Lowland League Roundup – Matchday 12

Features
By Media Team

Some big results at the foot of the table and another team through to round 3 of the Scottish Cup

CIVIL SERVICE STROLLERS 2-0 CALEDONAN BRAVES

By Craig Edwards

A Cammy Muirhead double moved Civil Service Strollers level on points with fourth place BSC Glasgow at the top of the Scottish Lowland League.

The hosts took the lead on the eighteenth minute when Muirhead rose highest at the back post to head in from Craig Newall’s cross.

Braves responded well but despite the best effort of Winters and McNeil, couldn’t find an equaliser before half time.

The lead was doubled after the hour. Braves, who had forced Josh Donaldson into a couple of fine stops were caught on the counter attack, and Muirhead was put one on one with Nicky Hogarth and slotted the ball into the corner.

Braves will feel they should have left Christie Gillies Park with at least a goal, but the Strollers defence was not to be breached.

Muirhead hit the post in stoppage time as he went in search for his hat-trick after the home side were reduced to ten men when Ryan Shanley was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Victory for the Strollers keeps them very much in touch with the top four while Braves stay in sixth.

 

the spartans 1-3 east stirlingshire

By Damon Main

Over 200 fans gathered for Friday’s game at Ainslie Park. The cold air that welcomed the teams onto the park was all the indication anyone needed that the last remnants of the Scottish summer had disappeared.

Given that East Stirlingshire have scored in every single away game that they have played this season this Lowland league fixture was never going to end up as a 0-0.  Moreover, that ‘Shire have scored twice as many goals as the Edinburgh team, it was no surprise that it was the Falkirk side who eventually won the points.

After a few chances and an early caution for the home team it was the Spartans who took the lead on 12 minutes from danger man Aaron Scott.  Sadly, it was not one for Jamie Barclay in the visiting goal to remember as he misjudged a free kick from the Spartans man allowing Scott to score.

Dougie Samuel was then spoken to by the Wilson the referee and that was possibly an indication of what a busy night the official was going to have at Ainslie Park.

That Spartans lead lasted less than 20 minutes however when Shire equalised through Andy Rodgers.     A free kick from former Aberdeen and Dundee man Nicky Low was sent in for Rodgers to run onto and finish neatly past Carswell.

The opening stages of the second half saw yet more cautions issued.  But the pivotal moment came on 66 minutes when Jamie Dishington gave Shire the lead finishing high into the home net on the counter attack after a ball from Mark Millar.

With Spartans chasing and desperate to get something from the game Nicky Low built on his earlier assist to score a third for East Stirlingshire. The heavily left footed man slotted home after being played through by sub Sean Brown who had come for Dishingston.

In a game that witnessed an incredible 11 bookings (7 for Spartans and 4 for Shire), the disciplinary misery of the home side was compounded by on loan dangerman Makavora getting his second red card of the season at the end of the game thanks to a second caution.

In truth Shire were dominant and despite Willie Dyer getting a serious injury late on the investment in the likes of the experienced Nicky Low looks to be a wise move by ‘Shire given his influence on proceedings both from set pieces and passes.

gretna 2008 2-0 vale of leithen

By Ronan Alexander

Gretna 2008 collected their first victory of the season to lift them off the bottom of the table in a crucial six-pointer against fellow strugglers Vale of Leithen.

Ryan Rogers opened the scoring midway through the first half meaning he’s now scored in three consecutive matches for the Anvils.

The hosts lead was doubled with 11 minutes remaining as last season’s top scorer Kevin Connelly sealed the three points.

Gretna now climb two places up to 14th in the table and Vale drop to the bottom and things don’t get any easier for them as they face high-flying Civil Service Strollers next weekend.

east kilbride 0-1 university of stirling

By Ben McNicol

Craig Brown scored an early second-half goal as Stirling University picked up a stunning three points against last seasons champions, East Kilbride at K Park on Saturday afternoon.
The win ends a four match beaten run for The Uni, with the most recent one coming last weekend where they were disappointingly defeated by Linlithgow Rose in the Scottish Cup.
The result for Kilby sums up how poor they have been this season and are probably already well and truly out the title race.
There was little chances in the first-half with the best one coming on the 36th minute when a corner caused all sorts of trouble in the Stirling box. The corner met the head of Dean Cairns, who’s looping header was well saved by Walker, but the rebound dropped to George Stanger and his follow up was somehow blocked off the line.
The only goal of the afternoon came in the 54th minute. It all came from a brilliant challenge by the goal scorer on the halfway line, before some nice football led to the ball being laid off to Craig Brown on the edge of the box and he made no mistake as his left footed shot flew into the bottom right-hand corner past Matthew McGinley.
Stuart Malcolm’s men threw everyone forward in pursuit of an equaliser but failed to test Kevin Walker in the Stirling goal to sum up what was another disappointing afternoon for Kilby.
Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgcpcnbSZX8&feature=youtu.be

berwick rangers 3-0 dalbeattie star

By Liam Govey

Berwick Rangers recorded a long overdue win at the expense of fellow strugglers Dalbeattie Star – their first home success of the season.

