Lowland League Weekly – 07/11/24

Berwick Rangers vs Albion Rovers

A midweek draw with Bo’ness United was the tonic that Berwick needed after a tough run of results in the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League. Ben McCrystal netted for Berwick and will be hoping for more of the same on Saturday as they come up against an Albion Rovers team on a strong run of form. 

It was tough going for Rovers on Tuesday night as Civil Service Strollers proved tough opposition. It looked like it was destined to be a 1-1 draw until Peter Mendy popped up in the dying moments of the match to convert and, as Strollers social media put it, smuggle all three points onto the bus back to Coatbridge. 

A trip to Tweedmouth is no small task and both sides will be itching to take all three points. 

Broomhill vs Gala Fairydean Rovers

Broomhill’s biggest test of their mettle so far comes this week and they got it off to the best possible start by beating Cowdenbeath at The Rock on Tuesday night. The win took them level on points with the Blue Brazil and they’ll be itching to keep it going as they welcome their Park’s Motor Group Lowland League rivals Gala Fairydean Rovers on Saturday. 

Gala Fairydean Rovers have had a similarly tough season so far and find themselves one point ahead of the automatic relegation place, albeit with a game in hand over Cumbernauld Colts. 

This one is huge for both clubs. Whoever wins takes another step away from danger while consigning their vanquished foe to another week of worry. A real six pointer, if you will.

Caledonian Braves vs Linlithgow Rose

Caledonian Braves lost to Broxburn in midweek to lose the momentum in the title race and give East Kilbride a game in hand over them. This match against Linlithgow Rose will be vital to keep up the pressure. 

Rose took points away from East Kilbride at home before a shaky midweek performance against Gala Fairydean Rovers secured them another three points. Their form hasn’t been world-beating, but on their day Rose are one of the strongest teams in the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League. 

Both know the importance of three points in this one, and it will almost definitely be worth a look for any neutrals in the area. 

Celtic B vs Broxburn Athletic

Broxburn Athletic’s strong season had a boost in midweek with a tight 1-0 win over Caledonian Braves. That has put them in pole position to overturn Celtic B, who could only manage a draw with struggling Cowdenbeath last weekend, and move into 4th place in the league with a win in Airdrie on Saturday.

Cumbernauld Colts vs Bo’ness United

Things have picked up in terms of goals for Cumbernauld Colts since Craig Malcolm has taken over, but the results still aren’t coming for the Broadwood side who have now lost each of their last four matches. 

Bo’ness United have hit a little run of troubling form themselves, although being comfortably mid-table means that you won’t find this writer speaking about them as anything other than ‘solid’. They can’t move out of 8th place from this match, but they’ll be itching to keep the pressure on Albion Rovers who currently sit in 7th place. 

The onus is very much on Cumbernauld Colts to arrest the slide here as this relegation battle, in which the entire bottom half of the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League could find themselves in trouble, is hotting up. 

East Kilbride vs Tranent

Could our Neutral’s Pick be any other game this weekend? Hell no. 

Top of the table East Kilbride and 3rd placed Tranent have five wins and a draw in their last six games and they will both be fighting tooth and nail for all three in this one. 

This fixture is always pretty feisty and Tranent go into it two points back from Kilby, knowing that the could supplant last season’s Champions at the summit if results elsewhere also go their way. 

If you have nothing on this Saturday afternoon, you want to get yourself to K Park because this game could be a classic (now watch it be 0-0…). 

Gretna 2008 vs East Stirlingshire

Gretna 2008 have three losses a draw and a win in their last five matches. Two of those losses were their last two, both 3-1 losses against Civil Service Strollers and East Kilbride respectively. Their season has been one of growth and had you given Vinnie Parker’s men this fixture a month ago they would have had confidence of taking all three points at Raydale Park. 

However, they now sit three points behind their opponents this weekend as Shire have gone on a run of four wins on the bounce to move them clear of the relegation mire that they found themselves in from the beginning of the season. 

I guess you could say…

This one ought to be fascinating.

