JUNIOR FOOTBALL – PA FRIDAY JULY 22

Jul 22 2011 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

Perthshire Junior football

SCONE Thistle manager Eddie O’Conner has been striving to put a team together for the start of the season as most of last season’s players have moved on.

Despite his sterling efforts he has had little success in getting new recruits on board and this situation has forced the Thistle into contemplating the possibility that they may have to apply to the SJFA to allow them to go into abeyance and that’s a road they certainly don’t want to go down.

However, the prospects that they will carry on is looking brighter as an appeal has brought a response from former players which has delighted them.

They are holding an open training session on Tuesday night to which all are invited, or if they are unable to attend, they should contact Eddie O’Conner on 07951911290 or 01738 560155. Tuesday nights training session which is being held at Farquharson Park commences at 7pm.

The friendly season got underway last Saturday with two games played.

Kinnoull had their first success of the season when they won the Fair City Amateurs Tournament quite convincingly as they finished their four games undefeated and without conceding a goal.

Coupar Angus were the other club involved. They were at home to Balmoral Amateurs and Coupar’s new look side lost this game by a four goal margin.

There was plenty of midweek action involving four teams, Jeanfield Swifts and Kinnoull had games on Tuesday night with Swifts away to East Craigie while Kinnoull entertained Kirrie Thistle.

Those games were followed up on Wednesday with Bankfoot and Coupar Angus facing up to Super League sides. Coupar were at home to Lochee United while the Bankies were guests of Forfar West End.

In midweek Jeanfield Swifts had a few new faces in their line-up against East Craigie and they showed up well.

Swifts went on to win this game 5-2 and it was a margin that didn’t flatter them as they had a few more scoring opportunities.

Manager Scott Brown was however pleased with their performance. Tony Holt scored Swifts first goal from the penalty spot, last seasons leading scorer John Anderson was back on the goal trail with two goals and one of Swifts new men Gavin Mackie marked his debut with a well taken goal, Jamie McKenzie was their other scorer. Paul Clark scored both the Craigie goals.

Kinnoull were a goal behind in their game with Kirrie Thistle after just 30 seconds. A trialist was the Kirrie scorer. Kinnoull had two gilt edge chances after this to get back on level terms but both Gary Fraser and skipper Chris Webster failed to put them away.

By the time the interval arrived Kirrie were 3-1 in the lead. Their trialist was on the mark again when he scored their second goal, with Gary Archibald getting goal number three. In between those goals Chris Webster had atoned for his early miss when he reduced the leeway.

Kinnoull came bouncing back in the second half and had most of the attacking play and midway through the half they had reduced the leeway with a well placed header from Chris Webster and in the 72 minute Chris completed his hat-trick when he made it 3-3.

Kirrie came very close to snatching the winner but were denied by an absolutely stunning save from Kinnoull keeper Steve McKinnie. A header from Kirrie’s Gary Archibald looked to be heading into the top corner of the net.

McKinnie however threw himself across the goal and got his finger tips to the ball and managed to touch it over the bar. The 3-3 score line was a fair result to what had been a very entertaining game.

Bankfoot got their programme of friendlies off to an excellent start despite being without five of their squad. They drew their away game with Forfar West End, sharing two goals. Bankies drew first blood in 77 minutes when Jordan Brown was fouled in the penalty box.

The striker took the resultant spot kick himself and made no mistake. Their lead was however short lived as West End got back on level terms five minutes later with a goal which was hotly disputed by the Bankies, Sean McVicar was the scorer.

Coupar Angus at home to Lochee United lost by 7-0. Their manager Alan Robson was however full of praise for his players, he said: "We were only one goal behind at the interval but our Super League opponents brought on a whole host of subs from the start of the second half and that’s something we couldn’t match and those fresh legs certainly paid off."

In tomorrow’s friendlies Coupar have another home game when they entertain Luncarty at Foxhall.

Still missing from the Coupar lineup is Robbie Ellis who has a knee injury and Kevin Wilson is unavailable. Alan Robson expects to have a squad of 15.

Luncarty boss Mark Potter hasn’t named a pool although its expected it will include his new signings.

Bankfoot are away to East Region Super League side Linlithgow Rose for the second time this week and will still have a few of their squad missing.

They will be pretty much on the same lines as midweek which included their two recent signings Ross Mitchell and Jordan Brown. Ross Mitchell, who plays in the middle of the park, was previously with Bankfoot and he has also had stints with Montrose’s youth team and Scone Thistle.

Jordan Brown is a striker and is an East Stirling protege. Jordan previously had a loan spell with Luncarty.

Jeanfield Swifts are away to Kirrie Thistle and manager Scott Brown expects to travel to Westview Park with a squad of 16 or 17.

Kinnoull go a bit further afield as they travel north to take on Hall Russell United who were runners up in their region’s Super League last season.

Kinnoull boss Gavin Price expects to travel with much the same squad as in their previous games. Only person missing is Brad McKerchar who is unavailable. Players are asked to report to Tulloch at 10am.