Season: 2023/24

The 2022/23 season of The Park’s Motor Group Scottish Lowland Football League.

Tranent vs Heart of Midlothian B

Last time both sides met, Hearts B kept all three points at Ainslie Park – thanks to a 3-0 win.

Tranent currently sit in 4th place with 46 points from their 23 games played – made up of 14 wins, four draws, and five defeats.

Following a five-game undefeated run, The Big T let a two-goal lead slip – losing 3-2 to league leaders, East Kilbride.

Hearts B currently sit in 5th place with 45 points from their 25 games played – made up of 13 wins, six draws, and six defeats.

Following their 12-0 win over Edinburgh University, The Wee Jambos come into this with three-straight defeats – losing 3-1 to Cumbernauld Colts, and 2-1 to both University of Stirling and Caledonian Braves.

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University of Stirling vs Linlithgow Rose

Last time both sides met, Linlithgow Rose kept all three points at Prestonfield – winning 3-1.

University of Stirling currently sit in 7th place with 38 points from their 25 games played – made up of 11 wins, five draws, and nine defeats.

Uni have lost two of their last eight competitive games – including their recent 2-0 defeat to Berwick Rangers. Four wins and two draws make up the other results.

Linlithgow Rose currently sit in 8th place with 37 points from their 23 games played – made up of ten wins, seven draws, and six defeats.

The Rosey Posey have one win in 2024 – defeating Edinburgh University 5-1. A 2-1 defeat to East Stirlingshire, 3-0 defeats to both GFR and Albion Rovers, and a 2-2 draw with Celtic B make up the other 2024 results.

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East Kilbride v Tranent

East Kilbride increased their lead at the top of the league after an impressive comeback over Tranent.

Mick Kennedy’s side visited Cowdenbeath in their previous fixture as they managed to win 2-1. Their opponents have also been in good form as they secured an away win over Gretna on Saturday.

However, it’s Tranent who have the bragging rights this season after a stunning 7-0 victory against the Kilby helped them go through to the Scottish Cup third round.

East Kilbride created the best opportunities in the opening ten minutes of the game as both John Robertson and David Ferguson aimed for a breakthrough with their chances.

Despite this, Tranent took the lead in the match after a mistake from Matthew Connolly helped Callum Higginbotham easily tap the ball into the net.

This goal also led to the dismissal of Mick Kennedy as he felt the goal should not have stood and made his feelings clear to the referee.

This opening for Tranent helped them take control of the match and create more chances, a period that East Kilbride was not able to handle.

A few minutes from half time, Tranent found their second as Robbie McIntyre was able to guide the ball into the net after a strike from his teammate struck the post.

With the away side breezing through to the break, it looked to be mission impossible for East Kilbride to bring this back.

With time running out in the second half, East Kilbride made some substitutions as they went all in to try and get back into the game. A decision which paid massively for the league leaders.

João Baldé earned his side a goal after he brilliantly dribbled past the Tranent defence and managed to slot the ball in the bottom corner.

The East Kilbride fans were feeling optimistic as the game was heading into the final few minutes.

In the 91st minute, a ball into the box found Tiwi Daramola open at the back post, leading to him heading the ball into the back of the net.

At this point, the East Kilbride fans would have been more than happy with a point. However, their side wasn’t finished yet as a minute later, Robert Thomson got on the end of a shot going wayward and tapped it into the goal.

The Kilby managed to hold on and complete an incredible comeback to win all three points.

Mick Kennedy discussed his player’s performance and how he felt his side deserved the victory.

He said: “I don’t think we were at our best in terms of possession but I actually thought we deserved to win the game.

“I felt it was it bit harsh going in 2-0 down but I was always confident that we’d come back into the game second half and that’s what we did, we won the game so I’m happy for the boys.”

In their next matches, East Kilbride and Tranent will both be at home to Edinburgh University and Hearts B respectively.

Kyle Murphy.

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Albion Rovers v Broomhill

This is the second game of the double-header between the two sides – with the game last week ending 1-1 in Dumbarton.

Albion Rovers currently sit in 13th place with 28 points from their 20 games played – made up of seven wins, seven draws, and six defeats.

Including the result last week, Rovers are four games undefeated in the league – with two wins and two draws. They also lost 4-2 to Civil Service Strollers, a result that saw them knocked out of the Lowland League Cup.

Broomhill currently sit in 14th place with 28 points from their 24 games played – made up of eight wins, four draws, and 12 defeats.

Prior to the draw with Rovers last week, the Broom suffered back-to-back 4-0 defeats – losing to Berwick Rangers in the league, and Championship side, Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Cup Fourth Round.

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Caledonian Braves vs Heart of Midlothian B

Last time both sides faced each other, the game ended with a 1-1 draw at Ainslie Park.

Caledonian Braves currently sit in 12th place with 29 points from their 25 games played – made up of seven wins, eight draws, and ten defeats.

The Braves come into this following back-to-back cup exits – losing 3-0 to Troon in the South Challenge Cup, then bowing out of the Lowland League Cup to Berwick Rangers – eventually losing on penalties with the whistle blowing on 2-2.

Hearts B currently sit in 4th place with 45 points from their 23 games played – made up of 13 wins, six draws, and four defeats.

The Wee Jambos come into this with back-to-back defeats – losing 3-1 to Cumbernauld Colts and 2-1 to University of Stirling.

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Cowdenbeath vs East Kilbride

Both sides faced each other last week – with East Kilbride knocking Cowdenbeath out of the South Challenge Cup thanks to a 6-0 win at Central Park.

Cowdenbeath currently sit in 10th place with 30 points from their 23 games played – made up of seven wins, nine draws, and seven defeats.

The Blue Brazil are without a competitive win in five games – losing four and drawing the other, including South Challenge and Lowland League Cup exits.

East Kilbride currently sit top of the table with 57 points from their 23 games played – made up of 18 wins, three draws, and two defeats.

The Kilby come into this with three wins on the bounce and have scored 12 goals along the way (conceding three), and will be hoping for a repeat performance of the 6-0 win at Central Park, last week.

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Cumbernauld Colts vs Bo’ness United

Last time both sides faced each other, it was Cumbernauld Colts who took the three points back to Broadwood – thanks to a 3-0 win at Newtown Park.

Cumbernauld Colts currently sit in 2nd place with 47 points from their 24 games played – made up of 14 wins, five draws, and five defeats.

Since their 2-1 defeat to East Kilbride, the Colts have won four games straight – defeating Hearts B 3-1 in the League, South Challenge Cup victories over Dunbar United and Rutherglen Glencairn, and knocking Edinburgh Uni out of the Lowland League Cup with a 3-0 win.

Bo’ness United currently sit in 3rd place, also with 47 points from their 24 games played – made up of 15 wins, two draws, and seven defeats.

League-wise, the B.U’s come into this with three wins from their last four games, losing to Celtic B. Since the defeat, they have progressed to the next round of the Lowland League Cup – defeating Gretna 2008 2-0.

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