It was an uneventful first half, with neither side creating much beyond half chances. A head injury to Dalbeattie’s centre-back did little to aid the flow of the game, with Berwick creating the best chances toward the end of the half. Lewis Barr’s volley was the first real chance of note, but that was well saved by Vinnie Parker. Rangers loanee Joao Balde’s audacious effort was also just a whisker away having met the crossbar.

Berwick weren’t to be denied that vital opener before half-time, as Dan Purves made certain of scoring after some doubt as to whether or not the initial effort from Ricky Miller crossed the line.

Purves got his second (or first, depending on the dubious goals panel verdict) with another header. Berwick were cruising and looking good value for their lead. Joao Balde capped his excellent display off with a goal of his own following some fluid and incisive play around the penalty area. Berwick were 3-0 up and fully deserving of it. In truth, Star offered little in a display with limited chances.

Berwick move up to 12th with at least a game in hand on their surrounding rivals. Dalbeattie remain in 11th position.

cumbernauld colts 4-1 edinburgh university

By Ronan Alexander

Cumbernauld Colts got back to winning ways after a dominant first half was enough to see off second bottom Edinburgh University at Broadwood on Saturday.

Lewis Bonar opened the scoring after 43 seconds when he headed home Richard Kirwan’s cross. Their lead was doubled 20 minutes later, with Kirwan again the provider, and this time it was Craig Holmes who got the goalscoring touch.

Holmes then proved his Scottish Cup goal of the round was no fluke when he scored another outstanding goal on 33 minutes to all but seal the win for the home side.

10 minutes into the second half Holmes turned provider as Scott Davidson made it 4-0.

Dorian Ogunro’s men did get on the scoresheet on 78 minutes through defender Stuart Macfarlane but it proved to be no more than a consolation.

scottish cup

gala fairydean rovers 1-2 formartine united

By Martin Fleming

Unfortunately for the Galashiels men, they couldn’t put the Highland League side away and make it to another third round as the Formartine side found two goals in the second half.

Neither team could find a breakthrough in the first half at Netherdale and by half time, the fans could be forgiven if there was a possibility this would head to extra time. The only thing notable was a Marc Berry booking.

Whatever the managers said at half-time certainly worked because both teams came flying out the gate desperate to break the deadlock. Formartine United were the first ones to find the back of the net when Garry Wood put the visitors ahead on the 59th minute.

However, it only took ten minutes for Jacob Campbell to find another Scottish Cup goal as he fired in an equaliser given the Fairydean a bit of hope.  But only another ten minutes passed and the Highlanders put the game to bed thanks to a Stuart Smith header.

It could’ve been an all Lowland League third round tie but it’s Formartine United who will look ahead to their tie with the defending Lowland League champions, East Kilbride.

 

bsc glasgow 2-1 lochee united

By Martin Fleming

BSC Glasgow confirmed their second consecutive third round place in the Scottish Cup by putting two past the Dundonian juniors Lochee United.

Despite a slow start, BSC really got into the stride twenty minutes in. A thunderous strike from Jamie Hamilton cannoned off the crossbar and off the line only minutes before they could actually break the deadlock. A corner from Declan Hughes was originally cleared by the Lochee defence but only fell to the path of David McKay who hit home a sweet low strike evading a handful of players in the box.

Shortly after the break, Stephen Swift’s men made the score line a bit more comfortable. Jamie Hamilton managed a mazy run through at least three Lochee shirts and hit a perfect strike from just outside the box to find the back of the net.

A consolation came for the junior side when they were awarded a penalty on the 85th minute – Declan Hughes apparently committed a foul when a Lochee player went down amidst an attempted clearance. Logan Davie stepped up and put it away given the travelling Lochee faithful a bit of hope but it wasn’t to be.

BSC Glasgow head into a third round tie with League One’s East Fife travelling to Methill.