Season: 2023/24

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

Bo’ness United vs Gretna 2008

Last season, Bo’ness United took maximum points off Gretna 2008 – thanks to 4-1 and 3-0 wins.

Both clubs will be looking to secure the three points, for very different reasons.

So far, United are the only team to have won all of their games – an opening day 3-0 win over Gala Fairydean Rovers, a 2-1 win away to Berwick Rangers, and a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Tranent.

Five players have contributed to the B. U.s seven goals – with Ryan Porteous and Scott Dalziel scoring two apiece, with Finn Malcolm, Shaun Rutherford, and Tom Grant also getting their name on the score sheet.

Gretna 2008 have leaked 23 goals in their opening three fixtures – being on the wrong end of two 7-0’s at the hands of Hearts B and East Kilbride, as well as a 9-2 defeat to Linlithgow Rose.

The Anvils will be hoping for a moment of magic to break the hoodoo – having seen Robbie Ivison score a stunning solo goal against Linlithgow Rose, last weekend.

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Broomhill vs Edinburgh University

Last season, Broomhill defeated Edinburgh University 4-1 on both occasions.

Broomhill have had a confident start to the campaign – losing 2-1 to East Kilbride on the opening day, with Calvin McGrory’s ‘Goal of the Month’ being the decider five minutes from time.

They have since defeated newly promoted Linlithgow Rose and Caley Braves 2-0, both at their new surroundings of Dumbarton.

Edinburgh Uni have seen a total of 15 goals over their two fixtures played. Unfortunately for The Students, they have been on the wrong side on both occasions – losing 4-3 at home to Civil Service Strollers, and 6-2 away to Tranent.

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Caledonian Braves vs Linlithgow Rose

This will be the first time that both sides have faced each other.

Caley Braves won their opening day fixture – when Jamie Watson scored the only goal to defeat Berwick Rangers 1-0.

Since then, The Braves haven’t been able to put a point on the board – losing 5-1 to Celtic B, and 2-0 to Broomhill.

A 3-1 opening day win over Stirling Uni at Prestonfield got the campaign off to a positive start. This was followed by a 2-0 defeat away to Broomhill, but The Rose got back to winning ways as they blew Gretna 2008 away with a 9-2 victory.

Eight players have contributed to The Rose’s 12 goals, making them a threat from any position.

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Celtic B vs Gala Fairydean Rovers

When both sides met last season, they accumulated 13 goals between them. Celtic B won 4-3 at Gala’s Netherdale, with GFR returning the favour by defeating the Young Hoops 4-2 at the Excelsior.

Celtic B have had an indifferent start to the 23/24 campaign – losing 1-0 to Cumbernauld Colts on the opening day, defeating Caley Braves 5-1, then coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Cowdenbeath.

The Young Hoops will be looking to get over their 3-1 defeat to East Kilbride – a loss that saw them exit the SPFL Trust Trophy at the first round.

Gala Fairydean Rovers come into this one with the exact same form as their opponents – losing 3-0 to Bo’ness United on the opening day, defeating East Stirlingshire 2-0, then coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Hearts B.

Martin Scott will be hoping Danny Galbraith can lead GFR to victory – with the captain scoring two of Gala’s three league goals.

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Cowdenbeath vs Civil Service Strollers

Civil Service Strollers have a 100% record against Cowdenbeath, having won both of last season’s league fixtures 2-1. The Strollers also knocked The Blue Brazil out of the Scottish Cup Second Round in 2021, thanks to a 4-2 win at Central Park.

Cowdenbeath have only played one Lowland League match, having participated in the Viaplay Cup Group Stage.

After just five minutes, The Blue Brazil were up 2-0 against Celtic B. However, the Young Hoops left it late to salvage a point, grabbing their goals on the 87th and 90th minute to see the match end 2-2.

Civil Service Strollers have participated in three competitive matches – seeing them record a win, a loss, and a draw.

The Strollers opening day ended with a 4-3 win over Edinburgh Uni, shortly followed by a midweek 3-2 defeat to Hearts B. Last weekend ended with a 0-0 stalemate against East Stirlingshire.

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Cumbernauld Colts vs Tranent

Tranent took maximum points from Cumbernauld Colts, last season – with both games ending 2-1 to the Big T.

Cumbernauld Colts have taken seven points from their first three games – a 1-0 win over Celtic B on the opening day was followed by a 3-0 win away to Stirling Uni, with a point coming thanks to a 0-0 draw away to Berwick Rangers.

The Colts are the only team to have played and kept a clean sheet in every fixture, so far. Billy Mortimer – the joint top scorer with four goals, is also the only player to have gotten his name on the score sheet for the Broadwood side.

Tranent took six points from their first two fixtures – thanks to a 2-1 win over East Stirlingshire, and a dominating display against Edinburgh Uni that ended 6-2. Last weekend, they lost 2-1 to the in-form team, Bo’ness United.

Cammy Ross is the joint top scorer with four goals – grabbing a hat-trick against Edinburgh Uni, and the other goal coming against The Shire.

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East Kilbride vs East Stirlingshire

East Kilbride failed to find a win over East Stirlingshire, last season – drawing 1-1 at K-Park, and losing 1-0 at Falkirk Stadium.

The Mick Kennedy era got underway with a 2-1 win over Broomhill – with Calvin McGrory’s ‘Goal of the Month’ being the decider, followed by a comprehensive 7-0 win away to Gretna.

The Kilby managed to salvage a point away to Stirling Uni – as Andrew Stirling equalised for 10-man EK.

East Stirlingshire failed to pick up any points from their first two games – losing 2-1 at home to Tranent, followed by a 2-0 defeat away to Gala Fairydean Rovers.

Drawing 0-0 with Civil Service Strollers, last weekend, The Shire managed to get their first points on the board, and they’ll be aiming for more – coming up against a side they didn’t lose to, last season.

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Berwick Rangers vs Cumbernauld Colts

Berwick Rangers go into this one with the better head-to-head record from last season – winning 1-0 and drawing 3-3 with Cumbernauld Colts.

The Wee Gers will be disappointed with the start to their 23/24 campaign, having lost on both occasions – 1-0 away to Caley Braves and 2-1 at home to Bo’ness United, despite going into the break with the lead.

Cumbernauld Colts will be delighted with their start to the 23/24 season – defeating Celtic B 1-0 on the opening day, followed by a 3-0 away to Stirling Uni, midweek.

Billy Mortimer will be equally as pleased with his own performance, as the league’s joint top scorer has scored all of The Colts goals, so far.

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