Header Photo: Erin Wilson
Albion Rovers vs Caledonian Braves
Rovers’ return to home action against near neighbours Caledonian Braves is likely to be a hotly contested one following Rovers’ 3-0 win over Gretna 2008 and Braves’ 6-0 dismantling of Gala Fairydean Rovers on opening day.
Last season saw both sides play out a couple of close-run matches with only one goal separating the sides over 180 minutes in what will go down as the most unusually phrased statistic in this preview. Both sides have signed wisely going into the league season. Adam McMillan has recently joined Rovers on loan from Premiership side St Johnstone, and Lennon Walker scored a brace for Braves on his debut last Saturday.
This match has the potential to be a classic as two of the highest scorers of the nascent Parks Motor Group Scottish Lowland League season go head to head, and it’s the one that we’re picking out as our ‘Neutral’s Pick’ for this week.
Last Season
Albion Rovers 2-1 Caledonian Braves
Caledonian Braves 1-1 Albion Rovers
Broomhill vs Celtic B
Zander Diamond and his side welcome Celtic B to Dumbarton Stadium on Saturday, looking to put a 3-1 defeat against Broxburn on opening day out of their minds. Diamond was impressed by the show his new charges put on against the newly promoted East of Scotland Champions, but his cautious optimism will be put to the test against the full-time B Team of the SPFL Premiership Champions.
For Celtic’s part, their season got off to a good start last Friday night against Cumbernauld Colts with a Daniel Kelly goal giving them the three points. They’ll be looking to make it two wins out of two and continue their strong record against Broomhill across the last couple of Lowland League seasons.
Kris Amponsah scored Broomhill’s consolation goal against Broxburn last week and the striker will be looking to get on the scoresheet again this weekend, while Celtic will once again be looking to Daniel Kelly to open up the Broomhill defence.
Last Season:
Broomhill 1-2 Celtic B
Celtic B 3-1 Broomhill
Civil Service Strollers vs Cowdenbeath
It was two games, two draws last season as Civil Service Strollers and Cowdenbeath went home with a point each from their away matches. Both sides have undergone some squad changes this season, but it is Civil Service Strollers who are the most unknown quantity going into this fixture. That being said, Gary Jardine always takes his squads and crafts them into warriors and you can expect that Christie Gillies Park won’t be an easy place for any side to go this season despite last week’s difficult opening defeat which saw them concede seven goals away at East Kilbride’s K Park.
Dougie Hill’s Cowdenbeath go into this one off the back of a 2-2 draw with Tranent at Central Park. They’ve lost a few influential players but have bolstered their ranks well and captain Robbie McNab will be looking to lead his charges to their first three points of the season.
Last Season:
Civil Service Strollers 1-1 Cowdenbeath
Cowdenbeath 2-2 Civil Service Strollers
Cumbernauld Colts vs East Kilbride
David Proctor’s Cumbernauld Colts will feel that they were unlucky to lose their opening match against Celtic B last week and he will be keen to ensure that the new players in his squad bed in quickly as East Kilbride make the short hop to Broadwood on Saturday afternoon.
Not much needs to be said about last season’s Park’s Motor Group Scottish Lowland League Champions. Recruiting the likes of Reegan Mimnaugh from Queen of the South and bringing in Jack Leitch and Jordan McGregor from Stirling Albion has many supporters believing that retaining the title is a foregone conclusion.
EK attacker Callum Biggar netted four goals at the weekend against Civil Service Strollers and stopping him will be crucial for Colts as they look to build on their fourth place finish last season.
Last Season:
East Kilbride 2-0 Cumbernauld Colts
Cumbernauld Colts 1-2 East Kilbride
East Stirlingshire vs Bo’ness United
East Stirlingshire got their season off to a stuttering start with a 4-1 away to Hearts B. Pat Scullion’s new-look side took victory in the SPFL Trust Trophy against Motherwell B on Tuesday night, a match which will have done much to ease any trepidation they may have had going into this one. Ollie Ecrepont, on loan from Ayr United, especially will be on a high after his penalty saving heroics in that cup tie.
Bo’ness United on the other hand lost out to Rangers B in that same competition. The BUs went in at half time 3-1 down and finished the game with the same scoreline. Stuart Hunter’s side had the better of the second half in that one and will be looking to use it as a platform to push on in their hunt for their first league points of 24/25. Keep an eye out for former Falkirk man Fin Malcolm who scored in midweek – he’ll be looking to open his Lowland League account this weekend.
Last Season:
East Stirlingshire 3-4 Bo’ness United
Bo’ness United 4-2 East Stirlingshire
Gala Fairydean Rovers vs Hearts B
Gala Fairydean Rovers had an opening day to forget as they went to Alliance Park and conceded six goals against Caledonian Braves. Having lost talismanic captain Gareth Rodger to rivals Berwick Rangers, GFR’s biggest signing of the summer has been Keaghan Jacobs from Arbroath. The South African has a significant weight of expectation on his shoulders going into the season, and it will be up to him and Danny Galbraith to use their experience to lead Martin Scott’s young side to victory on Saturday.
Hearts B enjoyed an easy time of things against East Stirlingshire at Ainslie Park last Friday night, and they will be hoping for more of the same from their youngsters (and Jamie MacDonald) this weekend.
Last Season:
Gala Fairydean Rovers 1-1 Hearts B
Hearts B 3-1 Gala Fairydean Rovers
Linlithgow Rose vs Broxburn Athletic
Two East of Scotland League champions go head to head in the Park’s Motor Group Scottish Lowland League. Linlithgow Rose drew 2-2 in their opening day fixture with Tranent, while Broxburn took their first three points at Tier 5 in a 3-1 victory over Broomhill.
Exactly how each team will fare in this one is up for debate, but Rose’s additions of experienced Lowland League striker Sean Brown and centre back Craig McCracken from West of Scotland League side Auchinleck Talbot.
Broxburn are a side with significant experience and nous, and overcoming them would be a huge boost in confidence for the season for Rose. Broxburn on the other hand will view a victory against their former East of Scotland rivals as a marker for the rest of their Park’s Motor Group Scottish Lowland League season.
Tranent vs Berwick Rangers
Berwick Rangers have strengthened their side over the close-season and will be looking to capitalise on a win over Linlithgow Rose on the opening day of the season. The addition this week of the experienced Alan Cook from Cumnock adds some steel and experience to the Wee Rangers’ list of young recruits for the new season.
Tranent on the other hand, and forgive me for saying this ‘Big T’ fans, are a team in transition. They’ve signed some interesting young talent and brought in experienced players from the SPFL in Danny Handling, Ross Gray, and Jonny Stewart but there is little doubt that this season’s Lowland League will prove a tougher challenge without some of the team which led them to a fifth place finish last season.
Last Season:
Berwick Rangers 2-2 Tranent
Tranent 0-1 Berwick Rangers
University of Stirling vs Gretna 2008
University of Stirling have endured two nerve-shredding games in opening week with a 3-2 victory over Bo’ness United and a 5-3 win over Arniston Rovers in the cup midweek.
It’s fair to say that Uni gaffer Chris Geddes will be looking to build on those performances as his side welcome Gretna 2008, who will be looking to bounce back following an opening day defeat at home to Albion Rovers.
For managers Chris Geddes and Vinnie Parker it’s a chance for two Lowland League playing heavyweights to renew their acquaintance, this time in the dugout. Who will come out on top? Who knows, I’m not clairvoyant. But what I can guarantee you (as an educated guess) is goals goal goals!
Last Season:
University of Stirling 3-1 Gretna 2008
Gretna 2008 1-1 University of Stirling