University of Stirling vs Civil Service Strollers

Sunday sees 11th meet 9th at Forthbank. Civil Service Strollers are four points ahead of their hosts and will be confident that their form will see them through. Four wins in their last five against Uni’s record of four losses in their last five would give any casual onlooker a view of what they can expect…

…but this is University of Stirling we’re talking about here. Anything can happen, and it often does. You can expect goals in this one!

Lowland League Preview – 29/10/24

East Stirlingshire vs Broomhill

You wouldn’t call East Stirlingshire a form team in the Park’s Motor Group Scottish Lowland Football League… or would you? Would you? Could you? Sure, why not!

Three wins and a draw in the last five for Pat Scullion’s side have seen them rise from relegation trouble to… slightly above relegation trouble in 14th place. 

Broomhill could be described as ‘coming onto a game’ themselves having scored three without reply at home to ailing Cumbernauld Colts before the Scottish Cup break. 

Both sides will be hoping to take further steps away from Gala Fairydean Rovers at the foot of the table, and capitalise on any problems for teams around them that are out of form. This one will be one to watch this weekend and we’re making the match at The Falkirk Stadium on Friday night our Neutral’s Choice!

Albion Rovers vs Heart of Midlothian B

Albion Rovers were so good against University of Stirling that Peter Menay managed to win SM Media’s Player of the Week award without needing to even exist. 

In all seriousness though, award recipient Peter Mendy was on fire as Rovers put Uni to the sword and they’ll be hoping for more of the same from him and the rest of Sandy Clark’s side. 

Hearts B are coming into this one on the back of an unusual midweek lunchtime fixture against Celtic B, but that is yet to be played at the time of writing so if you’re reading this after 2pm on Tuesday… insert your own observation here:

Thanks for that.

Bo’ness United vs Caledonian Braves

League leaders Caledonian Braves exited the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup at the weekend, losing out to Musselburgh Athletic 2-1. Ricky Waddell’s men will take the positive of ‘focusing on the league’ and will be keen to make the trip to Newtown Park as fruitful as their last league match, a 5-1 trouncing of Celtic B. 

Bo’ness United went into the Scottish Cup Third Round draw after an extra time victory over HOB Hawthorn and set up a match with the conquerers of this weekend’s opponents, Musselburgh. 

That result will be just as welcome as a tight 2-1 victory over Cowdenbeath last time out in the League. They’ll be hoping to build on 7th place in the Park’s Motor Group Scottish Lowland League and climb as high as 5th!

Broxburn Athletic vs Berwick Rangers

Broxburn will visit Stranraer in the Third Round of the Big Cup after a nerve-jangling 1-0 win over Auchinleck Talbot. Their league form has been a little bit patchy of late but they are sitting pretty in 6th place and will be looking to rediscover their free-scoring form as they welcome Berwick Rangers. 

The Wee Gers exited the Cup with a spirited 1-0 loss to Forfar on Saturday but their troubled league form will be giving them pause as they go into this one. They’ve slipped to 13th in the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League and are without a win in four matches. 

A big performance will be needed on the road on Saturday. 

Civil Service Strollers vs Gretna 2008

Okay so we might not have chosen it as our Neutral’s Pick this week, but this game will be one to keep an eye on. Matches between Strollers and Gretna are usually entertaining but since this one could be for league position, you can expect some fireworks (ah! ahhhhh!) in this one. 

Civil Service Strollers found Irvine Meadow XI too hot to handle at the weekend as they exited the Scottish Cup, but they’re on a decent run of three wins on the spin in the league. 

Gretna meanwhile have had a weekend off and will want to build on their convincing 3-0 win over Berwick last time out in the league. 

Cowdenbeath vs Celtic B

Cowdenbeath’s tough season doesn’t get any easier with the visit of Celtic B to Central Park on Saturday. 

The Blue Brazil had a confidence-boosting 2-1 win over The Spartans in the Scottish Cup, setting up a former-SPFL-side-classic against Brechin City in the Third Round. 

On league duty though, they’ve found things much tougher and are currently in 15th place on 11 points, well within striking distance of the  three sides sitting below them. Anything less than a convincing performance against Celtic could result in them finishing the weekend in relegation trouble. 

Gala Fairydean Rovers vs University of Stirling

Predict this one? Absolutely not. 

