Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes – it’s SLFL Preview time! This is it. This is the big one. There are going to be fireworks this Saturday as (weather permitting!) the entire Scottish Lowland Football League are in action and there are a few absolute crackers in store. As always, let us know where you’re heading and what your predictions are on Twitter.
selkirk vs east stirlingshire
High flying Selkirk welcome an inconsistent East Stirlingshire side to Yarrow Park in one of the most keenly anticipated fixtures of the weekend. The Souters will come into the match soaring with confidence. After back to back wins over University of Stirling (2-0) and Vale of Leithen (3-1), before a 4-1 defeat to East Kilbride. They travelled to Peffermill on Tuesday, triumphing 2-1 thanks to goals from Phil Addison and Daryl Healy who are proving to be as dangerous a partnership as any so far this term.
Shire have had a stop start campaign, and will look at Saturday to stamp their authority and kick start a run of form. Their 5-0 thrashing of East Kilbride remains a talking point of how dangerous the Ochilview men can be, and this was backed up with a 3-1 win over Cumbernauld Colts last month. After losing an early goal to Gretna 2008 last Saturday, Shire couldn’t come back, but will hope to have their deadly attack of Kevin Kelbie, Andy Rodgers and Paul Sludden on form this weekend.
Ones to Watch
Selkirk – Daryl Healy
East Stirlingshire – Andy Rodgers
Last 5 (League)
Selkirk – WLWWL
East Stirlingshire – LWLWL
vale of leithen vs bsc glasgow
After losing three games on the spin, Chris Anderson’s Vale of Leithen have sprung a mini revival over the past few weeks, with consecutive wins including a 3-1 derby triumph over Gala Fairydean Rovers and an impressive three points against Civil Service Strollers, thanks to goals from midfield duo Sean Stewart and Kerr Allan. Vale will be keen to test themselves against the toughest of opponents and a win could take them as high as 11th, only short of the top half on goal difference.
A vital 2-0 win over University of Stirling last weekend has helped maintain BSC’s one point lead at the top of the table. With Spartans hot on their heels, the men from The Indodrill know they can’t afford to slip up, and Vale could prove to be a banana skin for them. Their triple threat strike force of Gary Redpath, Jack Smith and Martin Grehan will again be looking to get amongst the goals to keep BSC top of the pile.
Ones to Watch
Vale of Leithen – Kerr Allan
BSC Glasgow – Jack Smith
Last 5 (League)
Vale of Leithen – WWLLL
BSC Glasgow – WLWDW
cumbernauld colts vs civil service strollers
Craig McKinlay and James Orr must be frustrated with the way their Cumbernauld Colts’ season is going. After a 6th place finish last year, the co-managers and their side started with three wins in a row to find themselves joint top. What followed was four league games without a win as they slid down the table.
Now the Colts are back in sixth, a couple of points behind Gretna and Selkirk. With a clash against Lowland League leaders BSC Glasgow coming up after this week’s visit of Civil Service Strollers, three points will be a must as they look to improve on last year’s finish. A South Challenge Cup win over East Kilbride in a repeat of last year’s final sandwiched between two league defeats is something to build on for the Broadwood side after a disappointing result against Gala last time out.
Strollers will be wary of their opponent’s impressive home form this season, with only one league defeat so far. Alex Cunningham’s side have picked up just one win in their last five league games, albeit against the league’s leaders, and a performance of that calibre will be required to improve that form and propel Strollers up the table.
Ones to Watch
Cumbernauld Colts – William Mortimer
Civil Service Strollers – Robbie Laird
Last 5 (League)
Cumbernauld Colts – LLWDW
Civil Service Strollers – LWLDL
dalbeattie star vs gala fairydean rovers
Dalbeattie Star can feel slightly aggrieved to find themselves in second bottom of the SLFL going into this weekend. They have seen themselves victims of the inclement Scottish climate on a couple of occasions so far and find themselves with two games in hand over the team above them.
Star last won in the league back in August and Darren Kerr’s players will be keen to turn over an inconsistent Gala Fairydean Rovers side who will be buzzing after their late comeback against Cumbernauld Colts last weekend. The high drama at Netherdale has been present for frustrated Gala fans throughout this season and they will have to avoid defensive errors to take home the points from Islecroft.
Scott Milligan poses a considerable threat for Star, and Billy Miller netted three times for Gala Fairydean Rovers in October – they’re the men to keep an eye on at Islecroft Stadium this Saturday.
