Season: 2023/24

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

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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Cowdenbeath vs Edinburgh University

Cowdenbeath took maximum points off Edinburgh University, last season – scoring eight goals and not conceding in comfortable 3-0 and 5-0 wins.

The Blue Brazil are one of only three teams who have yet to deal with defeat. Having drawn their opening games 2-2 with Celtic B and Civil Service Strollers, they picked up their first three points thanks to a 2-1 away to Hearts B, last weekend.

Scoring two goals per game, five players have contributed to Cowdenbeath’s six goals – with Jamie Docherty the only player to score more than one goal, so far.

Edinburgh University have yet to put a point on the board, being on the wrong side of high-scoring encounters, on each occasion – losing 4-3, 6-2, 4-0, and 4-2.

The Uni’s Lewis Hendry is in the top three scorers of the league, so far this season. Hendry and Hearts B’s Makenzie Kirk are equal on five goals, with only Cumbernauld Colts’ Billy Mortimer having scored more, with six.

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Cumbernauld Colts vs Heart of Midlothian B

Both sides had a fair share of the spoils, last season – with each winning 2-1 at home.

Cumbernauld Colts have had a confident start to the season, with 10 points from five games – defeating Celtic B 1-0 on the opening day, with their other two wins coming from 3-0 and 4-2 victories over Stirling Uni and Linlithgow Rose. A goalless draw away to Berwick Rangers makes up their other point.

The Colts’ Billy Mortimer is the league’s top scorer, at this point – scoring six goals in the five games played.

Hearts B have also taken 10 points from their first five games – brushing aside Gretna 2008 with a comprehensive 7-0 on the opening day, with their other two wins coming from 3-2 and 2-1 victories over Civil Service Strollers and Albion Rovers. A 1-1 draw away to Gala Fairydean Rovers makes up their other point.

Makenzie Kirk of the Wee Jambos is the second-joint top scorer alongside Lewis Hendry of Edinburgh University, with both being on five. Only today’s opposition, Billy Mortimer has more.

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Gretna 2008 vs East Stirlingshire

Both sides shared the points, last season, as both won at home – East Stirlingshire with a 3-1 win at Falkirk Stadium, and Gretna 2008 with a 2-0 win at Raydale.

Even at this early stage, Gretna 2008’s season doesn’t get any easier with each passing week. The Anvils have only managed to score two goals – both coming against Linlithgow Rose, and have leaked a massive 29 goals in five games.

The last time Gretna 2008 tasted a win, was 14th January 2023 – the 2-0 home win over this weekend’s opponents, East Stirlingshire, and the Anvils will be hoping for a repeat performance to get their season underway.

East Stirlingshire have also had a rough start to the season, managing only one point from five games – a 0-0 draw away to Civil Service Strollers.
The Shire have been on the wrong end of 2-1 results on three occasions against Tranent, East Kilbride, and Berwick Rangers, with their other defeat being a 2-0 loss away to Gala Fairydean Rovers.

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Civil Service Strollers vs Celtic B

Last season, Civil Service Strollers failed to take a point off Celtic B, or score a goal – losing 2-0 at home, and 4-0 away.

Civil Service Strollers are sitting bang in the middle of the table after four games – with the definition of an indifferent start.

The Strollers have won one, lost one, drawn two, scored eight, and conceded eight.

Since their opening day defeat, Celtic B haven’t lost in the league – with comprehensive 5-1 and 5-0 wins over Caley Braves and Gala Fairydean Rovers on either side of a late comeback that salvaged a 2-2 draw with Cowdenbeath.

Seven players have contributed to the 12 goals scored by the Young Hoops, with Mackenzie Carse their top scorer with three.

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East Stirlingshire vs Berwick Rangers

Berwick Rangers took maximum points off East Stirlingshire, last season – thanks to 3-0 and 4-1 victories.

East Stirlingshire haven’t had as good a start as they did, last season – which saw them open with three draws and a defeat, contrary to the three defeats and a draw that they’ve started with, this campaign.

The Shire, however, are competing – losing 2-1 to both Tranent and East Kilbride, 2-0 to Gala Fairydean Rovers, and holding Civil Service Strollers to a 0-0 draw.

Berwick Rangers are also in search for their first win of 23/24 campaign – having managed two draws and two defeats.

All of the Wee Gers outings have been tight affairs – losing by only one goal in their 2-1 defeat to Bo’ness United and 1-0 loss at Caley Braves, both followed by 0-0 and 2-2 draws at home to Cumbernauld Colts and Stirling Uni.

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Edinburgh University vs Bo’ness United

Edinburgh University lost to Bo’ness United on both occasions, last season – being on the wrong end of 5-0 and 2-1.

Edinburgh Uni have yet to muster a point, having lost 4-3 to Civil Service Strollers, 6-2 to Tranent, and 4-0 to Broomhill.

They have the second highest number of goals conceded – having let in 14 in three games.

Bo’ness United are the only team to have a perfect record, so far this season – winning all four games against Gala Fairydean Rovers, Berwick Rangers, Tranent, and Gretna 2008.

The B.U.s also have the joint-best defensive record alongside Broomhill, only conceding two.

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