Gala Fairydean Rovers go into this match bottom of the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League but this is one of the most intriguing relegation battles we’ve had in recent years with six teams in immediate danger of distress. 

Gala lost to Tranent last time out but their performance was encouraging and the result was respectable against one of the league’s highest scoring teams. Gala tend not to play on the back foot and that has led to some fascinating and entertaining matches so far. 

Like their hosts, University of Stirling are another of this season’s mysteries wrapped in an enigma. Capable of incredible wins and crushing lows, they are without a win in their last four matches and will be keen to do some damage in the Borders to get their season back on track. 

Linlithgow Rose vs East Kilbride

This is another one that could easily have been our Neutral’s Pick as 2nd meets 5th in the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League. 

Rose come into this one off the back of a hugely entertaining 3-0 win over Clachnacuddin in the Scottish Cup, setting up a fascinating Third Round tie with Raith Rovers. Kilby also made it to the Third Round, beating Bonnyrigg Rose 3-1 to set up an equally fascinating tie with Falkirk. 

East Kilbride have four league wins in five while Rose’s form is a little more patchy with two wins and two draws. If all goes right, this one will likely be a fairly cagey affair. One for the tactics afficionados… 

Tranent vs Cumbernauld Colts

The East Lothian side are Tranentless (as in relentless? No? You don’t deserve me) in the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League this season, turning around a stuttering start to rise up to 3rd. 

Cumbernauld Colts have yet to get going and parted company with manager David Proctor following a 3-0 defeat away at Broomhill. Lowland League icon Craig Malcolm has taken the hotseat on an interim basis and he will be hoping for a landmark result in his first game in charge.

In truth, going to Foresters and getting anything is a tough ask at the best of times and Colts will have to turn a run of four defeats and a draw on its head to come away with a good result. 

Lowland League Cup First Round Draw

The draw for the First Round of this season’s Lowland League Cup has been made, and is as follows!

Civil Service Strollers vs East Stirlingshire
Gretna 2008 vs University of Stirling
Broomhill vs Berwick Rangers
Linlithgow Rose vs Caledonian Braves
Cumbernauld Colts vs East Kilbride
Cowdenbeath vs Gala Fairydean Rovers
Tranent vs Broxburn Athletic
Albion Rovers vs Bo’ness United

Some great ties in prospect as we look ahead to the competition. The ties will take place from Saturday 1st to Wednesday 5th February – keep an eye out on your side’s social media for the exact dates!

Lowland League Roundup – 22/10/24

Another wonderful weekend in the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League done and dusted. Join me as we take a spin through the best of the action and look out for the Lowland League Cup draw on this very website tomorrow at 5pm.

Albion Rovers 5-0 University of Stirling

Albion Rovers were well worth the entry fee on Saturday as they demolished University of Stirling 5-0 at the Reigart Stadium. The goals came from Paul Kennedy, Bright Prince, former scholar Marcus Lavery and Peter Mendy hit a brace. 

University of Stirling would tell you themselves that their side weren’t at the races in this one and they’ll be hoping for stronger performances after the Scottish Cup break to get their season back on track.

As for Rovers, their supporters will be pleased with the scoreline after a few weeks of less than convincing performances. Sandy Clark echoed the notion of football being a results-driven business, and they’ll be looking for more after the break.

Broomhill 3-0 Cumbernauld Colts

Picture: Broomhill FC

I said that Cumbernauld Colts needed to arrest their slide through the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League table with a solid result against Broomhill, so going to Dumbarton and losing 3-0 probably wasn’t on the bingo card.

This result cost David Proctor his job, the Colts manager resigning straight after the match. Goals from Alex Fairlie, Michael Aitken and Andrew Caffrey saw Broomhill take all three points and a clean sheet thanks to a series of excellent saves from stalwart goalkeeper Stephen Barr.

Broomhill have a huge match coming up November 1st against a resurgent East Stirlingshire, while Cumbernauld Colts face a tough away trip to Tranent on Saturday 2nd – both matches will be fascinating to watch for anyone planning a weekend groundhog.

