swifts and Bankfoot those are their final games while Luncarty along with Blairgowrie will have the honour of finally bringing down the curtain on the season as they each have one more game left to play.

Jeanfield have a top class attraction at the Riverside Stadium in their final game. They are hosts to the newly crowned Central League Champions Oakley and it’s congratulations to the Fifers on winning this honour which carries with it the prize of promotion to the Premier League.

As far as Swifts are concerned, apart from the fact that they will be delighted if they can send the champions home empty handed, and if they were to do so it’s possible they could finish third in the table. However it’s not entirely in their own hands as they will have to depend on their only rivals for this spot, Kirkcaldy YM, losing to Bankfoot at Coronation Park.

Swifts when they met Oakley, who were undefeated in their league games at their Blairwood Park, in the corresponding fixture are one of only two sides to leave for home with a share of the points.

Swifts have a good record in their league games at the Riverside Stadium as they have finished winners nine times and lost only twice.

Manager Scott Brown will have Mike Gow and Tony Holt back in his squad after missing last week’s game. Bryan Scott, who had to come off in the first half of last week’s game with a groin strain, is expected to be given the all clear and if this is so then the only player still missing is long term injury victim David Thornton. Swifts expect to have a squad of 18.

Oakley have two former Swifts in their squad, Murray McDowell and Chris Dodds, a third one, John Cusick is unavailable, along with four other players – Chris Hughes, Willie Campbell, John Rushford and Coco Brown.

Bankfoot were guests of Crossgates Primrose in midweek and they won 2–0 which was a very good result for the Bankies and was some consolation for them after losing their unbeaten home record last Saturday.

Tomorrow Bankies are back on home ground for their final game with Kirkcaldy YM as their guests and in contrast to their hosts, who have had a very hefty programme playing twice a week for the past few weeks, the YM will be fully rested as they haven’t had game since they lost to Jeanfield a couple of weeks ago and this has allowed their injury list to get cleared up. They expect to travel for this Coronation Park encounter with a full strength squad.

Bankies boosted by their midweek win will go in to tomorrow’s game with renewed confidence and a win would mean that of the 12 league games they have played at Coronation Park they will have lost only one which would be quite an achievement.

Manager Ian Duff was delighted with his team’s performance at Crossgates although the downside was that Mike Jarmuszewski had to be subbed due to a groin injury while Danny Dobbie and Gavin Mackie picked up head knocks and it’s likely to be a late decision to see if any or all of them can be considered for tomorrow’s game. Skipper Gary Campbell misses out as he is unavailable and it’s a late selection from Ian Duff.

Luncarty are another side who have been idle over the past two weeks. This week they are away to Dundonald and the Bleachers will be without Darren and Colin Wilcox as they are unavailable while Angus Wilson is ruled out with a damaged ankle and it will be a late fitness test that will decide if Jason Henderson who is nursing a knee injury can be considered. It’s a late selection from manager Mark Potter who expects to include a couple of trialists in his squad.

Midweek Match Report

Crossgates Primrose 0, Bankfoot Athletic 2

Bankies got off to a flying start in this game as they went ahead after just four minutes, they were awarded a free kick which was taken by Gavin Mackie which he curled across the face of the defensive wall and into the far corner of the net and it was this goal that still separated the teams until the 80th minute when Bankies clinched the points with a second goal.

Ian Duff had made what proved to be an inspired substitution when he brought on Alan Stewart. The striker has been unavailable for some weeks but he showed that he hadn’t lost his scoring touch when he got between the goalkeeper, who had come off his line and the centre half, to meet a long clearance from Bankies keeper Mike Whyte and fire the ball into the back of the empty net from 20 yards for what was a really well taken goal.

Arniston Rangers won their midweek game against Thornton Hibs and this result means that Kinnoull will be relegated from the Premier League.

Luncarty are hosting a sportsman’s dinner on Saturday, May 28 in their Social Club. Guest speakers are former Scotland goalkeeper Alan Rough and entertainer John McKelvie. Enquiries for tickets should be directed to either Brian Whyte at 01738 827664 or Jim Meiklejohn at 01738 828071.

FIXTURES for tomorrow (Saturday) in the ACA Sports Leagues:

Central League – Jeanfield Swifts v Oakley United; Bankfoot Athletic v Kirkcaldy YM; Dundonald Bluebell v Luncarty.

Kick offs – 2.30pm.