Season: 2023/24

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

Cumbernauld Colts vs Broomhill

The league’s joint-top scorer comes up against one of the best defences.

Both teams managed home victories, last season – with Broomhill winning 1-0 and Cumbernauld Colts winning 2-1. Colts also knocked Broomhill out of the Lowland League Cup, with a 3-1 victory.

Cumbernauld Colts are enjoying a successful start to the season – sitting in third place with 16 points from eight games, three points off league leaders, East Kilbride, who have a game in-hand.

The Colts come into this with back-to-back victories over Gretna 2008 and Bo’ness United. Billy Mortimer is the joint-top scorer, with eight goals.

Broomhill are currently in seventh place with 11 points from seven played.

Having went five league games undefeated without conceding a goal, the Broom come into this having lost 3-2 to Gala Fairydean Rovers.

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East Stirlingshire vs Caledonian Braves

Last season, both meetings ended in 1-1 draws.

East Stirlingshire find themselves in 15th place with four points – having one win, one draw, and six defeats from their eight played.

Since their 4-1 away to Gretna 2008, The Shire have picked up back-to-back losses, and will be looking to pick up points against a team in a similar position.

Caledonian Braves sit one place below The Shire, in 16th with four points, also, but have played a game less.

The Braves had five straight defeats prior to their 1-1 draw with Hearts B, and will be looking to take the opportunity of leapfrogging Shire, in this fixture.

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Edinburgh University vs East Kilbride

The last four meetings between the two sides have been very entertaining – Edinburgh University have won twice, with both results ending 4-3, a 4-4 draw, and the last meeting saw East Kilbride win 6-1.

Edinburgh University sit bottom of the table, with only one point from seven games.

That point came last week – thanks to a 2-2 draw with Linlithgow Rose, breaking their losing streak of six straight defeats.

East Kilbride are flying at the top of the Lowland League, with 19 points from seven games.

The Kilby are the only team who have yet to deal with defeat, with six wins and a draw. They are also the top scorers – having scored 24 goals.

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Gala Fairydean Rovers vs University of Stirling

Stirling Uni took maximum points off Gala Fairydean Rovers, last season – thanks to 3-2 and 2-1 victories.

Gala Fairydean Rovers currently sit in 14th with seven points – made up of two wins and a draw from seven played.

Having lost three consecutive matches, GFR will come into this with confidence off the back of defeating Broomhill 3-2 – who hadn’t conceded a goal in six matches, up until that point.

Stirling Uni are in 12th place, and have picked up eight points from seven played, only one ahead of their opponents.

Having gone four games undefeated, The Uni come into this looking to bounce back from the disappointment of losing 2-1 to Tranent – with The Big T coming from behind and scoring both goals in the final eight minutes.

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Tranent vs Gretna 2008

Last season, both teams secured home victories – Gretna 2008 winning 2-1, and Tranent securing their share of the points with a 4-0 win.

Tranent find themselves in 6th position – having won four of their seven games, drawing one, and losing two.

The Big T come into this on fine form – with three wins and a draw coming from their last four games, scoring 10 and conceding two.

After seven straights defeats and leaking a mammoth 39 goals, Gretna 2008 got their first points on the board, last weekend – with a dramatic last-minute winner securing a 2-1 win over Civil Service Strollers.

Now that the Anvils are off the foot of the table, a newfound sense of self-belief could help them accumulate more points and steer away from the danger zone.

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Heart of Midlothian B vs Linlithgow Rose

Hearts B currently sit second in the league – two points behind leaders, East Kilbride, who also have a game in-hand.

Having won five of their eight played, drawing two and losing the other, Hearts B are much improved from their inaugural campaign – where they finished in 13th place, last season.

Having won four games in a row, the Wee Jambos come into this off the back of a 1-1 draw with Caledonian Braves, last weekend.

Linlithgow Rose are currently sitting fifth in their first season in the Lowland League – four points behind Hearts B, with a game in-hand.

The Rose are the second top scorers in the league – with 12 players having contributed to their 22 goals scored.

Linlithgow Rose also come into this off the back of a draw – with the game ending 2-2 v Edinburgh University, last weekend.

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University of Stirling vs Tranent

Both sides managed a home victory, last season – with Tranent winning 2-1 at Foresters, and University of Stirling with a 5-2 win at Forthbank.

It was always going to be difficult for Stirling Uni to replicate their 4th place finish of last season, particularly when losing key players.

The Students currently sit in 11th, and have begun to pick up some form. Since their opening defeats to Linlithgow Rose and Cumbernauld Colts, Uni picked up their first points thanks to draws with East Kilbride and Berwick Rangers.

Stirling Uni come into this on the back of consecutive wins over Caley Braves and East Stirlingshire.

It’s no secret that Tranent are aiming for a loftier position than the impressive fifth place finish in their inaugural season.

The Big T are currently sitting in 9th place – having won three of their six games, drawing one and losing the other two, and will be looking to bounce back from the 3-0 loss away to Hearts B, midweek.

It was announced earlier today that Tranent Manager, Max Christie had stepped down from the position, with Ian Little taking over.

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Albion Rovers vs East Stirlingshire

The last time both sides met each other was on the final day of the 2014/15 season, when Albion Rovers were crowned Champions of Scottish League Two, defeating The Shire 5-1.

Albion Rovers have enjoyed a solid start to their inaugural Lowland League campaign – winning two of their three games played.

Since their opening day defeat to Hearts B, Rovers have rocked up back-to-back victories – 4-0 away to Gretna 2008, and 1-0 away to Bo’ness United.

East Stirlingshire find themselves in 14th place – with one win, one draw, and five defeats from their seven games played.

Whilst it’s still early in the season, The Shire will be looking to put more points on the board and match the ambitions the club have set.

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