Broxburn Athletic 1-2 Civil Service Strollers

Broxburn failed their bouncebackability test after their midweek draw with Bo’ness United, falling to a 2-1 defeat at home against Civil Service Strollers. 

In truth, 2-1 makes it look like a more even game but the Brox’s consolation goal came in the dying moments with a spectacular finish from Errol Douglas. Alieu Faye and Tom Findlay scored for Strollers on either side of half time to secure all three points.

Both sides are in Scottish Cup action this coming weekend as Broxburn face a trip to Auchinleck Talbot while Civil Service Strollers are off to Ayrshire to take on Irvine Meadow XI in the ‘Interesting Scottish Fitba Names Derby’.

Caledonian Braves 5-1 Celtic B

Caledonian Braves needed a landmark performance against similarly unbeaten Celtic B to continue their run at the top of the Park’s Motor Group Scottish Lowland League. They achieved that and more as they smashed the full-time academy side 5-1. 

Cammy Breadner’s opener was the pick of the goals as Braves dominated the game to leave them as the only undefeated team in the league this season and drop Celtic to fourth.

Cowdenbeath 1-2 Bo’ness United

(Picture: David Wardle/Cowdenbeath FC)

Another side that are struggling in recent weeks are Cowdenbeath, whose luck didn’t improve much with a 2-1 loss at home to Bo’ness United. 

Cowdenbeath took the lead through Matty McDonald who pounced on a deflection in the Bo’ness box to turn the ball home, but despite the heroics of Ruaridh Lynch in the Blue Brazil goal, they were powerless to stop the turnaround.

Ryan Porteous scored a wonderful flicked header from a corner to make it 1-1 before Louis Kennedy left Lynch planted as he deftly found the postage stamp from just outside the box to seal all three points for Bo’ness.

Scottish Cup action awaits both sides at the weekend as Bo’ness travel to Hill of Beath Hawthorn and former Lowland League champions The Sportans  welcome Cowdenbeath to Ainslie Park.

East Kilbride 4-1 Heart of Midlothian B

Hearts B made it four defeats in five matches as East Kilbride ran out 4-1 winners at K Park. Hearts B took a 1-0 lead into half time but capitulated when it mattered as an own goal served as an equaliser for Kilby, before Cami Elliott, Jack Leitch and Jamie Hamilton sealed the victory for the K Park side to keep the pressure on Caledonian Braves at the top of the table.

East Kilbride are in Scottish Cup action this weekend, welcoming League 2 side Bonnyrigg Rose to K Park.

East Stirlingshire 2-0 Gala Fairydean Rovers

East Stirlingshire eased some of their relegation worries with another win at the weekend. Gala Fairydean Rovers were the visitors and, as a result, drop to the bottom of the table. 

It took until nearly half time for the deadlock to be broken as Chris Inglis rose highest to nod home a corner. As for the second goal? Count me among the people who love it when a forward shifts his weight to allow him to finish on his stronger foot. Lewis Latona did just that as he was released through, shifted onto his right foot and put the ball just beyond the keeper.

Just a note on the absolutely ridiculous quality of East Stirlingshire’s highlights package. The number of statistics and detail on display in it is absolutely incredible. An amazing job from the team over at The Falkirk Stadium.

Gretna 2008 3-0 Berwick Rangers

Berwick Rangers’ trajectory in the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League this season could best be described as ‘nosedive’. After a strong start that saw them sitting pretty at the top of the table in the early running, their form has been poor since (three defeats and a draw in their last five) and England’s only Scottish team find themselves in thirteenth.

Gretna 2008 went about their business cleanly and efficiently, not scoring the most beautiful of goals (their first could be described as the most wicked of deflections), but they did what they needed to do and supplanted Berwick in twelfth place.

Berwick will be hoping that the return of former Captain Jamie Pyper from East Stirlingshire can spark their season into life as they face a trip to Forfar Athletic in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup at the weekend.

Linlithgow Rose 2-2 Tranent

There’s a lot I could say about this game, it was a cracking example of end-to-end non-league fitba played between two evenly matched teams. It reminds me of something you’d have seen on Scotsport in the 1990s. 

Just do yourself a favour, make a wee cup of tea and watch the highlights.

