Season: 2023/24

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

Cumbernauld Colts vs Gretna 2008

Points were shared, last season – as Gretna 2008 won 3-2 at Broadwood, and Cumbernauld Colts returned the favour with a 3-0 win at Raydale.

Cumbernauld Colts have won three of their six games – 1-0 v Celtic B, 3-0 v University of Stirling, and 4-2 v Linlithgow Rose. A 0-0 draw with Berwick Rangers and 5-1 and 2-1 home defeats to Tranent and Hearts B make up their other results.

Billy Mortimer is the league’s third-top scorer, this season, with six goals in six games.

Gretna 2008 will be hoping they can resurrect last seasons victory at Broadwood, as they look to get their first points on the board.

It’s been a stormy start for Bryan Gilfillan’s boys, with the Anvils losing all six games – conceding 33, and finding the back of the net on only three occasions.

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Bo’ness United vs Albion Rovers

This will be the first time that both sides have come up against each other.

Bo’ness United are the only team to have a 100% win rate in the Lowland League, at this point – having played and won five, scored 13, and conceded four.

The B.U.’s also come into this on the back of a comprehensive 7-0 win away to Hawick Royal Albert in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup.

Albion Rovers are settling into the Lowland League. Having played two games, they have won one, and lost one.

After losing 2-1 to Hearts B in their first ever Lowland League fixture, Rovers have back-to-back 4-0 victories under their belt – a league win over Gretna 2008, followed by a South Challenge Cup win over Newburgh Juniors.

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Cowdenbeath vs Broomhill

Last season, Broomhill defeated Cowdenbeath 3-0 on both occasions.

Cowdenbeath are one of only three teams not to have tasted defeat, at this point in the season.

The Blue Brazil have picked up six points from the capital, defeating Hearts B 2-1, and Edinburgh University 7-1.

They picked up a further two points – having drawn 2-2 with both Celtic B and Civil Service Strollers.

Since their 2-1 opening day defeat away to East Kilbride, Broomhill have went on an impressive unbeaten streak of five games – three wins and a draw in the league, as well as a 1-0 victory over Neilston in the South Challenge Cup.

Adding to their unbeaten streak, The Broom have the best defence in the league – conceding only the two goals away to East Kilbride, accumulating to five consecutive clean sheets, including the cup.

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East Stirlingshire vs University of Stirling

Last season, University of Stirling took maximum points off East Stirlingshire – thanks to 1-0 and 2-0 victories.

East Stirlingshire struggled in their opening five fixtures of the 23/24 campaign – managing only a 0-0 draw with Civil Service Strollers, and four defeats to Tranent, Gala Fairydean Rovers, East Kilbride, and Berwick Rangers.

However, The Shire will take confidence in picking up their first three points, at the weekend – as they left Raydale with a 4-1 win over Gretna 2008.

University of Stirling also took some time to pick up their first three points. Having managed 1-1 and 2-2 draws v East Kilbride and Berwick Rangers, and losing to Linlithgow Rose and Cumbernauld Colts, the Uni got their season underway with a 1-0 win over Caley Braves.

Stirling Uni come into this off the back of knocking Gartcairn out of the South Challenge Cup. With the ninety and extra-time finishing 1-1 – the Uni put away all their penalties as Gartcairn failed to score, winning the shootout 3-0.

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Caledonian Braves vs Civil Service Strollers

Both sides managed a home win against each other, last season – with Caley Braves winning 3-1 at Alliance Park, and Civil Service securing a 2-0 win at Christie Gillies Park.

The Braves have had a tough start to the season. Since defeating Berwick Rangers 1-0 on the opening day, they have only managed to add one other goal to their tally, whilst losing four consecutive matches against Celtic B, Broomhill, Linlithgow Rose, and Stirling Uni.

They do, however, come into this off the back of a comprehensive 9-1 victory over St Cuthbert Wanderers in the South Challenge Cup.

Civil Service Strollers have had a decent start to the campaign, having only lost one of their opening five games. The Strollers have scored at least two goals per league game – with the exception of their 0-0 draw with East Stirlingshire.

The Strollers other results come in the shape of 4-3 and 3-1 wins over Edinburgh University and Celtic B, a 3-2 defeat to Hearts B, and a 2-2 draw with Cowdenbeath.

Civil Service Strollers come into this off the back of a 2-1 defeat away to Haddington Athletic in the South Challenge Cup.

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East Kilbride vs Celtic B

East Kilbride haven’t lost to Celtic B since December 2021 – with last seasons results being a 2-1 win at the Excelsior, and a 2-2 draw at K-Park.

The Kilby also knocked the Young Hoops out of the SPFL Trust Trophy, three weeks ago, thanks to a 3-0 win.

East Kilbride sit in 2nd, are one of only three teams who have yet to taste defeat in the Lowland League – winning four of their five games, and drawing the other.

The Kilby are also the league’s top scorers with 18 goals, and come into this off the back of a 9-0 demolition of Nithsdale Wanderers in the South Challenge Cup.

Celtic B have lost three of their six games – 1-0 v Cumbernauld Colts, 3-1 v Civil Service Strollers, and 2-1 v Berwick Rangers.

When the Young Hoops find a victory, they turn it to the max – defeating Caley Braves and Gala Fairydean Rovers 5-1 and 5-0. They drew their other game 2-2 with Cowdenbeath.

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Edinburgh University vs Berwick Rangers

Berwick Rangers took maximum points off Edinburgh University, last season – thanks to 1-0 and 3-1 victories.

Edinburgh University are one of only two teams who have yet to put a point on the board, this season, alongside Gretna 2008.

Every Edinburgh Uni game this season, has had at least four goals scored. Unfortunately for the Students, they’ve been on the wrong side of 4-3, 6-2, 4-0, 4-2, and 7-1 results.

For Berwick Rangers, all things are in twos. The Wee Gers, or their opponents, have scored no more than two goals in their fixtures.

They started their campaign with 1-0 and 2-1 defeats to Caley Braves and Bo’ness United, 0-0 and 2-2 draws with Cumbernauld Colts and Stirling Uni, followed by back-to-back 2-1 victories against East Stirlingshire and Celtic B.

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Heart of Midlothian B vs Tranent

Tranent defeated Hearts B on both occasions, last season – with both fixtures ending 3-2.

Hearts B have had a solid start to the campaign, finding themselves in 3rd place with 13 points – made up of four wins, a draw, and a defeat.

The Young Jambos have scored the second-highest amount of goals, having found the back of the net 16 times – with Makenzie Kirk being the Lowland League’s joint-top scorer, with six goals to his name.

Tranent are on the tail of Hearts B, as well as having a game in hand – with three wins, a draw, and a defeat.

The Big T have the ability to really turn on the style – with some big wins coming in the shape of 6-2 v Edinburgh University and 5-1 v Cumbernauld Colts.

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