JUNIOR FOOTBALL – PA FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1

Sep 2 2011 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

THE second week of the league fixtures has thrown up two derby clashes – the first of which is being played tonight with Kinnoull hosting Bankfoot.

Part of this game will be played under the Tulloch Park lights, while Jeanfield Swifts entertain Luncarty at the Riverside Stadium tomorrow ... with the kick off time brought forward.

No doubt both those alterations are due to the Scotland versus Czech Republic at Hampden.

Kinnoull got off to a promising start in their league campaign with an away win at Rosyth which delighted their manager Gavin Price who is aware that his team are being quoted as the favourites for the championship.

While he is pleased that they are so highly thought of he feels it’s a bit early in the season for such a forecast.

Gavin Price’s squad for tonight’s game against Bankfoot, whom he considers to be difficult opponents, will be minus central defender Ryan Ward who is unavailable for a second week and Richard Doig is confined to the sidelines after picking up a head knock last week.

On a brighter note team skipper Chris Webster and Brad McKercher, both unavailable last week, return to the squad which is expected to number 17.

Bankfoot were disappointed that they finished all square in their opening game against Luncarty.

However that is one point more than they took from their first game last season after which they had quite a lengthy unbeaten run and were in contention for the championship until their last few games.

They will be delighted if they emulate that run or better it.

Bankies if they were to finish with a point for a second successive week would have to consider it a good result this time as Tulloch Park won’t be an easy venue to leave with either a point or points. This has all the ingredients to make it a very interesting encounter.

Bankies gaffer Ian Duff hopes to have Bally Whytock back. Bally missed last week game with an injury which has been responding to treatment and its on the cards that he will have a late test.

Alan Stewart also missed out due to an injury which keeps the striker on the sidelines.

Bankies will have a new signing in their squad he is Steven Gardiner who joined Luncarty at the start of the season but has now been transferred to the Bankies at his own request. Steven is a midfield/forward and is expected to make his debut in tonight’s game. Bankies squad will number 16 or 17.

Jeanfield Swifts and Luncarty both got off to what they must consider good starts to their league campaigns. Swifts with an away win at Newburgh, while the Bleachers came home with a point from their visit to Coronation Park.

Swifts who had a poor start to last season have a much stronger squad and are being tipped as likely to be one of the leading contenders in the championship race.

They go into this Riverside derby clash as the firm favourites to finish with the three points.

The Bleachers, who have a strengthened their squad considerably will be striving to buck the odds for a second week and cause a real upset.

Swifts boss Scott Brown will be missing four players – Neil Gardiner, Jamie Reid and Kevin Fowler all unavailable while Ross Gunnion is injured.

He also has two players in the doubtful category with injuries – Jamie McKenzie, thigh strain, while Steve McAllister has a groin injury. Both are having treatment and their chances of getting the all clear from late fitness test are around 50/50. Tony Holt, unavailable last week returns. It’s a late selection from the Swifts boss.

The possibility of the Bleachers bucking the odds for a second successive week has been made more difficult as they are missing Angus Wilson, Mark Caldow and Scott Lafferty who are unavailable.

There are still doubts about Jamie Fairlie, Derek Angus both injured and Alex Wylie (virus). All three are expected to have late fitness tests.

A reasonably bright note is that their skipper Scott McCabe, who has missed the last two games with an ankle injury, has done a spot of training and manager Mark Potter said there is a possibility that Scott may be fit enough to be considered and should that be so he will give him a fitness test as a precaution. It’s a late selection from Mark.

Blairgowrie and Coupar Angus are both away from home in the North League. Blair take on Brechin Vics and they will travel to Victoria Park with the same squad that came close to taking a point from their away game with Harp last week.

Manager John Holt said of his team: “We played really well and with a bit more composure when it came to putting chances away we certainly would have come home with at least a share of the points.” John will again have the trialist that showed up so well in his squad for tomorrow’s game.

Coupar Angus are guests of Lochee Harp and Coupar boss Alan Robson will have a squad of 16 for this game. He’s hoping that he can do what Blairgowrie failed to do last week which was to bring home the points from Beechwood.

But he said: “We will have to perform much better than last week if we hope to do so.” Alan expects to have a squad of 16 with only long term injury victim Robbie Ellis missing the game.

The draw for the Scottish Cup first round which has a limited number of ties was made in midweek and only two Perthshire Clubs have ties.

They are Jeanfield Swifts at home to Aberdeen East End, while Luncarty are away to super league side Lochee United. Ties are due to be played on Saturday, October 1.

The rest of the draw as it affects Tayside and Central clubs is – Lochee Harp v Ardeer Recs; North End v Hall Russells; Penicuik v Glenrothes; Maybole v Brechin Vics; Oakley v Rutherglen; Sauchie v Steelend Vics; Rosyth v Dundonald B; Kirrie Thistle v Kelty H; Ardrossan v Lochgelly A; Forfar Albion v Nairn St Ninians.

Kinnoull have arranged to play an attractive friendly against Arbroath at Tulloch Park on Monday night, kick off 6.45pm.

FIXTURES in the MacBookie Leagues: Tonight (Friday),Central League – Kinnoull v Bankfoot, kick off 6.45pm.

Tomorrow (Saturday): Central League – Jeanfield Swifts v Luncarty, kick off 1pm.

North League – Lochee Harp v Coupar Angus; Brechin Vics v Blairgowrie.

Kick offs 2.30pm.