The battle at the top and bottom of the GeoSonic Lowland League continues. Criag, Ronan, Jordan and Martin have this weekend’s preview.
BSC GLASGOW VS DALBEATTIE STAR
It’s second top versus second bottom in the GeoSonic Scottish Lowland League with both sides needing the three points for very different reasons.
Defeat for BSC Glasgow this weekend would end their very slim title hopes but the race for second is most certainly on with only six points separating second to fifth, and fifth placed Spartans have a game in hand.
It’s a massive double header for BSC as they travel to Dalbeattie in their next game as they hope to hang on to second spot.
Dalbeattie need the points this weekend for a very different reason. They sit five points clear of Whitehill Welfare with two games in hand and victory this weekend could all but seal safety for Star.
These teams have yet to meet this season after their earlier fixture this season was postponed, however last season BSC Glasgow won all three meetings between the sides, including the most recent being a 7-1.
Ones to watch
BSC Glasgow – Thomas Orr
Dalbeattie Star – Connor Graham
UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING VS THE SPARTANS
Stirling University welcome Spartans to Forthbank on Saturday with the hosts looking to get back to winning ways after going three matches without a victory and no goals in their last two fixtures.
For the visitors, they have won their last three consecutive matches including an important 2-1 win against Kelty Hearts in the battle at the top end of the table.
Chris Geddes’ side lost out 1-0 to Civil Service Strollers but there were positive signs there as Matthew Burrows and Rory MacEwan caught the eye. The club’s top scorer Kieran Hall will be looking to add to his six goals so far this campaign.
The visitors look to have found their groove in recent weeks with comfortable wins over Edinburgh University (3-0) and Edusport Academy (5-0) as they continue their push to break into the top four. Blair Atkinson’s winner last Friday was his fifth league goal this season.
Ones to watch
University of Stirling – Matthew Burrows
The Spartans – Blair Atkinson
EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY VS EDUSPORT ACADEMY
Two teams struggling for form meet at Peffermill with both sides desperate for three points to start climbing the table again.
Patrick Baird scored in a 1-1 away draw to Cumbernauld Colts for the hosts last weekend as Edusport lost 1-0 to league leaders East Kilbride.
You need to go back to November for Dorian Ogunro’s side’s last league victory, but they’ll be aiming to build on the point they gained at Colts and a victory could see them go level on points with Edusport as only three points separate the clubs.
The score ended 2-2 when the two teams met at Galabank back in August.
Ones to watch
Edinburgh University – Patrick Baird
Edusport Academy – Jean Guy Lucas
East Stirlingshire vs Civil Service Strollers
Civil Service Strollers can potentially go level on points with Kelty Hearts with a win in this one.
However, winning will be easier said than done. East Stirlingshire have really come onto a game recently and are currently on a seven-game unbeaten run. They boast one of the league’s most prolific marksmen in Ross Allum – who currently has 17 goals for the season so far. Connor Greene also became the clubs all time top-scorer as a defender with his 23rd strike in a Shire jersey last week.
Strollers have won their last three games in a row and have scored a whopping 15 goals in their last five matches so they will be confident of their abilities heading into this one, despite the fact they have failed to beat Friday’s opponents in their last five meetings.
Ones to watch
East Stirlingshire – Connor Greene
Civil Service Strollers – Iain Ballantyne
Kelty Hearts vs Cumbernauld Colts
Kelty Hearts impressive eight game unbeaten run came to an end last time out as they narrowly lost to Spartans. The Fifers will be hoping that they can get back to winning ways on Saturday against Cumbernauld Colts.
The visiting side know they will be in for a tough afternoon. However, they will be determined to end their five-game winless run, although they’ve only lost one in that period. To stand a chance of doing that they will need big performances from players such as Fraser Team, who has ten goals for the season so far.
Kelty will take comfort in the fact that they boast one of the league’s most impressive players. Stuart Cargill is a club legend and has had an outstanding season so far, scoring 16 goals already this term.
Ones to watch
Kelty Hearts – Ross Mutch
Cumbernauld Colts – Stephen O’Neill
Gretna 2008 vs Vale of Leithen
13th place Gretna host Vale of Leithen at Raydale Park this weekend with both sides fighting for a chance to finish in higher spots than they’ve sat in recent months to close the campaign.
Stuart Rome’s side will hope this could be the end of their win drought having not taken any points in over two months. Their most recent league outing was a 3-0 defeat to BSC Glasgow as well as previous big losses against Kelty Hearts and East Stirlingshire. They could also take advantage of a refreshed squad having not played a game in three weeks.
The Innerleithen men currently sit in 10th place and their aim will surely be to bounce back after a 4-1 defeat to Civil Service Strollers. Despite that loss, the squad has seen two consecutive wins against Whitehill Welfare and Stirling Uni in their previous two games.
All three points for either side could mean a potential jump up the table by at least two places.
Ones to watch
Gretna 2008 – Daniel Wadge
Vale of Leithen – Brad Rixon
Whitehill Welfare vs Gala Fairydean Rovers
Bottom of the table and relegation fighters Whitehill Welfare will battle the Galashiels side at Ferguson Park hoping to pull an upset out the bag in the closing games.
Ian Little’s squad will no doubt need their confidence back after their last league game was a massive 6-1 defeat to third place Kelty Hearts. Despite a series of losses, Welfare have certainly proven they can take a fight to the majority of the league and hold out for a few tight results. Their last point came from a 2-2 draw with Cumbernauld Colts in January and another this weekend could help a last gasp fight from relegation.
The Fairydean, however currently sit in ninth and could get into the top eight if they take advantage of games like these. Their last game grabbed a point, thanks to a 2-2 draw with East Stirlingshire. A good few closing games could cement a strong finish for Dean Shanks men after a mediocre start.
