WHITEHILL manager Micky Lawson issued a warning to other clubs that Welfare are on the way back, writes Bob Geddes Continue reading “Weekend roundup”
Category: News
Fixtures adjusted following weekend call-offs
Keith McLeod picks up Colin Campbell Sports player of the month
Spartans striker Keith McLeod has been nominated the first ever Colin Campbell player of the month for October.
Colin Campbell Sports are sponsoring a monthly award that will involve each club nominating a player form an opposing team.
Speaking after the announcement McLeod said “I am delighted with the award, it means a lot to be named the first player in history to receive the award. There are so many good players in the League so to be nominated by clubs that I am playing against makes it all the more special.”
“It’s a great league to play in all the clubs are capable of taking points of each other and this is happening week in week out. I am really humbled to receive the award and I look forward to what the rest of the seasons holds for us.”
Sponsor of the award Colin Campbell said, “We are delighted to be sponsoring the player of the month, Keith is a worthy winner of the award, he is a great player and deserves it. It’s an excellent league and I have seen many great players competing in it.”
“When we were approached about sponsorship I was more than happy to get involved as I am certain the Lowland League will flourish and evolve into a superb league and I am delighted to be part of it.”
Spartans gaffer Douglas Samuel said, “It a fitting award for someone of Keith’s caliber and standing in non-league football to be the first recipient, to win will mean the award has significance and meaning going forward. Players who win this award will be viewed by players fans and managers as the top players in the Lowland League.”
Midweek roundup – Stirling go two points clear at the top
Stirling University went two points clear at the top of the league last night after beating bottom placed Preston Athletic. Stirling are the only club in the league to have consecutive wins after seeing off East Kilbride at the weekend. Stirling started the game very well and took the lead in the opening five minutes. Ten minutes later and Stirling doubled their lead, Stirling had most of the chances and got their third ten minutes after the interval. Sean Martin pulled one back for the home side with a terrific goal late in the game.
Gala Fairydean Rovers welcomed Edinburgh City to Raydale and both teams served up a cracking six goal thriller, all six goals coming in the second half. The home team took the lead shortly after the break, before City drew level. Both sides scored their second goal then with only minutes remaining Dougie Gair scored what looked like the winner, but in injury time Noble popped up to score to ensure a share of the spoils.
Vale of Leithen visited Ainslie Park to take on Spartans, both teams confidence was high after securing victories in the opening game of the season. The game started at a fast pace and Vale were on top for most of the first half and were rewarded for their hard work on the half hour mark when John Ross-Kerr played beat the offside trap and his ball into the box found Scott Moffat who headed home. Spartans stepped up a gear in the second half and drew level with ten minutes to go, Kevin Motion scoring from the penalty spot after a clumsy challenge.
In the other matches the Dumfries derby ended in a goalless draw between Dalbeattie and Threave, both sides had chances but neither could find a breakthrough. East Kilbride welcomed last seasons East champions Whitehill to K Park, despite chances neither side could find a breakthrough and went in at half time level. East Kilbride’s hard work was rewarded in the second half when they found a breakthrough and held on for three vital points. Borders club Selkirk travelled to Raydale to face Gretna who had been beaten by The Vale on opening day, Gretna played well and ran our five-nil winners on the night.
Inaugural match day roundup
The inaugural Scottish Lowland Football League kicked off on Saturday and there was no shortage of goals, twenty goals over six games.
Preston’s Athletics Michael Osbourne scored the first goal in the league when he broke away from the kick off and fired home in just thirty-two seconds. Preston’s lead was short lived, Andrew Donnelly scored his first of a hat-trick a few minutes later to level it. Kieran Dodds put Preston back in front but again Donnelly was on hand to level. Donnelly got his hat-rick on the hour mark but Dale O’Hara leveled for Preston within a minute of the leveler James Struthers fired Dalbeattie into the lead and to take all three points.
