Season: 2023/24

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

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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Broomhill vs Caledonian Braves

Broomhill were the victors on both occasions, last season – defeating Caley Braves 3-1 and 3-2.

The Broom will be pleased with their start to this season’s campaign – losing 2-1 in a competitive opening fixture v East Kilbride, and a 2-0 win over newly promoted side, Linlithgow Rose.

Corey O’Donnell scored for Broomhill in both games, and will be looking to continue his goalscoring form against The Braves.

Caley Braves opened their campaign with a 1-0 win over Berwick Rangers at Alliance Park – with Jamie Watson getting on the scoresheet.

Watson equalised against Celtic B midweek, but the Young Hoops proved to be too strong, winning 5-1.

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Celtic B vs Cowdenbeath

Celtic B defeated Cowdenbeath on both occasions, last season – winning 3-1 at the Excelsior and 3-0 at Central Park.

The Young Hoops suffered an opening day 1-0 defeat at the hands of Cumbernauld Colts – a side they haven’t been able to beat on four consecutive occasions.

They did, however, get their first three points on the board – thanks to a 5-1 win over Caley Braves, with Lewis Dobbie and Ben Quinn scoring two apiece, and Bruno Davidson grabbing the other.

This is Cowdenbeath’s opening Lowland League fixture, having participated in the Viaplay Cup Group Stage – losing 1-0 to both St Mirren and Forfar, and drawing 1-1 with Arbroath and Montrose, but losing to both on penalties.

The Blue Brazil’s inaugural season in the Lowland League saw them finish in 15th, and they’ll be hoping for a better outing in 23/24.

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