Ho ho ho, merry gifting season to you all. The gift is affordable Scottish fitba, and the wrapping is the Park’s Motor Group Scottish Lowland Football League.
Let’s see what we can offer you from Santa’s workshop this weekend…
Celtic B vs University of Stirling
Celtic B enjoyed a fascinating, if slightly disappointing, 0-0 draw with Tranent last weekend after I had talked it up as the Neutral’s Pick for the match day. If you attended, I hope you enjoyed it. If you didn’t, then please pretend that you were recommended it by someone else. Three wins in their last five will have Celtic B feeling confident ahead of this one.
University of Stirling on the other hand enjoyed a Desmond Tutu with Bo’ness United last weekend to make it two draws and two wins in their last five matches. Finn Moffett’s goals have been vital for Uni this season and he’ll want to add to his tally as a wee Christmas present for his manager this weekend.
Broomhill vs Bo’ness United
Broomhill were unlucky to lose their match with Linlithgow Rose at the death last Friday night. The improvement in their play from the beginning of the season is marked and manager Zander Diamond and the board will feel vindicated that their faith in their young squad is starting to pay off.
That being said, the performances are much improved but they are still struggling to haul in the points and find themselves second bottom of the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League table (albeit with a game in hand over their nearest rivals). Results against sides like Bo’ness United will likely become important as the season reaches the business end.
Bo’ness’s season has been all about achieving an acceptable median. Six wins, seven draws and five defeats have them sitting pretty in mid-table but they’ll be keen to get three points on the board after three draws and two defeats in their last five.
Cowdenbeath vs Albion Rovers
Cowdenbeath clocked a much-needed win against Linlithgow Rose a couple of weeks ago before following it up with an impressive 0-0 draw against Caledonian Braves last weekend. Their supporters will be hoping for more points on the board ahead of a tough run-in and they have an opportunity to get things back on track at home against Albion Rovers.
For Rovers’ part, their recent form has taken a wee bit of a dip with two losses and two wins in their last five, but Sandy Clark’s side have been consistently strong this season and will be looking to kick on in the race for the top five. Peter Mendy’s goals have done wonders for Rovers this season, the striker already in double figures for the league season. The Cliftonhill faithful will be hoping for more this weekend.
Gala Fairydean Rovers vs Gretna 2008
No you try and predict what Gala Fairydean Rovers and Gretna 2008 are going to do on any given week. I’m done. I have nothing left.
Gretna lost 5-0 against Albion Rovers last time out. Gala drew 2-2 with Civil Service Strollers. Their form in the last five is broadly similar and matches between these two teams in the past have been pretty exciting.
I can’t even begin to predict it… so you’ll just have to go along! This one is this weekend’s Neutral’s Pick.
Linlithgow Rose vs Cumbernauld Colts
Three wins in the last five for Linlithgow Rose has seen them secure their fifth place in the Lowland League, but a defeat against a Cowdenbeath side that many Rose fans would have expected to beat handily may have set some alarm bells ringing.
Gordon Herd’s side got back to winning ways against Broomhill last weekend but the victory was far from assured and it took a goal at the death to secure all three points. This weekend’s visit of the league’s bottom side will provide a tough test against a team for whom points are a must.
Cumbernauld Colts have lost three in their last five but last weekend’s victory over Hearts B will have provided a much needed boost for new boss Craig Malcolm who has been working to strengthen the struggling squad over the last couple of weeks.
This one will be interesting, that’s for sure!
Tranent vs Caledonian Braves
If there is going to be a title race in this season’s Park’s Motor Group Lowland League, then Tranent will be in it. Their form is solid and their squad seems pretty cohesive. A 0-0 draw with Celtic B (currently in second) won’t have been the ideal result for them, but it keeps them in the hunt and they find themselves just a point off second place and six points behind leaders East Kilbride.
Caledonian Braves are in a similar position but a point better off, having taken a point from their last match against Cowdenbeath. These are two title protagonists and they’ll both be looking to give East Kilbride a run for their money and push towards the SPFL themselves.
A REAL CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR THE NEUTRAL YOU MIGHT SAY (but we can’t pick Tranent twice in two weeks, can we?)
It’s good luck also to Civil Service Strollers, East Kilbride, Berwick Rangers and Broxburn Athletic who are all in cup action this weekend.
I guess all that remains is for me to wish you the hap-happiest season of all. We’ll see you for a wee mid-season review from supporters (and from me for clubs we don’t get any volunteers for!) next week.