Whitehill welcomed Gala Fairydean Rovers to Ferguson Park, Gala were quick out the traps and in the opening minutes caused Whitehill all sort of problems but they couldn’t find a breakthrough. Aaron Somerville broke the deadlock for Whitehill when he broke up the wing and his cross come shot floated in the air over the top of the keeper and ended up in the net. Two goals from Wayne McIntosh in quick succession knocked the wind of Gala but they did manage to get a goal back through Jamie Gibson just before the interval. With ten minutes to go McIntosh got his hat-trick and in stoppage time Sean Palicza pulled back for the visitors.
Vale of Leithen played host to Gretna and with both sides having chances and not taking them it was left until the last ten minutes of this game to decide the winner. Scott Gormley fired the ball into the net to give the homes side the advantage and with only five minutes remaining Stuart O’Neill slotted the ball over the line to give the home team all three points.
In the Edinburgh derby most of the match was played in the middle of the park and there wasn’t many goal-scoring opportunities. Jack Beesley scored the winner on the hour mark when he got on the end of a long ball and he chipped the ball over the advancing keeper and into the net. Keith McLeod was sent off near the end of the game after he appeared to lash out an opponent.
Phil Addison gave Selkirk the lead in the opening minutes against Threave and despite both teams shaving various chances they went in all level at the interval. Ten minutes after the interval Craig Lawrie leveled for Threave and neither side could find a breakthrough.
East Kilbride travelled to Forth Bank to face Stirling University, both teams had chances to score in the first half but neither did. As the game neared the closing stages East Kilbride took the lead, this lead was short lived and five minutes later Paul Sludden scored from the penalty spot. Blair McWhirter then sealed the victory for the home side when he fired home with just a few minutes remaining.
Inaugural Lowland League kicks off today
Today has finally arrived, years of talking, months of planning and today history will be made in Scottish Football at 3.00pm when the inaugural Scottish Lowland Football League kicks off.
League chairperson Andrew Waddell reflects on what has been a roller coaster ride over the last 7 weeks.
Andrew said “It has been a very hectic few weeks since the announcement by the SFA that the Lowland League was going to kick off this season. As well as being an exciting time its also been a daunting time for the board of the League because we have had so much to do in such a short space of time. I am delighted that we have managed to make what appeared to be the impossible, possible, and this has only been possible as a result of the hard work of the board and member clubs.”
“We are looking forward to working collaboratively with the East of Scotland League and the South of Scotland League and I am sure our excellent relationship will continue to flourish. As there is no precedent set we will continue to find our way in the professional game and I am sure that with everyones support we can ensure that the Lowland league will be an excellent football league.”
Despite having refereed in the top flight in Scottish Football, and served as a FIFA referee, Andrew says “Not even my twenty-five years in top flight refereeing have prepared me for this task.”
The Lowland League kicks off this afternoon and all matches kick off at 3.00pm. You can find out the fixtures on our fixtures page.
Queens prove to strong for Spartans
Spartans travelled to Palmerston Park to take on Ramsdens Cup holder Queen Of The South on Saturday.
Both sides started brightly and it didn’t take long for Queens to start piling on the pressure and they were rewarded in the tenth minute when a corner was whipped in and wasn’t cleared and this allowed Stephen McKenna to head how from close range.
Jack Beacher then gave away a free kick on the edge of the box and the cross ball was left by the Spartans players and Derek Lyle nipped in and scored from close range.
McKenna got his second of the afternoon when Spartans again failed to deal with a cross and McKenna headed the ball into the net.
Spartans started the second half well and were beginning to take control of the game, however, they were dealt a sucker punch when a wild cross was whipped into the Spartans box and Kevin Holt out jumped the defence and his powerful header left the keeper with no chance.
After the game Spartans manager Dougie Samuel was upbeat and he said “We will take lots of positives from this game, it was a really hard match for us and I was disappointed that we lost three goals from crosses. We will be working hard over the next few weeks to ensure we are ready for the season starting on the 10th August”.
Lowland League logo announced
Today the Scottish Lowland Football League are delighted to publicise the logo that has been agreed by the member clubs.
League chairman Andrew Waddell said “We had a variety of logos produced by the SFA, the member clubs chose the final two and we asked the SFA to combine them. We are delighted with how the new logo looks and I would like to thank the SFA for their assistance”.
The Lowland League kicks off on the 10th August and you can find out the fixtures on the fixtures page.