JUNIOR FOOTBALL – PA FRIDAY NOVEMBER 11

Nov 11 2011 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

TOMORROW’S fixtures are all in the respective league programmes.

Bankfoot entertain Lochore Welfare at Coronation Park, where they met their visitors last week in a league game.

It’s a most unusual occurrence for teams to meet back to back in league games but this situation has been created by the fact that a few Scottish Cup second round ties which have been delayed are being played and the fixtures have had to be re-arranged.

Bankfoot won last week’s encounter and it moved them up the table a couple of places and if they can do the business again in tomorrow’s game, they will have the same number of points as their opponents from two fewer games played.

This is the second time this season the Fifers have visited Coronation Park, the previous game was a cup tie which they won.

Bankies feel they took revenge for that defeat with last week’s win, now they will be going all out to win this "rubber" and collect three points in the process.

Bankies skipper Gary Campbell misses out again due to the hamstring injury that has plagued him for some weeks now and there are doubts about Donald McDonald, who has taken over the captains arm band in Gary’s absence, Donald missed the early training session with a back injury.

There are also doubts about Ross Mitchell, Mike Jarmuszewski who are carrying injuries and all three are likely to have late tests.

Chris Jones has been down with flu and its a case of wait and see if he has recovered, Jordan Brown is unavailable while Max Smith is suspended. It’s not surprising that Bankies boss Ian Duff will make a late selection.

Lochore goalkeeper Craig McMaihin is unavailable but his deputy Jamie Connelly takes over.

The Fifers will also be without their striker Alan McDonagh who is unavailable.

Jeanfield Swifts one of the leading contenders for the league title meet Newburgh at the Riverside Stadium and if form is any guide Swifts, who are eight points ahead of Newburgh from a game less played, should end this encounter with another three valuable points.

Another factor that will no doubt shorten the odds in Swifts favour is that they won the corresponding fixture when they visited East Shore Park earlier in the season, however tomorrow’s another day.

The team news from the Swifts camp for tomorrow’s game is that they will have an almost full squad available only Ross Gunnion misses out but its not because of the long term injury that has dogged him for some weeks as he is fit again and back training, he is attending a wedding. Manager Scott Brown has a squad of 18.

Newburgh’s only win in their league campaign so far was in their last visit to Perthshire a few weeks ago when they met Luncarty at Brownlands Park and won 3–1, they have also drawn two of the six league games they have played.

Burgh manager Alan Cameron has players in the doubtful category – skipper Jim Scott and Grant Skinner picked up injuries in last week’s game and they are likely to have late tests. George Wilson and Lewis Elder have been down with a virus and its wait and see how they are feeling.

There are three former Swifts players in the squad – Mike Gow, Billy Carle and Gordon Findlay, who would be delighted to put one over on their former club. It’s a late selection from Alan Cameron.

Kinnoull now top the league table and as coincidence would have it they are away to Crossgates Primrose, who are in the lower reaches of the table, they shocked the then league leaders Kirkcaldy YM last week by holding them to a draw at Humbug Park.

Kinnoull boss Gavin Price will have taken note of this result and the fact that the Primrose won their Scottish Cup game against Ayrshire side Ardeer Thistle at this venue the previous week.

He is however confident of coming home with the three points.

Gavin instead of the usual training session on Tuesday night played a friendly against Dundee North End under the Tulloch Park lights which ended all square at 3–3. Kinnoull were three one in the lead but lost two late goals, their scorers were Keith Dewar, Chris Webster and a trialist.

Goalkeeper Duncan Bruce misses the game for a very good reason, its his wedding day, Steve McKinney takes over. The Kinnoull gaffer has high hopes of having a new signing on board and if all goes well he will be in the squad which will number 17 or 18 for this game.

Crossgates reckoned they did Kinnoull a good turn last week by holding theYM to a draw which helped them take over the league leaders position. They will now be striving to produce another unexpected result by again taking points off the team at the top of the table.

Luncarty are away to bottom of the table Steelend Vics and manager Mark Potter expects to have his biggest squad for some weeks for this Woodside Park encounter as Noel Meehan, Craig Harrigan, Neill Ritchie and Jason Henderson are all listed to return. However it’s not all good news from the Bleachers camp as they will be without forwards Mark Caldow and Scott McKain due to work and holidays. Mark Potter said: “While it’s disappointing that we will be without Mark and Scott we will be travelling with a strong squad of 18 and are quietly confident of getting a favourable result.”

The Vics’ new manager John Roberts in charge for the first time last week got a tough baptism as his team were whacked 6–0 by Jeanfield. He had five new signings in his squad last week, two of them were on from the start while the others came of the subs bench. So far he hasn’t named a squad for this game.

Coupar Angus are away toViolet who are the league leaders while Coupar are anchored at the foot of the table. Coupar boss Alan Robson expects to have a squad of 17 which includes a trialist.

Blairgowrie who have no game tomorrow but will hold a training session.

FIXTURES for tomorrow (Saturday) in the McBookies.com Leagues:

Central League – Bankfoot Athletic v Lochore Welfare; Jeanfield Swifts v Newburgh; Crossgates Primrose v Kinnoull; Steelend Vics v Luncarty.

North League – Violet v Coupar Angus. All kick off’s 2pm.