Well, well, well. Here we are again. It’s Matchday 01 in the Park’s Motor Group Scottish Lowland Football League and it was an absolute cracker to kick things off. Let’s take a look back as we celebrate the goals, the saves, the travelling fans, the pies and the hard work of our club’s media teams!

Join us every Tuesday as we look back on the matchday that was!

FRIDAY

Celtic B 1-0 Cumbernauld Colts

A close-run thing to open proceedings in the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League, as Cumbernauld Colts made the short hop down the A73 to visit the Excelsior Stadium, home of Celtic’s academy team. 

Colts went into the game with several debutants. Joe Murphy and Patrick Moy came in from Broomhill, Robbie McGale joined from Bonnyrigg, and Yan Godik took his place between the posts having joined from University of Stirling. Big things are expected from David Proctor’s team this season but a momentary lapse in concentration punctuated an even game as Daniel Kelly took advantage and gave Celtic B all three points on the opening night.

Heart of Midlothian B 4-1 East Stirlingshire

Heart of Midlothian B made their early season presence felt with a convincing 4-1 victory over East Stirlingshire at Ainslie Park. East Stirlingshire endured a tough season by their standards in 2023/24 and their fans would have been hoping for a better result in the capital having gone in level at half time thanks to a goal from new striker Greig Spence whose strike in the 23rd minute cancelled out an early own goal.

Hearts’ fitness told over the piece and despite a very positive performance, East Stirlingshire conceded three goals in the second half with a deadlock-breaker from Sandilands, before strikes from Ross and Plank put the icing on the cake for Liam Fox’s side.

Hearts B coach Liam Fox told club media: “We’ll get better than we were tonight, I know that, but to come away having scored four goals and got the three points, it’s an okay start.”

Attendance: 304

SATURDAY

Berwick Rangers 1-0 Linlithgow Rose

(Berwick Rangers on Youtube)

A goal from returning hero Liam Buchanan was enough to separate the sides at MKM Shielfield Park. An even game was punctuated by a series of excellent saves by Wee Rangers ‘keeper Callum Antell which kept Berwick ahead. Linlithgow Rose manager Gordon Herd bemoaned his side’s early lapse which allowed Buchanan to break the deadlock. From there he told club media: “Over the course of the game we did enough to at least get a point. In the second half we created at least ten, fifteen chances but fair play to Berwick. They put their bodies on the line and were determined not to concede.”

Hear from Linlithgow Rose manager Gordon Herd: 

By their own admission, Berwick spent the latter part of the second half with their backs to the wall and their supporters will be delighted to take all three points. 

Attendance: 513

Bo’ness United 2-3 University of Stirling

(Bo’ness United on Youtube)

A hotly anticipated opening day clash saw Bo’ness United welcome University of Stirling to Newtown Park. Uni opened the scoring following a peach of a ball from new signing Jack Hodge which found Finn Moffett and his touch allowed Ben Woloszyn to open the scoring from close range.  

University of Stirling, dominating the first half and going in 2-0 up, as Moffett took his opportunity to score one of his own. The second half saw University of Stirling continue to press the advantage, but it was Bo’ness who got the next goal with fifteen minutes left in the match. Kieran Mitchell converted a beautiful volley from the edge of the box to bring the BUs back into the match.

Lewis Duffy equalised for Bo’ness with ten minutes to go and it looked for all the world like they might take the three points with a fantastic comeback. 

Uni had other ideas as great work from Jenkins down the left hand side found Tallen who slotted the ball under the Bo’ness trialist goalkeeper to secure the three points for Chris Geddes’ side.

Gaffer’s thoughts on today’s 1s opening victory over Bo’ness Utd pic.twitter.com/rillJVaPjs

— University of Stirling Football Club (@StirlingUniFC) July 27, 2024

(University of Stirling FC on X, formerly Twitter)

Attendance: Unknown

Broxburn Athletic 3-1 Broomhill

Broxburn Athletic made their debut in the Park’s Motor Group Scottish Lowland League when they welcomed Zander Diamond’s new look Broomhill side to Albyn Park. 

