Season: 2023/24

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

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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Linlithgow Rose vs Gala Fairydean Rovers

This is the first time the two sides have met since their dramatic East of Scotland Cup Final – with Gala Fairydean Rovers winning 4-3 on penalties, after the ninety finished 2-2.

Linlithgow Rose are settling into life in the Lowland League – winning three of their five matches, and losing the other two.

Nine players have contributed to the Rose’s 15 league goals, and they’ll be confident of finding the net, once again – coming into this off the back of defeating Leith Athletic 6-3 in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup.

Gala Fairydean Rovers have lost three of their five opening games, with heavy back-to-back league defeats – losing 5-0 and 6-1 to Celtic B and East Kilbride.

GFR also come into this off the back of South Challenge Cup exit – thanks to a 3-2 loss after extra time to Tynecastle, and will be hoping to have a shift of momentum in this fixture.

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Berwick Rangers vs Celtic B

It was Berwick Rangers who got the better of Celtic B, last season – winning 1-0 at Shielfield and 3-1 at the Excelsior.

Berwick Rangers opened the campaign with two consecutive defeats – 1-0 and 2-1 to Caley Braves and Bo’ness United. This was followed by two draws in a row – 0-0 and 2-2 with Cumbernauld Colts and Stirling Uni.

Having gotten their first win of the season, last weekend – a 2-1 win over East Stirlingshire, the Wee Gers will be looking to make it two on the bounce, whilst keeping their winning streak over the Young Hoops.

Celtic B have began the campaign with fluctuating form. A 1-0 opening day defeat to Cumbernauld Colts was followed by a 5-1 win over Caley Braves.

The Young Hoops left it late to salvage a 2-2 draw v Cowdenbeath, and this was followed by a convincing 5-0 victory over Gala Fairydean Rovers.

Celtic B will be aiming to get over the disappointment of losing 3-1 away to Civil Service Strollers, last weekend, whilst looking for their first win over Berwick Rangers since November 2021.

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