Season: 2023/24

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

Gala Fairydean Rovers vs Cumbernauld Colts

Gala Fairydean Rovers took maximum points off Cumbernauld Colts, last season – thanks to 4-2 and 1-0 victories.

Gala Fairydean Rovers currently sit in 6th place with 20 points from their 13 games played – made up of six wins, two draws, and five defeats.

GFR have won five of their last seven games in all competitions, scoring 24 goals along the way – including their recent 5-0 victory over Edinburgh University.

Cumbernauld Colts currently sit in 2nd place with 29 points from their 14 games played, three points behind league leaders, East Kilbride (who have two games in-hand) – made up of nine wins, two draws, and three defeats.

The Colts have also won five of their last seven matches in all competitions, and are currently on a four-game winning streak – with their most victory coming in the shape of a 3-0 win over East Stirlingshire.

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Linlithgow Rose vs Civil Service Strollers

Both sides have met only once previously – with Linlithgow Rose defeating Civil Service Strollers 3-1 in the Third Round of last season’s South Challenge Cup.

Linlithgow Rose currently sit in 10th place with 16 points from their 11 games played – made up of four wins, four draws, and three defeats.

The Rosey Posey suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of league leaders, East Kilbride in their previous match, but the game could have played out differently – with Linlithgow Rose going to the break with a 1-0 lead, as well as having a penalty saved.

Civil Service Strollers currently sit in 8th place with 17 points from their 12 games played – made up of five wins, two draws, and five defeats.

Strollers come into this having suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of East Kilbride and Broomhill – losing 2-0 and 3-0.

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Heart of Midlothian B vs Celtic B

It was Celtic B who got the better of the results, last season – with a 1-1 draw and a 2-0 win over Hearts B.

Hearts B currently sit in 3rd place with 27 points from their 14 games played – made up of seven wins, six draws, and one defeat.

The Wee Jambos are the second-highest scorers in the league with 37 goals – with the league top scorer, Makenzie Kirk finding the back of the net on 17 occasions, including the seven over the previous two fixtures v Bo’ness United and Berwick Rangers.

Celtic B currently sit in 13th place with 13 points from their 11 games played – made up of four wins, one draw, and six defeats.

The Young Hoops have now went six games without a victory in all competitions – with their 1-1 UEFA Youth League draw with Lazio being the only positive amongst five defeats.

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East Kilbride vs Linlithgow Rose

The sides have only met on one previous occasion – with the game ending 2-2 earlier this season.

East Kilbride currently sit top of the table with 29 points from their 11 games played – made up of nine wins and two draws.

It took 12 weeks of the 23/24 season for The Kilby to suffer their first defeat – losing to South Lanarkshire rivals, Hamilton Academical 5-2 in the Fourth Round of the SPFL Trust Trophy.

Linlithgow Rose currently sit in 9th place with 16 points from their ten games played – made up of four wins, four draws, and two defeats.

The Rosey Posey come into this off the back of a 4-2 win over St Peters in the South Challenge Cup – with four different players finding the back of the net.

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East Stirlingshire vs Cumbernauld Colts

Cumbernauld Colts defeated East Stirlingshire three times, last season – winning 3-2 and 2-0 in the league, as well as 1-0 in the Lowland League Cup. The meeting earlier this season ended in a 1-1 draw.

East Stirlingshire currently sit 14th in the table with 13 points from their 13 played – made up of three wins, four draws, and six defeats.

The Shire put in an impressive display to win 2-1 over Celtic B, however, they have since lost 1-0 to Caledonian Braves and will be looking to bounce back with a victory.

Cumbernauld Colts currently sit 2nd in the table with 26 points from their 13 played – made up of eight wins, two draws, and three defeats.

Since their 3-1 defeat to Broomhill in the Scottish Cup First Round, The Colts have won three games in a row – 2-0 and 3-2 league victories over Cowdenbeath and Edinburgh University, as well as a 4-2 win over Irvine Meadow in the South Challenge Cup Third Round.

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Edinburgh University vs Gala Fairydean Rovers

Gala Fairydean Rovers took maximum points off Edinburgh University, last season – with 3-2 and 2-0 victories. When both sides met earlier this season, Rovers once again took the three points, thanks to a 2-1 win.

Edinburgh University currently sit bottom of the table with one point, having lost 11 of their 12 games played and drawn the other.

Since their draw away to Linlithgow Rose, the Uni have lost seven consecutive games – scoring seven goals and conceding 27.

Gala Fairydean Rovers currently sit 8th in the table with 17 points from their 12 games played – made up of five wins, two draws, and five defeats.

Up until their recent 2-1 defeat away to Caledonian Braves, GFR were on a run of six games without a defeat – including five victories, and they’ll be eager to get back to winning ways.

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Gretna 2008 vs Caledonian Braves

You need to go back to November 2020 to find the last time Gretna 2008 defeated Caledonian Braves. Since then, The Braves have won on all six occasions, with an aggregate score of 25-0, including the 4-0 win earlier this season.

Gretna 2008 currently sit 17th in the table with three points – having lost 12 of their 13 games played, and finding a solitary victory over Civil Service Strollers.

The Anvils knocked Darvel out of the South Challenge Cup, but have since lost four games in a row – including their recent 6-1 defeat to West of Scotland side, St Cadoc’s in the following round of the same tournament.

Caledonian Braves currently sit 12th in the table with 14 points from their 12 games played – made up of four wins, two draws, and six defeats.

Since their Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Fraserburgh, The Braves have three consecutive wins under their belt – including their recent 1-0 victory over East Stirlingshire to progress to the next round of the South Challenge Cup.

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Tranent vs Cowdenbeath

Tranent maintained their 100% record under manager, Ian Little with a hard fought 1-0 win against Cowdenbeath on a chilly Wednesday night at Foresters Park.

In the early exchanges, however, Tranent did not look like a team with 6 wins on the bounce, with Cowdenbeath forcing several defensive mistakes and they were unlucky not to break the deadlock.

Tranent’s top scorer Cammy Ross looked to add to his impressive 13 league goals this season with two well worked chances towards the end of the half but was denied first by the post and then by the Cowdenbeath ‘keeper.

Tranent did finally find the back of the net early in the second half, which will have disappointed Calum Elliot and his Cowdenbeath side who had matched Tranent throughout the first half.

The goal came from Scott Gray, who cleverly finished Kieran Somerville’s low cross from the right hand side.

After the goal went in, neither side created much by way of chances, with most of the football being played in the centre of the pitch, much to Tranent’s relief.

Cowdenbeath possession did not amount to any clear chances on goal and Tranent were able to see out the 1-0 win.

Given East Kilbride’s comeback against Linlithgow Rose, the three points will feel especially important to Ian Little and his side – who look to keep pace with the current league leaders.

The Big T have been a free-scoring side so far this season, but what will please Little about this evening’s performance is that his side can grind out wins even when the goals aren’t flowing.

The Blue Brazil were able to contain Tranent effectively for large parts of the game and minimise clear shots on goal so will feel disappointed to be going home empty-handed.

For Tranent, three points are three points and it’s tight wins like these that can make all the difference come the end of the season.

Ben Marshall.

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