Linlithgow Rose will be hoping for more of this kind of performance as they head into a home Scottish Cup match against Clachnacuddin at the weekend.

And finally…

Here’s the Team of the Month from the lads at Official Catchup – what do you think?

Lowland League Roundup/Preview – 18/10/24

Albion Rovers vs University of Stirling

This weekend’s 8th vs 9th battle is set to be an enticing affair as Uni could leapfrog Rovers (although for the pedants amongst you, Rovers do have a game in hand). 

Albion Rovers fans won’t be much happier than they were going into midweek, having needed a last minute Bright Prince goal to rescue a point against bottom of the table Broomhill. Sandy Clark’s side will need to provide more going forward if they want to get the jump on a Uni side that, on their day, can score for fun. 

Uni took two points from Caledonian Braves in midweek and will be looking to build on that and take the initiative of leapfrogging their positional rivals. 

Broomhill vs Cumbernauld Colts

Broomhill suffered a late sickener against Albion Rovers in midweek and it seems like – at some point – they surely have to gain some kind of reward for their improved play. A 2-2 draw against top half Albion Rovers was creditable but in order to keep in the fight for survival, they’ll have to start picking up wins and fast. 

They’ll see an opportunity against a Cumbernauld Colts side that have struggled hugely in recent weeks and capitulated at their home ground against Civil Service Strollers in midweek. Colts’ slide down the table in recent weeks will be a concern for David Proctor’s side and they’ll be looking to arrest it at The Rock on Saturday. 

Broxburn Athletic vs Civil Service Strollers

Broxburn Athletic played out a cagey nil-nil draw with Bo’ness United on Wednesday night and naturally will be looking to bounce back with a win at Albyn Park on Saturday afternoon. 

Civil Service Strollers for their part dismantled Cumbernauld Colts in midweek and took all three points and a three goal margin in a 4-1 win. Gary Jardine and his side will want to build on that, even if Albyn Park makes for a difficult away day! Strollers will need to shore up defensively, but there are few teams who look brighter going forward in the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League at the moment. 

Caledonian Braves vs Celtic B

Caledonian Braves go into Saturday’s match at home to Celtic B, knowing that the momentum lies with their title rivals with them having failed to pick up all three points away at University of Stirling.

Celtic B themselves took down Gretna 2008 4-0 in midweek and are starting to return to the kind of form that put them in third place in the league. This one could easily be one to watch this weekend, but much depends on which Celtic side turns up. 

Cowdenbeath vs Bo’ness United

Cowdenbeath have perhaps been one of the more disappointing sides in the league this season and a visit from Bo’ness United will do little to perk up Blue Brazil fans still reeling from their 8-3 defeat to East Kilbride in midweek. Like Cumbernauld Colts, Cowdenbeath are struggling to impose themselves in games and will need more from their experienced players if they’re to get anything from this one. 

Bo’ness United – who I nearly constantly describe as ‘slow and steady’ – played out a 0-0 draw with Broxburn Athletic in midweek and are going about their business quietly and confidently. They’re currently sitting in 7th place but a wee run of results, either positive or negative, could change their fortunes greatly going into the rest of the season. 

East Kilbride vs Heart of Midlothian B

East Kilbride could probably have won by more in midweek, despite beating Cowdenbeath 8-3 at K Park. They will be incredibly confident going into their match against Hearts B at the weekend, with a chance to put the Premiership youth team whose record in the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League has been fairly underwhelming this season, even further behind in their plans. 

East Stirlingshire vs Gala Fairydean Rovers

We said previously that East Stirlingshire needed a big, landmark result to put their season back on track. So them beating high-flying Linlithgow Rose 1-0 in midweek definitely counts. Two wins for the season won’t give Shire fans anything to sing too loudly about, but it’s progress that they can take into this weekend against Gala Fairydean Rovers. 

Gala themselves lost out narrowly to Tranent in midweek in a game where, had they taken their chances, things could have been very different. This match is a chance for both teams to take a huge leap away from the drop zone. Needless to say, The Falkirk Stadium could well be the place to be this weekend!

