Civil Service Strollers 1-1 Celtic B
No messing about for Civil Service Strollers as they fought hard to take something from their home match against Celtic B. They managed it with a late strike from their Captain, Matty Shaw, who popped up with a goal five minutes from time to give Gary Jardine and his boys something to take into next week’s match against fellow strugglers Broomhill.
For those seeking to topple Celtic B, this match could be viewed as something of a blueprint, with Strollers hard work and defensive organisation eventually leading to a chance which they were able to convert. With the B team currently top of the league, many around them will be looking to see what kind of setups work best against the youthful full-timers.
Cowdenbeath 1-1 Caledonian Braves
Cowdenbeath are the kings of the late penalty in this season’s Park’s Motor Group Lowland League so far. Braves took the lead through another well-timed Ross McNeil header (feed his heid and he will score as they famously don’t say down at Alliance Park).
In dying moments, the ball broke to a Cowdenbeath attacker who was wiped out just inside the penalty box for his trouble. Jamie Docherty stepped up and dispatched the penalty to equalise and send Braves back down the road with a solitary point.
Cumbernauld Colts 3-0 Berwick Rangers
This one was the Neutral’s Pick for this weekend but suffice it to say this isn’t how we saw this one going. A comfortable winning margin for David Proctor’s men added more woe to a Berwick side who suffered a 7-0 humiliation to University of Stirling in midweek.
Berwick, who started the season strongly, have now conceded 10 goals in two matches. They will (and do) point to a run of nine matches in twenty-nine days as the reason for their tough run, but they’ll need to pick themselves up and go again after a week’s break. They welcome Caledonian Braves to Shielfield Park on Saturday, while Colts – whose youngsters impressed where higher profile signings have disappointed this season – welcome Hearts B to Broadwood.
Gala Fairydean Rovers 4-4 East Kilbride
Not much to say about this one really…
Kidding!
Nine-man East Kilbride will count themselves lucky to have left Netherdale with a point following Tiwi Daramola’s 88th minute equaliser. A red card either side of half time will give Kilby an out, but Gala Fairydean Rovers assistant Steven Craig praised his players’ commitment and drive to progress and claimed that EK’s second red ‘ruined the game a bit’.
A match that saw the lead change hands multiple times and a number of scintillating goals can only be described as ‘one for the neutral’. Hearts were undoubtedly in mouths as the ball crossed the line for the equaliser and it is unlikely that anyone will underestimate Gala Fairydean Rovers for the rest of the season, after a tough opening run.
That being said though, one point is one point and it lifts them above East Stirlingshire and Broomhill who are both still on one point.
Gretna 2008 0-2 Broxburn Athletic
Gretna’s bright start to the season was halted at home when high-flying promoted side Broxburn came to Raydale Park. This one was an option for Neutral’s Pick, with both sides having impressed so far this season.
It was a close-run thing for the opening 70 minutes with both sides failing to break the deadlock. However, when Kyle Bell was fouled in the penalty box, the referee pointed to the spot and suddenly the game changed when the Brox midfielder converted the resulting penalty himself. Alassan Jones popped up ten minutes later, converting the second after his initial attempt was blocked.
Broxburn find themselves sitting pretty in third place, but face a challenging weekend when they welcome East Kilbride to Albyn Park. Gretna on the other hand, are facing a trip to Bo’ness to take on 11th place Bo’ness United.
Linlithgow Rose 2-1 Albion Rovers
Albion Rovers were looking to this one as a chance to kick on, but it was Linlithgow Rose that took the spoils at Prestonfield on Saturday. The opening goal went Rovers’ way and honestly you’ll never see a more ‘Scottish fitba’ goal as a ball destined for Dom McMahon was intercepted by Rose’s Jamie Allan, put out of reach of on-rushing keeper Cammy Binnie, and into the path of Peter Mendy who turned the ball into an open goal.
In the second half, Rose’s Louis Maguire found his way into the box and squared the ball through the CORRIDOR OF UNCERTAINTY to PJ McGiff who smashed it home. Linlithgow wrapped up the points when Ross Connelly over-committed in the Rovers goal, allowing McGiff to get a second.
Tranent 3-1 East Stirlingshire
East Stirlingshire’s early season woes continued as they went down 3-1 to Tranent at Foresters Park. In truth, things looked fairly simple for Tranent as they went into a two goal advantage, but Shire were able to pull one back through Jamie Penker to set up an exciting finish. Unfortunately for them, they were punished as they pushed for an equaliser and Harry Girdwood bagged all three points for Tranent with a composed finish.
Tranent are off to Airdrie to take on Celtic B this coming weekend, with more points the aim as they look to press home their position in the top six. East Stirlingshire, on the other hand, welcome University of Stirling to The Falkirk Stadium, still looking for their first win of the season.
University of Stirling 2-2 Hearts B
A fun Sunday afternoon in the beautiful city of Stirling for both sides as the young teams left Forthbank with a point each. Uni went in at half time 2-0 down and it looked as though their weekend might go the way of many teams who come up against the wee Jambos this season, but whatever Chris Geddes said to them at half time, lit a fire.
Nathan Tallen was the catalyst when he came on at half time, capitalising on a mistake by rookie keeper Jamie MacDonald in the Hearts goal to put Uni back in contention. Uni did their best to put B on the back foot and almost got their reward when Ben Heal reached the end of a mazy run only to find MacDonald waiting for him.
Their patience and hard work paid off though, when Carter Jenkins levelled things up with a bullet header in the dying moments of the game.
