JUNIOR FOOTBALL – PA FRIDAY DECEMBER 2

Dec 2 2011 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

FIXTURES for tomorrow: Emirates Scottish Cup third round replay – Pollok v Blairgowrie.

Kick offs –1.30pm. Penalties to decide tie if required.

McBookie’s.com Leagues: Central League – Kinnoull v Dundonald Bluebell; Jeanfield Swifts v Crossgates Primrose; Rosyth v Luncarty; Thornton Hibs v Bankfoot Athletic; Lochore Welfare v Newburgh; Steelend Vics v Lochgelly Albert.

North League – Coupar Angus v Brechin Vics.

Kick offs – 1.45pm.

TOMORROW Kinnoull and Jeanfield Swifts are engaged in what are crucial league games.

Kinnoull take on Dundonald Bluebell at Tulloch Park while the Swifts entertain Crossgates Primrose at the Riverside Stadium. Kinnoull, Swifts and Dundonald are running neck and neck at present in the race for the championship.

Kinnoull top the table with Swifts just a point behind them with a game in hand. Dundonald are in fourth place and have played fewer league games than Kinnoull or the Swifts and they are the only side still with a 100% league record. They have games in hand of both Kinnoull and Swifts which may yet prove to be an advantage.

The other teams to come into the championship equation are Kirkcaldy YM who are third in the table but are away ahead in games played while Lochgelly Albert are fifth who have games in hand which if they were turned into points would keep them within touching distance of teams who are currently above them.

Kinnoull have a great opportunity to halt the Dundonald band waggon from rolling on by taking the three points from this game and ending their unbeaten league run in the process. Dundonald, while they have made it to the final of the ACA Sports League Cup, have had two setbacks in major cups, losing to Rosyth, who are in the lower reaches of the Central league table, in the Scottish and to Blackburn in the Fife and Lothians. Kinnoull are well aware if they were to lose or draw tomorrow it would leave the door open for the Swifts to take over the leadership if they win their game against Crossgates.

Manager Gavin Price has the same squad that took them through to round four of the Scottish Cup last week. Richard Doig who has been out for three weeks with a foot injury has been given the green light to resume training and if the striker feels no ill effects he will rejoin the squad which will number 18 for tomorrow’s game.

Dundonald have had a hefty injury list and while their situation has improved they still have three players out with long term injuries, Scot Murray and David Murray and Sean O’Neil and its likely to be a late test that will decide whether or not defender Deane Rouge can be considered.

Jeanfield have won seven of their eight league games played the last two of which were probably their most significant as they were back to back wins in their derby clashes with Kinnoull and Bankfoot.

Tomorrow they take on Crossgates Primrose and if form is any guide they should continue on their winning way and also keep their unbeaten record at the Riverside Stadium intact. Swifts are the league leaders in the goal difference stakes they have scored an average of four goals a game and conceded less than a goal a game which is certainly a terrific average.

Swifts have defender Stuart Nicol and forward Jon Kelly, unavailable last week, back in their squad. In the doubtful category is John Anderson who is having treatment for a bruised foot. He is likely to have a late test and should he get the all clear manager Scott Brown will have a full squad available.

This is the second week on the trot that the Primrose have made the trip to Perth as only last week they were guests of Kinnoull in the Scottish Cup.

Primrose had a poor start to their season but have improved in recent games. They are eighth in the table with eight points and trail their hosts by 13 points and it certainly would be quite an upset if they were to depart from the Riverside with a favourable result.

They have three players out with long term injuries but their squad for this game is expected to be much on the same lines as in last weeks joust with Kinnoull.

Bankfoot are away to Thornton Hibs whom they met in the League Cup at Coronation Park earlier in the season that game finished all square at 2–2. Bankies after taking 10 points from their last four league games had this run ended when they lost at the Riverside Stadium last week.

They are in the top half of the league table and are hopeful of consolidating their position by bringing home the points from this visit to Memorial Park.

Bankies have been given a boost with the return of their skipper Gary Campbell. Gary played his first game last week after being confined to the sidelines for around six weeks with a groin injury and he performed well. Steven Moon who was injured in a head clash with a teammate three weeks ago has been given the all clear and returns to the squad for tomorrow’s game.

Donald McDonald has been having treatment for a groin strain and is likely to have a late test. Non-starters are Jamie McAinsh, injured and Jordan Brown working. Bankies Boss Ian Duff expects to have a squad of 16 0r 17.

Thornton Hibs who were relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season and were tipped as likely to be one of the front runners in the championship race hasn’t proved to be so as they are down in the lower half of the table with six points from seven games played. They have recently made a couple of new signings and are looking to start climbing up the table.

Luncarty, who are anchored at the foot of the league table, have a chance to lift themselves out of the wooden spoon position. They are away to Rosyth who are just a step above them and only by virtue of one point.

The Bleachers could do themselves a real good turn if they can take the points from this game as it’s possible they could lift themselves four places up the table if the results concerning the three sides above them and Rosyth went the right way for them. First and foremost however the ball is in their own court. So far they haven’t named a squad for the trip to Rosyth.

Newburgh haven’t named a squad for their away fixture to Lochore Welfare.

Coupar Angus have still to register a win at home or away in the North League. They entertain Brechin Vics at Foxhall tomorrow and feel they can get a favourable result. Manager Alan Robson is still without his striker Ryan Valentine, nursing a groin injury and it will be a late decision on Josh Thomson. Alan expects to have a squad of 16 or 17.

Blairgowrie held West of Scotland cracks Pollok to a draw in the Scottish Cup third round at Davie Park last Saturday and that result certainly upset the pundits’ pre-match forecasts.

With a wee bit of luck Blair could have won their way through to round four which. had it happened. would have produced one of those shock results the cup is famed for.

To take the tie to a replay really was a terrific achievement which was a great credit to manager John Holt and his young team. They travel to Newlandsfield Park for tomorrow’s replay with a full squad.