Rangers v Glasgow City

Rangers Women 0-2 Glasgow City
SWPL1
New Tinto Park
Wednesday 30th May 2018

The heavy snow a a couple of months ago meant that this game was rearranged for tonight. With me finishing work at 7.30ish and passing Govan on my way home, the 8pm kick off was perfect for some midweek action.

The Venue

New Tinto Park is the home of Benburb of the West Region Juniors, and was opened in the summer of 2015. The houses that sit behind the dugout side of the ground were built on the site of the previous Tinto Park.

The ground has a synthetic pitch that is used by several teams at all age groups and genders and has been a popular venue for youth cup semis and finals. 2015-16 and 2016-17 Scottish Amateur Cup winners Colville Park used the ground as their “home” venue in both of their Scottish Cup campaigns. Edusport Academy (subject to name change) have used the ground as their Under 20 home ground, and Rangers Women and their SWFL development squad both also call the ground home. The pitch is already showing some signs of wear and tear despite being only 3 years old, but the club are proactive about patching it up when necessary.

The main feature of the ground is the large bank of uncovered seats that sit on one side of the pitch. On a night like this, they give a fantastic vantage, but I’m still confused by the seeming trend in Glasgow to have uncovered seats in our climate (Lesser Hampden, Maryhill’s Lochburn Park and Cartha Queen’s Park Rugby Club also spring to mind.) The seats I believe were re-purposed from the lawn bowls at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The rest of the ground is hard standing, although there is an overgrown grass bank behind one of the goals. The club building contains the changing rooms, catering facilities and a large lounge. The notional capacity is 1,000, although I reckon it could probably hold a bit more than that at a push. It’s a tidy wee setup, well situated and somewhere I quite like watching a game, especially if it’s dry.

The Teams

Rangers Women (who were known as Rangers Ladies prior to this season) were formed in 2008, taking the league place of Paisley City Ladies, who were essentially folded into the new side. They became the first SWFL Division One side to reach the Scottish Women’s Cup Final in their first season, also winning the league and promotion to the SWPL where they have stayed ever since. Despite Rangers’ financial implosion in 2012, the women’s side were unaffected after an initial period of uncertainty.

Rangers’ best SWPL finish was second place in the 2014 season, but other than their SWFL Division One title, they have won no major honours. They have endured a difficult start to the season, with three wins and six losses from their nine games, and lie in fifth place. Former Scotland international (and former City Academy manager) Amy McDonald is their current head coach, being appointed in May of last year.

I’ve written a lot about Glasgow City already this season, and therefore don’t need to go into much detail. An interesting note on their team selection tonight though is the twenty year age gap between captain Leanne Ross and her 16 year old central defensive partner Carly Girasoli. This was Girasoli’s third consecutive start for the first team after an impressive series of displays for City’s development team.

The two sides played here just two weeks ago, with table topping City running out 5-0 winners.

The Game

It didn’t take long for sparks to fly as the visitors took the lead after just 24 seconds. Abbi Grant received the ball on the left hand side from Nicola Docherty and after playing an accidental 1-2 with Rangers defender Amy Muir, curled a fantastic strike past Jade Baillie into the top corner. Memories of a fortnight ago must have come crushing back to the Rangers players, and they were very nearly 2 down inside three minutes, but Baillie saved well from Kirsty Howat after she got on the end of Hayley Lauder’s cutback. City continued to press in the opening few minutes, creating multiple chances – the best of which falling to Lauder and Leanne Chrichton – but wasteful finishing and strong goalkeeping from Baillie kept the gap at one goal.

Rangers made a rare venture upfield after 18 minutes when Brogan Hay and Amy Muir linked up well on the right wing. Muir’s cross landed at the feet of former City striker Carla Boyce, but she was well tackled by Carly Girasoli before she was able to get a shot away. Two minutes later, City had another good chance two minutes later when Rangers failed to deal with a long ball forward from Leanne Ross. Grant latched onto it but skewed her shot harmlessly wide. With 26 minutes played, Crichton powered her way through the defence and lashed a shot at goal that was well saved by Baillie before being hooked clear by Hannah Coakley.

