The title may be sealed but there’s still a lot to play for in another exciting weekend of GeoSonic Lowland League action.
CIVIL SERVICE STROLLERS VS THE SPARTANS
It’s an Edinburgh derby at Christie Gilles Park on Saturday in the GeoSonic Scottish Lowland League with both sides still looking at securing a top four finish.
The two sides currently sit in fourth and fifth with Civil six points clear of their opponents on Saturday, but Spartans have two games in hand on the sides above them.
Civil have had a fantastic season and have only lost one of their last 14 Lowland League games and that was to champions East Kilbride and have won four of their last five since that defeat.
Spartans lost their title in midweek following defeat to East Kilbride but had won their previous four fixtures to close the gap on the top four and with games in hand, three points this weekend would help them close up even more.
The previous meeting this season at Ainslie Park ended one apiece while Civil have never beaten Spartans in the Lowland League.
Ones to watch
Civil Service Strollers – Steven Froude
The Spartans – Aaron Scott
DALBEATTIE STAR VS UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING
It’s a battle of the bottom half at Islecroft Stadium on Saturday as 14th placed Dalbeattie Star welcome 11th placed University of Stirling.
The hosts come into the match off the back of an outstanding victory last weekend as they came from behind to defeat Kelty Hearts 2-1 thanks to goals from Blair Irving and Lewis Todd. That three points ended a run of four consecutive league defeats and has all but secured their safety for another season so could play with more freedom for their remaining matches.
Chris Geddes’ side lost attacker Blair Lyons to Montrose through the week, with the deal going through in the summer so they will be looking to make the most of the remaining games they have with him. It’s a credit to the club that players are able to progress into the SPFL setup. However, the students have lost their last two league outings 0-1 so will be aiming to get back to winning ways.
Ones to watch
Dalbeattie Star – Lee Wells
University of Stirling – Kieran Hall
EAST KILBRIDE VS KELTY HEARTS
Despite having wrapped the league up, East Kilbride will still be looking to maintain the excellent standards they have set this season with a win over Kelty Hearts at the weekend.
Kelty will see this game as a good chance to put down a marker and really stake their claim for second spot in the league. However, the Fife side have lost two of their last three games although they did beat Cumbernauld Colts last time out.
A win could potentially put Barry Ferguson’s men two points above BSC Glasgow, although BSC do still have a game in hand over Kelty.
To get anything from the game Kelty know they will have to keep players such as Chris Humphrey and Craig Malcolm quiet. The latter has 23 goals this season, the highest in the league, and will be hoping to add to his tally on Saturday.
Ones to watch
East Kilbride – Jamie Longworth
Kelty Hearts – Sean McKirdy
WHITEHILL WELFARE VS EAST STIRLINGSHIRE
Staying up appears to be mission impossible for Whitehill Welfare at the moment. However, if they are to stand even the slightest chance of pulling it off, they have to defeat East Strilingshire at the weekend.
The hosts are enduring a horrendous run of form and have only won one game this campaign. In their last five games alone, they have conceded a whopping 15 goals.
Visitors East Stirlingshire have also endured a disappointing season, although it has been nowhere near as disastrous as Whitehill’s campaign. It has been a season plagued by inconsistency, however, there have been some good signs of improvement recently.
Their main focus now will be to put some distance between themselves and Cumbernauld Colts and they will see this game as a perfect opportunity to increase the gap.
Ones to watch
Whitehill Welfare – James McPartlin
East Stirlingshire – David McCaughie
Cumbernauld Colts vs Vale of Leithen
Cumbernauld Colts host the men from Innerleithen at Broadwood this weekend and will hope to rise up from their seventh place position after two impressive performances against top of the table sides.
Last week, it was Colts who denied the now champions East Kilbride from grabbing the title a few days earlier after holding them to a 0-0 draw at K-Park. The Cumbernauld men then almost did the same at New Central Park when they travelled to Kelty on Wednesday night; however a last minute goal allowed Kelty to grab the three points. Its performances like this that could have Colts go in as favourites in their closing matches and finish higher in the table.
Meanwhile, the Victoria Park side would love to get away from the 10th place position they can’t seem to climb away from. With their last game being a 3-0 defeat to East Stirlingshire, bouncing back would be massive in improving what has been a pretty mediocre campaign for the side.
Ones to watch
Cumbernauld Colts – Arnault Bembo
Vale of Leithen – Sean Stewart
Edinburgh University vs Gretna 2008
The University men host Stuart Rome’s side at East Peffermill this weekend for a bottom of the table clash that could help either side jump up to mid table if a victory is secured.
Dorian Ogunro’s men suffered a 2-0 defeat to Edusport Academy last week and will feel that if they don’t capitalise on a couple of their closing games, this will be a disappointing campaign, especially after looking to promising after a series of wins last year.
Meanwhile, Stuart Rome and the Gretna squad come off a 2-1 victory over Whitehill Welfare and will hope to use that momentum to climb away from the bottom four. The score ended 3-0 to Edinburgh Univerity when the teams last met on the opening day of the season with Stuart McNicholas netting a brace for the students.
