East Stirlingshire vs Broomhill
You wouldn’t call East Stirlingshire a form team in the Park’s Motor Group Scottish Lowland Football League… or would you? Would you? Could you? Sure, why not!
Three wins and a draw in the last five for Pat Scullion’s side have seen them rise from relegation trouble to… slightly above relegation trouble in 14th place.
Broomhill could be described as ‘coming onto a game’ themselves having scored three without reply at home to ailing Cumbernauld Colts before the Scottish Cup break.
Both sides will be hoping to take further steps away from Gala Fairydean Rovers at the foot of the table, and capitalise on any problems for teams around them that are out of form. This one will be one to watch this weekend and we’re making the match at The Falkirk Stadium on Friday night our Neutral’s Choice!
Albion Rovers vs Heart of Midlothian B
Albion Rovers were so good against University of Stirling that Peter Menay managed to win SM Media’s Player of the Week award without needing to even exist.
In all seriousness though, award recipient Peter Mendy was on fire as Rovers put Uni to the sword and they’ll be hoping for more of the same from him and the rest of Sandy Clark’s side.
Hearts B are coming into this one on the back of an unusual midweek lunchtime fixture against Celtic B, but that is yet to be played at the time of writing so if you’re reading this after 2pm on Tuesday… insert your own observation here:
Thanks for that.
Bo’ness United vs Caledonian Braves
League leaders Caledonian Braves exited the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup at the weekend, losing out to Musselburgh Athletic 2-1. Ricky Waddell’s men will take the positive of ‘focusing on the league’ and will be keen to make the trip to Newtown Park as fruitful as their last league match, a 5-1 trouncing of Celtic B.
Bo’ness United went into the Scottish Cup Third Round draw after an extra time victory over HOB Hawthorn and set up a match with the conquerers of this weekend’s opponents, Musselburgh.
That result will be just as welcome as a tight 2-1 victory over Cowdenbeath last time out in the League. They’ll be hoping to build on 7th place in the Park’s Motor Group Scottish Lowland League and climb as high as 5th!
Broxburn Athletic vs Berwick Rangers
Broxburn will visit Stranraer in the Third Round of the Big Cup after a nerve-jangling 1-0 win over Auchinleck Talbot. Their league form has been a little bit patchy of late but they are sitting pretty in 6th place and will be looking to rediscover their free-scoring form as they welcome Berwick Rangers.
The Wee Gers exited the Cup with a spirited 1-0 loss to Forfar on Saturday but their troubled league form will be giving them pause as they go into this one. They’ve slipped to 13th in the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League and are without a win in four matches.
A big performance will be needed on the road on Saturday.
Civil Service Strollers vs Gretna 2008
Okay so we might not have chosen it as our Neutral’s Pick this week, but this game will be one to keep an eye on. Matches between Strollers and Gretna are usually entertaining but since this one could be for league position, you can expect some fireworks (ah! ahhhhh!) in this one.
Civil Service Strollers found Irvine Meadow XI too hot to handle at the weekend as they exited the Scottish Cup, but they’re on a decent run of three wins on the spin in the league.
Gretna meanwhile have had a weekend off and will want to build on their convincing 3-0 win over Berwick last time out in the league.
Cowdenbeath vs Celtic B
Cowdenbeath’s tough season doesn’t get any easier with the visit of Celtic B to Central Park on Saturday.
The Blue Brazil had a confidence-boosting 2-1 win over The Spartans in the Scottish Cup, setting up a former-SPFL-side-classic against Brechin City in the Third Round.
On league duty though, they’ve found things much tougher and are currently in 15th place on 11 points, well within striking distance of the three sides sitting below them. Anything less than a convincing performance against Celtic could result in them finishing the weekend in relegation trouble.
Gala Fairydean Rovers vs University of Stirling
Predict this one? Absolutely not.
Gala Fairydean Rovers go into this match bottom of the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League but this is one of the most intriguing relegation battles we’ve had in recent years with six teams in immediate danger of distress.
Gala lost to Tranent last time out but their performance was encouraging and the result was respectable against one of the league’s highest scoring teams. Gala tend not to play on the back foot and that has led to some fascinating and entertaining matches so far.
Like their hosts, University of Stirling are another of this season’s mysteries wrapped in an enigma. Capable of incredible wins and crushing lows, they are without a win in their last four matches and will be keen to do some damage in the Borders to get their season back on track.
Linlithgow Rose vs East Kilbride
This is another one that could easily have been our Neutral’s Pick as 2nd meets 5th in the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League.
Rose come into this one off the back of a hugely entertaining 3-0 win over Clachnacuddin in the Scottish Cup, setting up a fascinating Third Round tie with Raith Rovers. Kilby also made it to the Third Round, beating Bonnyrigg Rose 3-1 to set up an equally fascinating tie with Falkirk.
East Kilbride have four league wins in five while Rose’s form is a little more patchy with two wins and two draws. If all goes right, this one will likely be a fairly cagey affair. One for the tactics afficionados…
Tranent vs Cumbernauld Colts
The East Lothian side are Tranentless (as in relentless? No? You don’t deserve me) in the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League this season, turning around a stuttering start to rise up to 3rd.
Cumbernauld Colts have yet to get going and parted company with manager David Proctor following a 3-0 defeat away at Broomhill. Lowland League icon Craig Malcolm has taken the hotseat on an interim basis and he will be hoping for a landmark result in his first game in charge.
In truth, going to Foresters and getting anything is a tough ask at the best of times and Colts will have to turn a run of four defeats and a draw on its head to come away with a good result.