City were well on top, but finding themselves unable to take advantage of their dominance of the game. With 32 minutes gone, Howat really should have scored when she found herself one-on-one with Baillie. Baillie did well to save Howat’s low effort, but the City striker really should have buried it. Six minutes later, Howat’s frustrating night continued when she shot well over after picking up the ball following a defensive mix up. 1-0 to the visitors at half time, but they should probably have been out of sight.

Rangers started the second half on the front foot, playing at a much higher tempo than they had in the first. With 54 minutes, they had their best chance of the game when Clare Gemmell’s free kick from the right was headed towards goal by Coakley. The ball struck the base of the post with Lee Alexander beaten, but fell just wide. City started to find their feet again and created half chances through Grant and Chrichton, while Boyce had a decent attempt at the other end.

Ross had two decent attempts from almost identically located free kicks after 64 and 67 minutes with one flying just wide and the other forcing a good save from Baillie. Ross was then involved at the other end on 70 minutes when her clearance hit the onrushing Jade Gallon, but her connection wasn’t enough to trouble Alexander. City’s Sam Kerr had a strike from the edge of the box with 15 minutes to play that went just over the bar, and Rangers attacked when Gallon played a looping ball forward for Holly Napier, but her header was straight at Alexander.

The game looked to be fizzling out, but there was still time for some late drama. Rangers cleared a City corner and the ball was struck back towards goal by Hannah Stewart. The shot looked to be going wide, but struck the arm of Caitlin O’Hara who was still lying on the ground after defending the corner. By the letter of the law, the referee had no choice but to point to the spot, despite how harsh a decision it looked to be. Ross stepped up to score the penalty with the last kick of the game to give City a 2-0 win that they probably deserved on balance of play.

The Pies

There was a full pie and hot drink service on offer tonight, but as I was unsure if there would be, I had already eaten (a whoopsie half chicken from Asda next door for £1.23 I’ll have you know) so didn’t sample the fare.

Admission: £5
Programme: £1
Pie: £1.50
Bovril: £1
Attendance: 113

Dumbarton United v Dee Ladies

Dumbarton United Ladies 3-4 Dee Ladies
Scottish Women’s Cup First Round
East End Park
Sunday 27th May 2018

After a preliminary round last month to thin the field down to the desired numbers, this season’s Scottish Women’s Cup (sponsored for the third year by SSE) gets fully underway this afternoon. The sides from SWFL1 and 2 who received byes join the preliminary round winners in sixteen ties up and down the country.

The Venue

Dumbarton’s East End Park was the venue for the first game I blogged about on Pies on the Terraces, and therefore doesn’t really need any further introductions. I’ve watched games here in all weather conditions, and it really makes a difference when the sun is shining like today. It’s a fine place to watch football when the sun is out.

The Teams

I went into a lot less detail when talking about teams when I started this blog than I do now, but I still covered the salient points on Dumbarton United’s history in that previously mentioned initial post. The team have had a mixed bag of results so far this season since I saw them winning on opening day. They have twelve points from their eight games in SWFL2 West, with four wins and four losses. One of the “losses” however came in controversial circumstances when Kilmarnock 23s were awarded a 3-0 win due to Dumbarton being unable to field a team. The initial game was postponed due to the snow, and several Dumbarton players had made alternative arrangements for the rearranged date, having been previously told that it was a free weekend. United received a bye and didn’t play a preliminary round tie.

Aberdeen based Dee Ladies appear to have been formed in 2013 and currently play their trade in SWFL Division One North. They’ve had a rough start to the season and sit eighth of twelve with seven points from eight games played. A 3-0 win over second in the table East Fife last week will have given the side confidence going into their trip south today. Dee also received a bye and did not play in the preliminary round.

The Game

It was an absolutely rapid start to the the game and I wasn’t even inside the cage yet when Ashleigh Brown latched onto a through ball and slipped a shot past the Dee keeper to give United the lead inside a minute. The lead was short lived, however, as Dee were level after just three minutes when a free kick wide on the left was headed past Shelby Penman in the United goal.

