It’s the most wonderful time… of the week. It’s SLFL Preview time! There are a few absolute bangers in prospect as we enjoy our first full fixture card in a couple of weeks. As always, let us know where you’re heading and what your predictions are on Twitter or our Matchday 17 thread on Pie & Bovril.
University of stirling vs the spartans
Opportunity knocks for the title-chasing Spartans as they travel West to face a rejuvenated University of Stirling at The Falkirk Stadium.
Coming off a solid win over Civil Service Strollers last weekend, Chris Geddes’ charges have returned to form after a tough spell of fixtures. This will be only the third home SLFL fixture since September for the students and arguably their most challenging yet. Kieran Hall has emerged as Uni’s main goalscoring threat this term, and was recently picked alongside four teammates to represent Scotland’s university team in the Home Nations tournament; both he and chief creator Dom Slattery will be key.
Dougie Samuel’s men had a dream Matchday 16, overcoming a dangerous Selkirk side late on while both BSC Glasgow and East Kilbride stumbled to defeat. The aim is simple; win all their games in hand, and Spartans will find themselves at the summit of the Lowland League. Fixtures are beginning to pile up after earlier call-offs, and this is the first of many stern tests in prospect. Top playmaker Jamie Dishington has carved apart all comers this year, and will look to celebrate his birthday by feeding poacher Ross Allum regularly.
Ones to Watch
University of Stirling – Dom Slattery
The Spartans – Jamie Dishington
Last 5 (League)
University of Stirling – W L W L W
The Spartans – W L W W W
selkirk vs civil service strollers
Selkirk’s poet in residence Thomas Clark has experienced some real ups and downs in his time following the Souters but this season has seen a marked turnaround in the club’s fortunes under the guidance of Ian Fergus.
The last couple of years have been tough times to be a Selkirk supporter, but the dramatic turnaround under Ian Fergus this season has been remarkable. The quality of football has gone through the roof – the results have been fantastic – and the first team squad is the youngest and hungriest I’ve ever seen at Yarrow Park. For a club of Selkirk’s resources to be competing at the top end of the table is something else – there just can’t be a better, harder working coaching staff out there than the one Ian has assembled here, and they deserve all the plaudits going.
New signing George Hunter is enjoying the limelight after some stellar performances in his first few games in a blue shirt, but Daryl Healy has been a huge part of their success in the first half of the season and, with seven league goals, he is Selkirk’s player to watch at Yarrow Park this weekend.
They welcome Alex Cunningham’s Civil Service Strollers on Saturday, and the Strollers’ manager is happy with his side’s performances so far as we head toward Christmas.
Like all clubs in the league we have had our ups and downs. The league is very competitive and every team is capable of taking points of each other. As we approach the halfway stage I am happy with our league position and the way things are shaping up at the Strollers.
Steven Froude is Civil’s top scorer so far this season but Jack Downie isn’t too far behind him and their partnership will be an interesting one to keep an eye on for those attending the match.
Ones to Watch
Selkirk – Daryl Healy
Civil Service Strollers – Jack Downie
Last 5 (League)
Selkirk – L W W L W
Civil Service Strollers – L L W D L
vale of leithen vs edusport academy
This clash may involve two sides in the bottom half of the Lowland League table – but they’re two sides that will be looking up instead of down. Improvements in form for both sides has seen them pick up much needed points as the halfway stage of the season approaches. Newcomers Edusport Academy, who recently announced a new ownership scheme, have picked up two wins on the bounce for the first time since August to push themselves away from this Saturday’s opponents.
Vale will be hoping to complete their first game since last month, following last week’s postponement and an abandonment in their clash against Tynecastle. Three points on Saturday will help Chris Anderson’s side close that gap as they look to have a better second half of the season, Georgian loanee Dachi Khutsishvili has made a good start to life at Victoria Park but it is Jordan Finnie we’re picking as our one to watch this week.
Ones to Watch
Vale of Leithen – Jordan Finnie
Edusport Academy – Ilies Belkacem
Last 5 (League)
Vale of Leithen – D L L W W
Edusport Academy – W W L L L
whitehill welfare vs hawick royal albert
Craig Tully must be wondering what has to happen for his side to pick up their first points this Lowland League season. Narrow defeats to Civil Service Strollers and champions East Kilbride would have given the Hawick boss encouragement, only to be sent back to square one last week with a tough 7-0 defeat to Cumbernauld Colts.
The home support at Ferguson Park will be hoping for an exact repeat of the last time these two sides met at the start of November. A solid 4-1 victory for Gary Small’s side came in the middle of a three match winning run for Welfare, who finished eighth last season but got off to a poor start this year. Now in 13th, condemning the Royalists to their 16th league defeat in a row could see Whitehill jump back into the top ten.
Newcastle Broon on Pie & Bovril gave his thoughts…
Depends on what Whitehill Welfare team turn up on the day. Played some good football this season but swept aside too easy at times as well, disappointing last Saturday at Annan. Hawick on the other hand have nothing to lose and got to get points on the board sometime.