Gretna 2008 vs Berwick Rangers

Gretna 2008 fell foul of full time football in midweek as they lost out 4-0 to Celtic B. Things have been tougher than Gretna might have liked in this phase of the season, but their fans will still be hoping that the side have enough about them to steer clear of the danger zone over the next few months.

Berwick themselves are struggling a little after a bright start to the season. The former league leaders currently sit in 12th place and following the postponement of their midweek match versus Hearts B, they’ll be rested and raring to go in this one. 

Linlithgow Rose vs Tranent

Rose fans predicting a midweek loss to East Stirlingshire would likely have been run out of Linlithgow on Tuesday, but then imagine the moment of being able to say ‘I told you so’!

They’d probably have preferred to take something out of the game though…

They welcome Tranent who are quietly steamrollering their way through the league and looking good while doing it. The battle of fourth and fifth is another reason to get out to the football this weekend (as if you needed a reason). If you’re in the area, this isn’t one to be missed!

Lowland League Roundup – 08/10/24

Title photo: Cumbernauld Colts vs Albion Rovers (CCR Photography)

Berwick Rangers 1-7 East Kilbride

At a certain point, you have to just say that more than one team in the Park’s Motor Group Scottish Lowland League are very, very good at playing the sport of football. 

East Kilbride are one such team, travelling as they did to the merry old land of England on Saturday with the express intention of gaining three points in the title race. 

Did they need to smash Berwick Rangers 7-1? Who knows, but smash them they did as the Wee Gers barely managed to get into gear as East Kilbride turned on the style, with doubles for John Robertson and Cami Elliott putting the hosts to the sword. 

Bo’ness United 3-3 Celtic B

Celtic’s B team continued their unbeaten record in the league, but slipped to fourth in the table thanks to their fifth draw of the season at Newtown Park. 

Bo’ness United were 3-0 down in the 60th minute, and staring down the barrel of a heavy defeat ahead of their Junior Cup match against Kilsyth scheduled to take place the next day(?!), until in the 85th minute Michael Travis goal looked to have given them a consolation. 

Further goals in the dying minutes from Smart Osadolor and Lewis Duffy brought Bo’ness back from the brink of defeat and gave the BUs a bounce going into their Junior Cup match, which they won!

They must be knackered…

Broxburn Athletic 5-0 East Stirlingshire

One Shire fan described his team’s defence as looking like they ‘just don’t care’ at the weekend as Pat Scullion’s side capitulated 5-0 to free-scoring Broxburn. 

Scullion would have hoped for more from his charges following their midweek routing of Cumbernauld Colts, but it was more of the same from a team struggling for impetus in the Park’s Motor Group Scottish Lowland League this season. 

From Broxburn’s perspective it was all too easy as they kept the heid and scored two very early goals to settle any doubt that they might have difficulty in the match. 

Cumbernauld Colts 1-1 Albion Rovers

Chances are that this one was always going to be a close run thing between two evenly matched sides, but with Cumbernauld Colts reduced to nine men with nearly twenty minutes left, Albion Rovers supporters will likely be left disappointed that their sideweren’t able to secure all three points. 

Caledonian Braves 3-2 Hearts B

Braves ‘could have made things much easier for themselves’ according to their manager Ricky Waddell, but even he will be delighted that three points against the young full-timers (and Jamie MacDonald) keeps his side on top of the league. 

Hearts will be disappointed that their comeback ultimately amounted to nothing, but Braves are no easy prospect this season and a brace from Ross McNeil and a finish from the impressive midfielder Ryan Murray was enough to see off the Jambos. 

Civil Service Strollers 4-2 Gala Fairydean Rovers

THESE TEAMS DO NOT DO BORING GAMES. Our Neutral’s Pick for this weekend turned out to be an utter banger as Gary Jardine’s Civil Service Strollers won out over Gala Fairydean Rovers in a match that was jam packed with incident.

Strollers were 2-0 down inside twenty minutes at Christie Gillies Park, but were level just ten minutes later! Alfie Smith and Mackie Scott brought them back into it, and they were ahead on 33 minutes when Marc Laird converted a penalty. 

Laird stepped up again in the 66th minute, converting another penalty to completely turn things around for Strollers. 

