Perthshire junior football round up November 18

Nov 18 2011 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

TOMORROW’S fixtures are all in the respective league programmes and the Kinnoull and Jeanfield Swifts Central League clash deserves its top billing tag and it should pull out a bumper gate.

Kinnoull and the Swifts haven’t met in a league game since season 2002/3 and the reason for this gap was that Kinnoull were promoted at the end of that season and played in the Premier League until they were relegated at the end of last season.

There has always been a keen rivalry between the two city clubs and this Tulloch Park Derby clash is spiced up even further by the fact both sides are much to the fore for the championship.

The points at stake tomorrow, although its still early days, could prove to be crucial in the race for this honour which will no doubt prove to be a very keenly contested and tense encounter.

Kinnoull currently top the league table and are still undefeated with seven wins and one draw in their eight league games played.

They have the advantage of playing at Tulloch Park where they are still unbeaten in all official games played there this season.

Swifts are third in the table; have lost one league game and are seven points behind Kinnoull.

But they have two games in hand and a win tomorrow would give them a mathematical advantage. Swifts are also undefeated in all games on their home patch.

Kinnoull boss Gavin Price may still be without Richard Doig who missed last week’s game due to an injury which could again confine the striker to the role of a spectator. However Gavin Price hasn’t completely ruled him out.

Gordon Brown, who was signed from Dundonald Bluebell last week, is although listed in the squad is still striving to get back to full fitness after an injury and its most unlikely he will be called on to make his debut in this game.

Swifts Manager Scott Brown, who was in charge at Tulloch Park before moving to the Riverside Stadium, will have Ross Gunnion back in his squad for the first time in a few months now that he has recovered from the knee injury that had kept him on the sidelines. Ross is a former Kinnoull player as are a few more in Scott Brown’s squad of 18.

Bankfoot clocked up their third league win on the trot last week are away to Newburgh and will be doing well if they can get a favourable result from this East Shore Park encounter as the Fifers are an improved side since Alan Cameron took over as their manager.

Bankies boss Ian Duff while he has had to cope with a whole host of injuries since day one of the season has guided his team into a place in the top half of the league table.

Just when they seemed to be getting over their injury problems Bankies had two more players added to their list when Chris Jones and Steven Moon suffered injuries in last Saturday’s game when their heads clashed going for a mid air ball.

Newburgh boss Alan Cameron has strengthened his squad with two new signings – Daryl Burns and Aaron Kelly, both have senior connections. Burns is a goalkeeper recruited from Arbroath while Kelly who is a right sided midfield player has joined up from Peterhead. Both were in the squad for last week’s game against Jeanfield.

Luncarty entertain Thornton Hibs at Brownlands Park. Hibs, who were relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season and were Scottish Cup semi finalists three seasons ago, are now wallowing at the foot of the Central League table with only one win from six league games.

Unfortunately the Bleachers after a bright start to their league campaign have slipped down the table and are now just one rung above the Hibs.

This game must surely give them a good chance of getting back into the winning vein and collecting three much needed points in the process.

They are however well aware if they were to loose they would be swopping places in the table with the Hibs.

The Hibs second round away Scottish Cup tie against Bellshill was played last Saturday at the third time of asking but it was no third time lucky for the Hibs as they lost 4–1 and finished with nine men.

Luncarty have re-signed their former skipper Mike Hampton who is a defender/midfield player. A piece of really good news for the Bleachers is that forwards Mark Caldow and Scott MacKain, unavailable last week, return to the squad which is expected to number around 18.

Coupar Angus are on the bottom of the North League table and still without a point are away to North End.

They will certainly produce one of the season’s major shocks if they were to get a favourable result at North End Park as their hosts are one of the leagues top sides although they seem to have gone of the boil as they have dropped five points in the last two games.

Blairgowrie who had no game last week are at home to East Craigie who have been going along quite well and are in a mid table position. Like their hosts they are a young side and are credited with playing good football.

Blair had a few players nursing niggling injuries and last week’s day off has allowed them to get cleared up and Blair boss John Holt will probably have his full squad of 17 available.

The draw for the Emirates Scottish Cup took place on Tuesday and the two remaining Big County survivors, Blairgowrie and Kinnoull were both fortunate in getting home draws.

Blair will play Pollock, who are considered one of the junior games top sides and they are credited with having a big travelling support.

Kinnoull take on Crossgates Primrose who they played only last Saturday and beat them. This must make them feel reasonably confident they can make it to round four.

The rest of the draw as it affects teams in this area is as follows: Cambuslang/EastCraigie v Camelon/Kelty Hearts; Carluke/Broughty Athletic v Cummnock/Kirkcaldy YM; Dundee Violet/Ballingry v Lochee United/Tayport; Oakley/Arthurlie v St Andrews/Carnoustie Panmure.

Ties to be played on Saturday, November 26.

TOMORROW’S fixtures in the McBookies.com Leagues: Central League – Kinnoull v Jeanfield Swifts; Luncarty v Thornton Hibs; Newburgh v Bankfoot Athletic. North League – Blairgowrie v East Craigie; North End v Coupar Angus. Kick off’s – 1.45pm.