Season: 2023/24

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

Civil Service Strollers vs East Stirlingshire

When both sides met last season, it was Civil Service Strollers who picked up the majority of points – thanks to a 2-2 draw at home, and leaving Falkirk with a 3-1 win.

The Strollers have been on both sides of high-scoring games for their opening matches – a 4-3 away win over Edinburgh University, and a 3-2 defeat at home to Hearts B.

Conrad Balatoni has scored three goals in The Strollers opening two matches, and he’ll be hoping to find the net, once again.

Having lost their opening fixtures, East Stirlingshire have yet to pick up a point in the 23/24 campaign – losing 2-1 at home to Tranent, and a 2-0 away defeat to Gala Fairydean Rovers.

The Shire will be looking to put their first three points on the board, as they aim to better last season’s 16th place finish.

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Gala Fairydean Rovers vs Heart of Midlothian B

Hearts B’s inaugural season in the Lowland League saw them go undefeated against Gala Fairydean Rovers – securing a 3-0 win at home, and a six-goal thriller at Netherdale that saw both teams share the spoils in a 3-3 draw.

Having lost their opening day fixture 3-0 away to Bo’ness United, Gala were able to pick up their first three points, midweek – thanks to goals from Nicky Reid and Danny Galbraith to secure a 2-0 win over East Stirlingshire.

Hearts B are one of five teams who have made it two wins from two, and have scored 10 goals in the process – with a 7-0 win over Gretna 2008 and a 3-2 victory over Civil Service helping them sit top of the table on goals scored, having equal goal difference with East Kilbride.

Young Jambo Makenzie Kirk is the league’s joint top goal scorer, with Tranent’s Cammy Ross and Cumbernauld Colts Billy Mortimer having also scored four goals in two games.

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Gretna 2008 vs Linlithgow Rose

Gretna 2008 and Linlithgow Rose have only met each other once, previously – with The Rose comfortably defeating The Anvils 5-1 at Prestonfield in the 2019 South Challenge Cup.

It would be difficult to imagine a worse start for Gretna 2008, as their opening fixtures saw them lose 7-0 to both Hearts B and East Kilbride.

The Black & Whites need to start finding the back of the net soon if they want to pick up points – a tough task to be had, considering they’ve only scored eight goals in 2023.

Linlithgow Rose are finding their feet in the Lowland League, having been promoted as East of Scotland Champions.

Having secured an opening day victory with a 3-1 win over Stirling Uni, they suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Broomhill, midweek. But, The Rose will be hoping to capitalise on the poor form of Gretna 2008.

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Tranent vs Bo’ness United

Tranent’s inaugural season in the Lowland League saw them defeat Bo’ness United 2-0 at Newtown Park, and draw 1-1 at Foresters.

Both sides have taken maximum points from their opening two games. Tranent won 2-1 away from home against East Stirlingshire, and blew Edinburgh University away with a 6-2 victory at Foresters.

Bo’ness United opened their campaign with a 3-0 win at home against Gala Fairydean Rovers, and came from behind to defeat Berwick Rangers 2-1 away from home.

Having left Tranent to take over as Bo’ness United boss in 2019, Max Christie made a return to the hotseat of The Belters at the end of last season – taking Alassan Jones and Lennon Walker with him. Defender, Shaun Rutherford made the reverse trip, leaving Tranent to join the B.U.s.

An early season fixture that has it all, making it this weekend’s ‘Star Match’.

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University of Stirling vs East Kilbride

Both sides met on three occasions, last season – twice in the League, and the other being in the Lowland League Cup.

The Uni went the league campaign without losing to The Kilby – with the games ending in a 2-0 victory and a 2-2 draw. But, EK would get their win en route to lifting the Lowland League Cup, thanks to a 2-1 win in the semi-final.

Having lost 3-0 to Cumbernauld Colts midweek, The Uni will be looking to quickly find the home form of last season – that saw them win 10 of their last 11 matches at Forthbank.

Kennedy’s Kilby will take confidence travelling up to Stirling, after brushing Gretna 2008 aside with a comprehensive 7-0 win away from home.

East Kilbride have scored nine goals in their opening two games, with eight different players on the scoresheet.

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Gretna 2008 vs East Kilbride

Both sides met each other on three occasions, last season – twice in the League, and in the Lowland League Cup First Round.

East Kilbride will feel the more confident of the sides – putting 18 goals past the Raydale side in season 22/23, and not conceding any.

Calvin McGrory’s stunning strike five minutes from the end was enough to secure a 2-1 win over Broomhill, The Kilby will be looking to make the long trip home with all three points, tonight.

Gretna 2008 will be looking to quickly forget the 7-0 loss on the opening day at the hands of Hearts B.

The Anvils will need to shake off the concerning form, as they’ve only picked up one point since their last competitive win – a 2-0 home victory over East Stirlingshire, way back on 14th January 2023.

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University of Stirling vs Cumbernauld Colts

When the sides faced-off last season, it was the students who took maximum points, on both occasions – winning 3-1 and 2-0.

After ending the 22/23 campaign in fourth place – six points behind Champions and Playoff Winners, Spartans, Uni will be disappointed to have lost 3-1 to Linlithgow Rose on the opening day.

Having lost key-players Ben Fry, Euan McGill, Jamie Thompson, and James Berry, amongst others, Uni look a different outfit, but will be aiming to get their first points on the board, tonight.

Cumbernauld Colts got their season underway with the strongest of starts – defeating Celtic B 1-0 at Broadwood, thanks to Billy Mortimer’s finish on the half-hour mark.

The Colts hold an impressive four-game undefeated streak against the Young Hoops, and will be hoping to take points off Stirling Uni, tonight – something they weren’t able to do, last season.

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Berwick Rangers vs Bo’ness United

Berwick Rangers ended their 22/23 campaign winless in their final three games, and that was how their 23/24 season would begin – losing 1-0 to Caley Braves.

It doesn’t get much easier, as they welcome Bo’ness United to Shielfield Park – a side they were unable to beat, last season.

Bo’ness United will be heading south with a coach full of confidence, as their season kicked off after 70 seconds – when Ryan Porteous put his side on course to a 3-0 win over Gala Fairydean Rovers.

Bo’ness will be looking to expand on the unbeaten form against The Wee Gers – with the 22/23 meetings ending with a 1-0 win at Newtown Park, and a 2-2 draw at Shielfield.

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