Perthshire Junior Football round-up

Nov 13 2009 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

Perthshire Juniors

THE East of Scotland Cup second round ties dominate tomorrow’s fixture list.

This cup competition is next in seniority to the Scottish Cup.

Bankfoot, Kinnoull and Scone Thistle have home ties against super league teams.

Bankies face up to Lochee United, Kinnoull take on Camelon with Kelty Hearts the visitors at the RDM ground.

Jeanfield Swifts are the odd team out as they have an away tie against their central league compatriots Steelend Vics.

Bankfoot have earned themselves quite a reputation of a team to be avoided in cup ties especially when they are drawn to be played at their Coronation park.

They already have two premier league teams scalps this season from ties played at this venue to their credit.

The Bankies will be striving to cause another cup upset in tomorrow’s East of Scotland Cup clash with Lochee United.

The Bluebells, as they are nicknamed, have for the moment slipped out of contention for the super league championship as they have lost their last four league games on the trot.

It’s worth noting however that in between those games they travelled north to meet Burghead in the Scottish Cup and thrashed them to the tune of 7–0.

Bankfoot manager Ian Duff was very disappointed that for a second time in the last three Saturdays their game was cancelled. It also means that Charlie Bradshaw’s suspension drags on with one game of his three match ban still to be served.

The good news from Ian Duff is that his skipper Gary Campbell and Gavin Mackie return but still missing are Colin Fraser (unavailable), Brad McKerchar, Scott McCabe and Neil McDougall (all out with injuries). Ian expects to have a squad of 16 or 17 available.

Kinnoull are hosts to Camelon and this Tulloch Park cup encounter should be a cracker.

Scott Brown’s team is in a rich vein of form at the present time after drubbing Ballingry to the tune of 3–0 which saw them move into the second top spot in the premier league table at Ballingry’s expense and they are now only two points behind league leaders Forfar West End.

Camelon are by contrast seventh in the super league table with seven points from seven games played, so form wise they are behind their hosts who have 15 points from eight games. Scott Brown, however, pushed this statistic aside and his response was: “Camelon are a super league side and have been for a number of seasons and you have to be a good team to stay in that league.”

Kinnoull are however unbeaten in their last five outings and must be feeling quite confident that they can extend this to six at Camelon’s expense and move forward to round three of this cup.

Kinnoull will have Mark Gordon back in their squad and it may be a late fitness test that will decide if Robbie Holden can or cannot be considered.

Non starter is Ross Gunnion, confined to the sidelines with the stomach muscle problem that has dogged him for some weeks.

Scott Brown expects to have a squad of 15 or 16.

Camelon had a good away result last week with a 2–1 win at Musselburgh.

Their leading scorer is Shaun Kilgannon with six goals.

He previously played senior with Dunfermline.

Hard on his heels as goal scorers are Mark Stevenson, Stuart Cringean and Blair Batchelor, each have four goals to their credit.

Scone Thistle after their dismissal from the Scottish Cup last week are desperately keen to get back into the winning vein but they will certainly have to buck the odds tomorrow to do so as they have Kelty Hearts as their opponents.

Scone have only themselves to blame for last week’s defeat as they had many more chances than their opponents but failed to take any of them and paid the penalty.

Some of their defending was none too clever either.

Manager Derek Adam and the coaches have been working hard at this week’s training sessions to try and resolve those failings and hopefully their hard work and that of the players will be rewarded with one of the days surprise results which would certainly compensate for their Scottish Cup dismissal.

Derek Adam said that there had been no injuries reported and he expects to have a full strength squad available.

Kelty Hearts are at the foot of the premier league at the present time but that doesn’t mean to much as they could match at least five teams above them if they win the games they have in hand.

The Hearts qualified for the next round of the Scottish Cup when they beat Yoker 3–0 in last week’s replay.

Jeanfield Swifts travel to meet Steelend Vics and if form is any guide Swifts should make it to round three.

However their opponents have turned in a few surprise results this season.

Swifts after their excellent away win at Thornton last Saturday met Tayport in a friendly on Tuesday night on the all weather pitch at Kinross and Swifts were 3–0 ahead of their premier league opponents at the interval, and on form David Thornton scored all three goals.

The second half was a bit of an anticlimax for Swifts as Tayport finished the game on level terms at 3–3.

Manager Murray McDowall said he made a number of changes at the interval to give everybody a game and he was very satisfied with the performance and the result.

Murray has been delighted with the response he has had from the players both at training and on the park since he took over.

He certainly has had a tough baptism having played the leagues two top sides Oakley and Thornton Hibs.

Only doubt for tomorrow’s squad is Craig Millan who is struggling with a groin injury.

Definite non starter is David Hannah who is suspended. Murray expects to travel to Woodside Park with a squad of 17 or 18.

Coupar Angus and Luncarty meet at Foxhall park in the preliminary round of the Redwood Leisure Cup. Both sides have struggled since the start of the season for results and this could be a closely contested encounter with Coupar having home advantage probably having the edge.

Coupar Angus have signed Ewan Ogilvie from north region side Glentanar. Ewan who plays in the midfield has recently moved to this area and will make his home debut in tomorrow’s game. Definite non starters are Nairn Gellatly (injured), Rob Thomson and Jackson Craigie (both suspended).

Jamie McLeod and Robbie Black are carrying injuries and will have fitness tests.

It’s a late selection from Coupar boss Barry Britton.

Luncarty will travel to Foxhall without Dean Howie and Rab Nicoll. Dean has a hamstring problem while Rab has a back injury.

Also missing is striker Pete McLaren who is unavailable. Luncarty gaffer Jock Pearson expects to have a squad of 15 which could be augmented by a couple of trialists.

TOMORROW’S fixtures: East of Scotland Cup second round – Bankfoot Athletic v Lochee United; Kinnoull v Camelon; Scone Thistle v Kelty Hearts; Steelend Vics v Jeanfield Swifts.

Redwood Leisure Cup preliminary round – Coupar Angus v Luncarty.

No game – Blairgowrie.

Kick off’s – 2pm.