Ones to Watch
Dalbeattie Star – Scott Milligan
Gala Fairydean Rovers – Billy Miller
Last 5 (League)
Dalbeattie Star – LLDWL
Gala Fairydean Rovers – WLWLD
east kilbride vs the spartans
It’s second versus third this Saturday at K Park as last season’s Lowland League Champions East Kilbride host the form team in the league, in the form of Dougie Samuel’s Spartans.
The Edinburgh side haven’t dropped points in the league in over two months as they look to finish top of the SLFL for the first time since they won the inaugural title. They currently sit a point behind early leaders BSC Glasgow, with a game in hand over Stephen Swift’s side. A point further behind them are Saturday’s opponents, as two of the Lowland League’s most consistently successful sides battle it out.
Billy Stark’s first season in charge at Kilby is beginning to take shape as three league wins on the bounce, including an impressive win last week away to Selkirk, have seen the champions propel their way back up the table. There will, again, be title aspirations for Stark and his men, and a home win on Saturday will go a long way to achieving that for the third time in a row. If there’s a game to go to this weekend, the chances are it’s this one!
Ones to Watch
East Kilbride – Kieran Gibbons
The Spartans – Ross Allum
Last 5 (League)
East Kilbride – WWWDL
The Spartans – WWWWW
edinburgh university vs edusport academy
It’s a battle of brainpower and bragging rights at Peffermill as the capital’s Scholars welcome their Glasgow-based continental counterparts.
Dorian Ogunro saw his side push a strong Selkirk side all the way in midweek, and will be hoping that fatigue is not an issue given the importance of points at this stage of the season. There has been a marked improvement of late from the Uni, taking maximum points from East Stirlingshire and Hawick as well as a draw with reigning champs East Kilbride in their last five league fixtures. Nathan Evans has been the key man recently and will likely have a part to play if the home side emerge victorious.
Edusport are without a win in their last four league games, but have acquitted themselves well so far this season and are still gelling as a squad. By most accounts, Ricky Waddell’s men were unlucky not to take anything from title challengers Spartans in their last match, and they will no doubt fancy their chances of returning home with three points in the bag. Eyes will be on creative forward Ahmed Bouchentouf, who has the ability to unlock any defence at this level.
Ones to Watch
Edinburgh University – Nathan Evans
Edusport Academy – Ahmed Bouchentouf
Last 5 (League)
Edinburgh University – LWLWD
Edusport Academy – LLLWL
gretna 2008 vs university of stirling
Fresh from a statement win last weekend, the Black & Whites play host to Chris Geddes’ students in another big clash between two title dark horses.
Overcoming East Stirlingshire away from home has proven that this Gretna side must be respected in the title run-in to come. Kevin Connelly is becoming one of the Lowland’s most reliable goalscorers and can be counted on to hit the back of the net if presented with clear-cut chances; however, it was midfielder Liam Studholme who chipped in with his 2nd goal of 2017/18 last weekend. Confidence at Raydale will be high as the team look to cement 4th place, keeping their focus on those higher in the table.
Goals have been at a premium recently in Stirling, with the Uni drawing a binary 0 or 1 in their last five games. Player/gaffer Geddes will no doubt be looking to lead the line and put more chances away, with his side still very much in the running as we approach the halfway mark of the league campaign. Last weekend saw leaders BSC Glasgow defeat the students 2-0, but Stirling have generally rebounded well this campaign having gained at least a draw after each loss thus far.
Ones to Watch
Gretna 2008 – Liam Studholme
University of Stirling – Chris Geddes
Last 5 (League)
Gretna 2008 – WWWDL
University of Stirling – LWLWD
hawick royal albert vs whitehill welfare
It’s becoming harder and harder for Hawick Royal Albert to pull themselves from the vortex that they find themselves in at the foot of the SLFL table. With no points on the board after 11 games for Craig Tully’s side, it’s going to be a huge task to pull themselves back up the table. Performances have improved under the new boss, but two goals scored will be a worry for Hawick fans as they welcome Whitehill Welfare this weekend.
Whitehill Welfare have had an up-and-down start to their season but could conceivably find themselves in 8th with a win on Saturday and other results going their way. Connor McGregor’s goals have been important to them in recent weeks but Jack Wright is very much the man to watch for Welfare this weekend as they look to build on a strong win over Dalbeattie Star last weekend.
Ones to Watch
Hawick Royal Albert – Harry Lindsay
Whitehill Welfare – Jack Wright
Last 5 (League)
Hawick Royal Albert – LLLLL
Whitehill Welfare – WLLWL
