Cups are fun and everything but a full card of GeoSonic Lowland League fixtures is so exciting that it’s enough to move a rock to tears. Overstatement, you say? How rude… let Craig, Ronan, Martin and Jordan prove you wrong.
BSC GLASGOW VS THE SPARTANS
It’s fourth versus third in the Scottish Lowland League at the Indodrill Stadium on Saturday as defending champions Spartans make the trip to face BSC Glasgow.
Spartans haven’t won any of their last five matches, a run stretching back to 8th September with their last win coming against bottom side Whitehill Welfare at Ainslie Park. Their last win on the road was a week before that away at Gretna.
The Ainslie Park men have experienced a dip in form already this season, failing to win either of their opening two Lowland League fixtures but bounced back and will be hoping to do the same starting this weekend.
BSC Glasgow on the other hand, have won three of the past five games in all competitions but did get knocked out of the South Challenge Cup last weekend at home to East of Scotland side, Bonnyrigg Rose.
Alloa-based BSC haven’t lost in the league since the defeat at home to Kelty Hearts at the end of August and since then have collected fourteen points out of a possible eighteen points available as they have made their way back up the table following a tricky start in which they only won one of their opening five league games.
Stephen Swift’s men will need to be focused this weekend and not have one eye on their Scottish Cup tie away at Forfar Athletic next weekend.
These two sides played out a goalless draw in Alloa last season with BSC Glasgow winning in Edinburgh earlier in the campaign and a similar result for the boys in yellow would move them ahead of their league rivals as the two try and keep the pressure on Kelty Hearts and East Kilbride.
Ones to watch
BSC Glasgow: Declan Hughes
The Spartans: Jamie Dishington
EAST STIRLINGSHIRE VS EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY (Friday)
East Stirlingshire will be hoping to take all three points on Friday in order to draw level on points with visitors Edinburgh Uni. However, it will be a challenge as the Uni are unbeaten in their last four games and they earned an impressive three points last time out when they beat a strong Cumbernauld Colts side.
The home side have been inconsistent this season and that has been reflected in their last six results where they have won three and lost three. However, they do boast one of the league’s leading goalscorers amongst their ranks. Ross Allum is on ten for the season so far and he will be hoping to add to his tally on Friday.
Ones to watch
East Stirlingshire: David McCaughie
Edinburgh University: Abdul Yusuf
WHITEHILL WELFARE VS CIVIL SERVICE STROLLERS
It’s an Edinburgh derby at Rosewell on Saturday as Whitehill Welfare host Civil Service Strollers.
Welfare remain rooted to the foot of the table and that form showed no signs of improving as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to East of Scotland outfit Dunbar United in a midweek friendly. They have now gone six matches without a win, with their last match ending as a 2-2 draw with Vale of Leithen.
Gary Jardine’s Strollers side have slipped to eighth in the table after an impressive start to the campaign. However, their 3-1 victory over East Kilbride last month shows they can climb back up again. Last time out they lost to Newtongrange Star 4-2 in the South Challenge Cup. Last season, Strollers won this fixture 2-1, but Whitehill got their revenge at Christie Gillies Park with a 2-0 win later in the campaign.
Ones to watch
Whitehill Welfare: Liam McIntosh
Civil Service Strollers: Kevin Waugh
GRETNA 2008 VS EAST KILBRIDE
Gretna 2008 host second place East Kilbride at Raydale Park on Saturday, with the visitors failing to pick up a win in their last three away league games.
The hosts come into the match on the back of a comprehensive defeat to East of Scotland side Camelon Juniors, with the visitors running out 3-0 winners. However, Gretna did win their last league match after a resounding 4-1 demolition of high-flying Cumbernauld Colts where Michael McAnespie netted a brace.
Kilby have bounced back from their setback at Strollers three weeks ago with consecutive wins in league and cup. East Stirlingshire were defeated 2-0 before Preston Athletic were brushed aside 5-0 in the South Challenge Cup as interim manager Stuart Malcolm looks to stake his claim for the vacant manager position.
Ones to watch
Gretna 2008: Michael McAnespie
East Kilbride: Chris Humphrey
CUMBERNAULD COLTS VS DALBEATTIE STAR
Cumbernauld Colts enjoyed a fantastic start to the season and currently find themselves sitting in sixth place – with the same amount of points as BSC who are fourth. However, the side have been on a poor run of form recently, losing their last three games and conceding nine in the process. They will see this game as a great chance to get back to winning ways as they are taking on a Dalbeattie Star side who are struggling.
It is four losses in a row for Star who have conceded a whopping 12 goals in the process. It is clear that both defences in this one may be low on confidence so there may be plenty of goals in this one.
Ones to watch
Cumbernauld Colts: Craig Holmes
Dalbeattie Star: Connor Graham
UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING VS KELTY HEARTS
13th place University of Stirling host league leaders Kelty Hearts this weekend after both teams coming off huge games.
The Forthbank side travelled away to Jeanfield Swifts in the South Challenge Cup last weekend and recorded a huge 4-3 victory to progress in the competition. That battle went on to extra time before Stirling grabbed the winning goal. Even a point in this fixture could make the difference in helping them climb out the bottom three.
Kelty will go into game refreshed after a week off, thanks to the South Challenge Cup. Their last league outing was a 1-1 draw with defending champions Spartans. Their only goal came from a Stephen Husband penalty, showing just how tight it really is at the top. Three points could see the side prolong their stay at the top.
Ones to watch
University of Stirling: Josh Emmot
Kelty Hearts: Stephen Husband
GALA FAIRYDEAN ROVERS VS EDUSPORT ACADEMY
Mid-table Gala Fairydean Rovers host rising Edusport Academy this weekend at Netherdale, a game that could easily go either way.
Both teams are coming off the back of two important victories for their campaign. The Galashiels side last fixture saw them convincingly defeat University of Stirling in a 3-1 win at home with two goals from Craig O’Reilly. That moved them up to ninth place and another impressive home victory could see them bounce up further.
Edusport on the other hand, took three points from Civil Service Strollers in a 2-0 win. This victory placed them in fifth place proving themselves as challengers for a top four position. Another three points would easily see them continue to move up should other results go in their favour.
Ones to watch
Gala Fairydean Rovers: Craig O’Reilly
Edusport Academy: Jean Guy Lucas