Ones to Watch
Whitehill Welfare – Jack Wright
Hawick Royal Albert – Jon Tully
Last 5 (League)
Whitehill Welfare – L W W W L
Hawick Royal Albert – L L L L L
East Stirlingshire vs east kilbride
Potentially the game of the weekend in the SLFL. The two promotion contenders lock horns in what could be a crucial contest come the end of the campaign. Shire are on an excellent run of late, especially after Del Ure secured a 1-0 victory over league leaders BSC Glasgow last weekend. The men from Ochilview also played the last 33 minutes with ten men, making it an even more impressive result. They’ll be keen to continue this form as they climb closer to the top of the league.
After a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Shire earlier this season, and a 1-0 home loss to Edinburgh University last Saturday, there will be an element of revenge as Kilby seek to get their title challenge back on track. Midfield playmakers Kieran Gibbons and Sean Winter will have important roles to play in creating chances for prolific strikers Ross McNeil and Liam Coogans.
Ones to Watch
East Stirlingshire – Michael Bolochoweckyj
East Kilbride – Kieron Gibbons
Last 5 (League)
East Stirlingshire – W W W W L
East Kilbride – L W W W W
cumbernauld colts vs gretna 2008
After a 2-1 loss to Edusport Academy a fortnight ago, Cumbernauld set the record straight with an impressive 7-0 demolition of Hawick Royal Albert last week. Stephen O’Neill again impressed as he scored a brace, but missed the chance of a hat trick after seeing his second half penalty well saved. Colts will be keen to build on that win but have a tough task on their hands with an equally impressive Gretna 2008 visiting Broadwood.
Since Gretna’s struggling start to the season, they’ve seen a real change in fortunes and now lie seventh in the table. Deadly strike force of Kevin Connelly and Jake Smith have kept the goals flowing for the Raydale Park men. With last weekend’s match against Gala postponed, the visitors will come into the Saturday’s game fresh and could climb to fifth with a victory.
Ones to Watch
Cumbernauld Colts – Stephen O’Neill
Gretna 2008 – Kevin Connelly
Last 5 (League)
Cumbernauld Colts – W L D W D
Gretna 2008 – L W L W L
Edinburgh University vs BSC Glasgow
Edinburgh University welcome league leaders BSC Glasgow to Peffermill with the interesting dynamic of being the form team in the match-up. Dorian Ogunro’s side went to K Park last weekend and pulled off a shock victory down to ten men, with Finn Daniels Yeoman, who loves an important goal, grabbing the winner.
BSC Glasgow have had a tough time over the last few matches having seemed to be back on the horse after a 4-0 home win over Dalbeattie Star but East Stirlingshire came to The Indodrill last week and snatched a victory in the dying minutes of the game. Stephen Swift will be looking to his experienced squad to show their nous in a double header against the SLFL’s university sides. Jack Smith is the league’s top scorer this season but hasn’t netted in the league since 4th November and the striker be hoping to end that run on Saturday.
BSC still top the league after 18 games played but with East Kilbride three points behind with a game in hand and The Spartans five back with four in hand, BSC will be hoping that results elsewhere go their way and they are able to beat an Edinburgh University side who will be looking to consolidate a place in the SLFL’s top ten this weekend. Either way, this one could be a Christmas cracker (sorry).
Ones to Watch
Edinburgh University – Finn Daniels Yeoman
BSC Glasgow – Jack Smith
Last 5 (League)
Edinburgh University – W D W W L
BSC Glasgow – L W D L W
Gala fairydean rovers vs dalbeattie star
Netherdale plays host to a ‘battle of the borders’ as home side Gala Fairydean Rovers look to deepen Dalbeattie Star’s league worries.
Rovers have been out of action for a couple of weeks, with winter weather affecting the schedules. Manager Steven Noble will be hoping the break doesn’t affect his side’s form, winning three of four games previously to break into the top half of the league. Noble’s brother Stuart has made the difference so far for Gala, leading the line as top scorer with eleven league goals and netting twice to overcome Edusport Academy last time around – expect him to torment a vulnerable Star defence here.
Dalbeattie and Darren Kerr were highly motivated for last week’s clash with Vale of Leithen before frost put paid to the game – with a visit to bottom-placed Hawick in prospect, these could be a defining two weeks in Star’s season. As with last week, ex-Queen of the South attacker Dean Brotherston will be the man relied upon should the pitch be playable, looking to both add goals and assist experienced hand Tommy Muir up top. Lose here, and relegation worries could become very real!
Ones to Watch
Gala Fairydean Rovers – Stuart Noble
Dalbeattie Star – Dean Brotherston
Last 5 (League)
Gala Fairydean Rovers – W L L W L
Dalbeattie Star – L L L L L
Last word this week goes to come on shire from Pie & Bovril on the Matchday 17 thread.
“My favourite time of the week is Pizza Wednesdays at work.”
We are all incredibly jealous.