Drunken Groundhopper was there to take it in (always drink responsibly, folks):

Gretna 2008 1-1 Cowdenbeath 

This one had the potential to be very evenly matched and that was how it transpired at Raydale Park. Gretna 2008 manager Vinnie Parker described the game as ‘hardly a classic’ as the sides largely cancelled each other out. 

Stuart Douglas was on the scoresheet for Gretna, while Rhys Walker was the scorer for the Blue Brazil. 

Broomhill 0-3 Tranent

Broomhil held on until the second half against a Tranent side who are now on a run of four wins in five. Broomhill manager Zander Diamond praised his players’ attitude, but doubts will be beginning to creep in as another encouraging opening 60 minutes leads to a last 30 minutes of collapse. Broomhill need to get points on the board, and soon, to avoid relying on other teams to move them away from the relegation zone. 

University of Stirling 1-3 Linlithgow Rose

A fairly tight game saw Linlithgow Rose come away with three points and third place in the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League as they battled hard to win 3-1 at Forthbank on Sunday. 

The game was fairly even, and it took a penalty for Rose to come back into the game at 1-0 down, but from there they took control of the match, a gorgeous low strike from Dylan Paterson – a real daisy cutter – putting them into the lead before a last minute goal from Calum Rae sealed the points. 

A week of cup action is our teams’ reward for their endeavours at the weekend. Keep an eye on social media for more from the Park’s Motor Group Scottish Lowland Football League!

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Lowland League Roundup & Preview – 04/10/24

It’s time to look back… and forward! Let’s take a look, team-by-team, at how things are going for your team in the Park’s Motor Group Scottish Lowland Football League.

Caledonian Braves

A 1-1 draw in midweek was a fair result between two strong sides as Braves and Broxburn fought it out at Alliance Park. The league leaders will need to be on top of things as they welcome Hearts B to Alliance Park this weekend and they’ll be looking to get back to winning ways. Ross McNeil will be keen to add to his goal tally.

East Kilbride

Many believed that East Kilbride would win the league at a canter this season, but it seems safe to say that after ten matches of the Lowland League season, things might not be so simple for the K Park men, despite a strong start.

A midweek 5-0 win away at Raydale Park will have the positivity flowing again, but the team who currently sit in fourth place will need to be wary as they travel to meet an unpredictable Berwick Rangers side who themselves are looking to put together a good run of results.

Celtic B

Currently sitting second in the division and yet to lose a match, Celtic B go into Saturday’s match against Bo’ness United in search of more of the same.

Linlithgow Rose

A last-minute sickener at home against struggling Gala Fairydean Rovers in midweek saw Linlithgow Rose’s run of five wins end, but the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League’s third placed team will go into this Sunday’s match at Forthbank hoping that University of Stirling will provide less stern opposition for a team with title aspirations. 

Rose have goals spread throughout their team, but will be hoping that their defence can hold firm against a Uni team that score for fun if they are given enough space.

Tranent

Tranent turned up at Forthbank on Wednesday night and promptly gubbed University of Stirling 5-0. With – shall we say talismanic? – Dean Brett out of action for the next few weeks, it would have been reasonable for Tranent to struggle and a freak 4-0 loss to Dundee North End in the Scottish Cup gave cause for concern. 

What a way to allay those fears as they demolished the students on their home turf. They travel to Dumbarton on Sunday with the intention of doing the same to bottom of the league Broomhill.

Broxburn Athletic

Broxburn Athletic played out a draw with Caledonian Braves at Alliance Park in midweek, a match that neither side would have wanted to lose. The Brox sit in sixth place in the league and show no signs of letting up in their impressive start to the season. 

They welcome East Stirlingshire to Albyn Park at the weekend in what would have seemed to be an easier fixture pre-midweek when East Stirlingshire blew Cumbernauld Colts away 5-0 at The Falkirk Stadium. Goals galore in prospect for this one.

Just wait for it to be a nil-nil draw. Sorry in advance.

