JUNIOR FOOTBALL – PA FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 9

Sep 9 2011 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

TOMORROW Bankfoot are hosts to Jeanfield Swifts in the Central League.

Bankies have taken one point from the two league games they have played, that was from their home game with Luncarty, while last Friday night in their away match with Kinnoull, Bankies only lost by the odd goal in five and felt they were unfortunate not to take something from the game.

Jeanfield Swifts have taken six points from the two league games they have played.

Swifts already have a win to their credit at Coronation Park this season, when the sides met in the league cup and they are quietly confident of making it a double.

Bankies will obviously have other ideas and will be striving to take revenge for that earlier defeat by recording their first win of the season at Coronation Park and collecting three league points in the process.

This has all the ingredients to make it another very intriguing derby clash between those two great rivals.

Bankies will again be without midfield/forward Bally Whytock and their striker Alan Stewart they miss out for a third successive game due to injuries.

Manager Ian Duff said one or two other players were nursing knocks but he doesn’t think that they are in any great danger of being ruled out for this game. Ian expects to have a squad of 17.

Jeanfield also have players missing. Strikers John Anderson and Robbie Holden are attending weddings while Kevin Fowler and Ross Gunnion also miss out.

Fowler is unavailable while Gunnion is still nursing the knee injury that has sidelined him since the start of the season. It is likely to be late fitness tests that will decide if goalkeeper Mark Mitchell, groin injury and Mark Gordon, calf strain, can be considered.

Returning to the squad this week are Jamie Reid, Tony Holt and Neil Gardiner.

Manager Scott Brown fielded his latest signing, forward John Kelly from Glenrothes, in last week’s game and he celebrated his debut with two goals. It’s a late selection from the Swifts gaffer who expects to have a trialist in his squad.

Kinnoull have got their league campaign off to a bright start by taking full points from their first two games.

Tomorrow they entertain Lochgelly Albert at Tulloch Park and while the Fifers, who have played just the one league game which they won, will no doubt prove to be difficult opponents.

Kinnoull however feel confident of adding three more points to their tally from what is expected to be a hard fought and entertaining encounter.

Kinnoull met a strong Arbroath side on Monday night at Tulloch Park and while they lost to the senior side by 5–2 one pleasing feature for them was that Richard Doig who had been ruled out of their previous Saturday game with a head injury was given the all clear. The striker celebrated his return by scoring his sides two goals.

Kinnoull manager Gavin Price will have Ryan Ward and Richard Doig back in the squad but he will have to await fitness tests on three other players before deciding on a line-up.

The players concerned are Adam O’Conner (toe injury), Daryn Smith (ankle) and David Carr (calf strain). Gavin said all three have more than a 50/50 chance of making it. It’s a late selection from the Kinnoull boss.

Lochgelly Albert had their league baptism last week and they got off to a convincing start with a home win against Rosyth, the team Kinnoull beat away from home a couple of weeks ago.

It’s worth noting that Lochgelly only opened the scoring after Rosyth had a player sent off in the second half, although they eventually finished comfortable winners by 4–0.

The Albert had three of their squad sidelined with injuries for last weeks game and to add to their woes Wayne Wright picked up an injury in Saturday’s game and had to come off at half time. There’s no word if any or all four of them will be in the squad for the trip to Tulloch Park. They will however have a new signing in their line up – Chris Millar, who was with Crossgates last season, he plays in the midfield. It’s a late selection from Lochgelly boss Ross Kinnell.

Luncarty were to have played Dundonald Bluebell at Brownlands Park tomorrow but their fixture has been changed as the Bluebell are playing in the League Cup semi final. The Bleachers now face up to Crossgates Primrose away from home.

What a boost it would be for the Bleachers, after last week’s shattering defeat at the hands of Jeanfield, if they could come home with a win or at least a share of the points from this visit to Humbug Park.

Manager Mark Potter will have defender Neil Ritchie, Scott Lafferty and Angus Wilson both of whom play in midfield roles, along with striker Mark Caldow, back in his squad which will also include new signing Scott McKain who is a forward. Scott has joined up at Brownlands Park on loan from Highland League club Brora Rangers and he scored 20 goals for them last season. Scott played in last week’s game and he showed up well.

Derek Angus and Andy Jamieson are unavailable for this week’s game but the Bleachers boss expects to have a squad of 18 available.

A piece of good news is that Jason Henderson, who has been out for a spell with a hamstring injury, is expecting to get the all clear to start training next week.

Crossgates are without a win in their league cup or league games and are at the foot of the table. They lost most of last seasons players but their new manager Dave McNeely has rebuilt the squad.

Coupar Angus and Blairgowrie are engaged in the North League and they are both still pointless after two games. Tomorrow Coupar are at home to Brechin Vics who accounted for Blairgowrie last week. Coupar are determined they won’t claim another Strathmore scalp. Manager Alan Robson feels they can get their first points on board at the Vics expense. Alan expects to have three trialists in his squad of 18.

Coupar have transferred Mark Deuchar and Ryan Valentine to Super League side Forfar West End.

Blairgowrie were due to play Forfar Albion at home but this game has been transferred to Albion’s Guthrie Park as the Davie Park Pavilion is still unavailable.

Blair gaffer John Holt felt his team were unfortunate to return home pointless from last week’s game with Brechin Vics he expects to have the same squad of 16 as last week plus a trialist.