It was the promoted East of Scotland side who took the early advantage as Gary Brass opened the scoring just after the twenty minute mark. Nick Locke doubled their advantage with a deft flick over the goalkeeper just before half time, sending the home fans into raptures as their team looked set for all three points.

(Norrie Work on Youtube)

Broomhill pulled one back through Kris Amponsah, recently recruited from Civil Service Strollers, as the Dumbarton side struggled for fluidity in the midfield. New man in goal Evan Columbine made a series of excellent saves to keep the Broom in it but Errol Douglas, a striker who is no stranger to Lowland League supporters, sealed the three points for Broxburn with twenty minutes to go.

Hear from Broomhill manager Zander Diamond:

(Broomhill FC on X, formerly Twitter)

Attendance: 385

Caledonian Braves 6-0 Gala Fairydean Rovers

Caledonian Braves have had an interesting off-season with Wefunder investment model seeing new co-owners join the club, and many of them were online to enjoy a stream of their new club’s first game of the season. They would have been delighted by the performance too, with Braves running out 6-0 winners over Gala Fairydean Rovers.

(Caledonian Braves on X, formerly Twitter)

In truth, the scoreline could have been worse for the Borders side as a series of last ditch heroics in defence kept the scoreline down. 

Scorer of the first goal, Ross McNeil, was the recipient of the first ‘Weird Lowland League Moment’ as Lowland League match ball sponsors Eagleview Event Center named a Highland calf after him following him opening the Braves’ account for the season,

Hear from Braves debutant goalscorer, Reg McLaren:

Attendance: 91

Cowdenbeath 2-2 Tranent

It was a classic for the neutral as Cowdenbeath rescued a point with a late penalty at Central Park. Four goals, a red card and plenty of entertainment was just what the doctor ordered for the season opener between two historic sides, with former Edinburgh City star Danny Handling opening the scoring for the visitors after fifteen minutes.

Cowdenbeath’s Aiden McLaughlin equalised just before half time before Euan Bauld’s daisy-cutter finish which came accompanied by one of the most satisfying sounds of connection in football history*. The Blue Brazil’s Paul McLean saw red for a challenge on Gray, before Jamie Docherty converted a penalty to level things out after 83 minutes.

*hyperbole…

Attendance: 281

East Kilbride 7-1 Civil Service Strollers

Civil Service Strollers went from being East Kilbride’s bogey team over the last few seasons to… err… not being, as Kilby ran out 7-1 victors over Gary Jardine’s side at Ross Commercial Finance K Park. 

By their own admission the first half was poor for Civil Service Strollers as they went in 3-0 down at the break. Things didn’t get much better in the second half as EK went 4-0 up after 54 minutes as the Strollers defence parted in front of them and allowed Callum Biggar to score his second of the afternoon.

Things went from bad to worse as Lewis Bushnell conceded a penalty three minutes after coming on as a substitute which allowed Biggar to net his hat trick from the spot. Popular striker Alieu Faye was able to pull one back for Strollers but by then they were six-nil down and Biggar was able to bag his fourth of the day to send the visitors home disappointed.

Attendance: Unknown

Gretna 2008 0-3 Albion Rovers

Gretna have been making great strides off the park in the close season with new manager and Lowland League stalwart Vinnie Parker making a raft of new signings and they’ve even got a documentary (check out the first episode below).

(Eye Scotland on Youtube)

Sandy Clark’s Albion Rovers have similarly been busy over the close-season and made the trip to Dumfries and Galloway looking to build on a ninth place finish in 2023/24. Barry Duncan’s peach of a free kick opened the scoring for the Wee Rovers after sixteen minutes.

Apart from that though, it was a fairly even match for nearly 80 minutes and Gretna’s supporters will have been excited by the potential on show from the club who needed a last day victory against Edinburgh University to secure their survival last season.

That being said, Albion Rovers showed the greater cutting edge, and Nathan Brown doubled the visitors’ advantage in the 81st minute before Michael Paton nodded home a superb header to secure all three points for Sandy Clark’s side.

Hear from Gretna 2008 manager Vinnie Parker: 

Hear from Albion Rovers goalscorer Nathan Brown: 

Attendance: 397