Bo’ness United

I feel like Bo’ness United have been the quiet force in the Park’s Motor Group Scottish Lowland League this season, quietly going about their business and putting in strong performance after strong performance. A narrow midweek win against Berwick Rangers gained them another three points, and they’ll welcome Celtic B to Newtown Park with the confidence of gaining another good result to push them further up the table.

Hearts B

Hearts B have been all over the place in terms of results in the Lowland League this season and will be looking to put a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Broomhill two weeks ago behind them as they head to Alliance Park to take on Caledonian Braves who sit at the top of the league. 

Albion Rovers

A season of intense ups and downs for Albion Rovers this season led to in a last ditch win over Civil Service Strollers at the Reigart Stadium in midweek. A tumultuous exit from the Scottish Cup has punctuated what many Rovers fans see as a team underperforming, but they travel to Cumbernauld Colts with a chance to make positive gains on a side that have struggled in recent weeks.

University of Stirling

University of Stirling struggled in midweek, being taken apart by a rampant Tranent side. That 5-0 defeat doesn’t really speak to Uni’s recent form which has been pretty balanced (two wins, two defeats and a draw in the last five matches). This weekend’s home match against high-flying Linlithgow Rose will likely provide a better barometer of where Chris Geddes’ side are terms of their league aspirations.

Berwick Rangers

Berwick Rangers have slipped to eleventh place in the table after three defeats in their last five matches. This weekend’s home match against East Kilbride offers a chance for the Wee Gers to put a marker down to the rest of the league, but they know that they are in for a tough time against the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League champions. 

As always, it’s talismanic (twice in the one preview? Yup!) Liam Buchanan whose goals will be vital if they are to put a dent in Kilby’s title chances and get their own season back on track.

Gretna 2008

Gretna’s early season form has seen them put a buffer between themselves and the bottom of the league, where many pre-season predictions would have had them. Vinnie Parker’s charges have had less luck in recent weeks and suffered a 5-0 home defeat against East Kilbride in midweek, but match-ups with the teams around them in the league provide an opportunity for Gretna to pick up more vital points. That begins this weekend when Cowdenbeath come to town.

Cowdenbeath

You could say much the same about Cowdenbeath as I have about Gretna to be honest, and since they’re so close together in the league (just one point separates them!) I guess I would. Cowdenbeath supporters would have been hoping for more going into the season though and will be looking for their team to kick on towards the top half. Whether they are able to will come down to their ability to beat the teams around them… starting with Gretna.

Cumbernauld Colts

One of last season’s surprise packages, Cumbernauld Colts, have suffered a bit of a collapse this season following a strong start. They find themselves in the bottom half and on a fairly indifferent run. This weekend’s match against Albion Rovers will be seen as an opportunity get their course pointed in the right direction but things will be far from simple for a side who have a significant injury list.

Civil Service Strollers / Gala Fairydean Rovers

We’re combining Strollers and Gala on this list as they are our Neutral’s Choice this weekend. Both sides go into this one level on points and if Gala’s last few matches are anything to go by, literally anything could happen when the Netherdale men are involved. They secured a 1-1 draw with Linlithgow Rose in midweek with pretty much the last kick of the game, having just had a man sent off. 

Strollers on the other hand lost out late on to Albion Rovers to make it three losses in five matches. They need to get their season going and three points at home against a team in their vicinity would help them massively.

East Stirlingshire

Anyone who predicted East Stirlingshire beating Cumbernauld Colts at home might have been seen as normal, but anyone who predicted East Stirlingshire beating Cumbernauld Colts 5-0 at home would likely have been castigated and thrown out of their community. 

That’s what they did though, and Pat Scullion’s side will be looking to keep that momentum going as they head to Broxburn on Saturday. It’ll be a tougher prospect for them at Albyn Park, but wins give you confidence.

And what does confidence make? Points, maybe!

Broomhill

Last but not least we have Broomhill whose last couple of weeks have been punctuated by the highs of their first win of the season at Ainslie Park against Hearts B, the mids of exiting the cup against Turriff United, and then the lows of a capitulation to Cowdenbeath in midweek after looking competitive in the first half.

They are in for a tough prospect as high-scoring Tranent visit the Marbill Coaches Stadium this Sunday. Something has to give for The Broom, but it’s hard to see it coming this weekend.