The early flurry soon died down, and the tempo slowed in the baking heat, with the surface also seeming to cause some issues, with players from both sides requiring treatment after hard falls. Both teams did manage to create some half chances as the first half went on, but couldn’t find a way to truly test the goalkeepers. Dee broke through with 36 minutes gone after a defensive mixup, but the shot that followed was poked just wide. Two minutes later, Penman was forced into a good save and Dee capitalised from the resulting corner when their captain rose to head them into the lead.

United forced the Dee keeper into a good save with three minutes to go in the first half, but they went in behind in what was turning out to be a competitive game.

United came out swinging in the second half, with captain Megan McMillan and Nicole Wilkie both coming close and forcing decent saves from the Dee goalkeeper in the opening minutes after the break. Dee were holding possession well in the midfield, but it was United who were having the best of the chances. The Dee keeper made another good stop after an hour, but could do nothing three minutes later when Wilkie’s strike following some good work on the edge of the box proved too powerful to stop crossing the line for the equaliser.

Two minutes later there was major controversy when the referee somehow decided to not give a penalty for one of the clearest fouls that you’re likely to see on United striker Abby Smith. The fact that even the Dee players all stopped for several seconds told me all I needed to know. The referee hadn’t been great up to that point, but this ridiculous decision seemed to spur him on to have one of the worst half hours of refereeing I’ve ever seen.

Just a minute later, with United still flummoxed at the non penalty, they fell behind again as a long, looped ball was headed over the top of the onrushing Penman to make it 3-2 to the visitors. Dee could have increased their lead, but some excellent defending from Leona Boyd and Christie Grierson kept the gap at one. With 76 minutes played, the game was once again level as McMillan cut past two Dee defenders into the box and slid a low shot into the net.

As both sides pushed for a winner, gaps were showing at the back for both teams and it was the away side that took advantage. A rather speculative cross was only half cleared and the ball fell to a Dee midfielder on the edge of the box who slammed it into the net to make it 4-3 with six minutes to go. United pushed for another equaliser but couldn’t find a way through. There was time for the referee to put all the attention back on himself one more time as he gave an extremely dubious offside against Smith in the closing seconds as she looked clean through on goal. This was a highly competitive cup tie, that swung back and forth throughout and could have gone either way. Dee Ladies now eagerly await Wednesday’s second round draw.

The Pies

It’s a public park so there’s no catering facilities, but we stopped at Gregg’s on Dumbarton High Street to ensure we had a chicken bake each to eat while watching the first half.

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Pie: None
Bovril: None
Attendance: 57

Vale of Leven U21 v Barrhead U21

Vale of Leven U21 3-3 Barrhead U21 (Barrhead win 5-4 on penalties)
Lady Darling Cup Final
New Western Park
Friday 25th May 2018

The Lady Darling Cup is a supplementary cup run by the Scottish Youth Football Association for clubs who exit the Scottish Cup in the first two rounds. It has become one of the biggest events in Under 21 football and this year features two sides separated by only twenty miles or so, at a venue roughly equidistant for both. With the excellent weather continuing, a good crowd is expected for what should be a fiercely contested final.

The Venue

I visited New Western Park just a few weeks ago and you can read all of my thoughts about the excellent ground there.

The Teams

Vale of Leven U21 are affiliated to the West Region Junior club, with several of their players having made appearances for the first team this season. They play in the First Division of the West of Scotland Under 21 League, and are unbeaten in their 13 games. With three games to play, they know that maximum points will see them winning the title. They exited the Scottish Cup in the second round 3-1 to Rutherglen Glencairn, leading to their entry into the Lady Darling Cup.

Their Lady Darling Cup campaign began with a hard fought 2-1 win over Cameron Thistle at home in Round 1, before a 6-2 win against Barrhead’s Yellow (2nd) team in Round 2. They defeated Steins Thistle 3-2 at home in the quarter final, before besting Finnart 4-0 in the semi final.

Barrhead YFC were formed in 1971 as Barrhead Boys Club, and currently run youth sides at almost every age group, being one of the biggest youth football clubs in the West of Scotland. They have two under 21 sides, with this team playing their trade in the West of Scotland Under 21 League Premier Division, where they have found themselves in a mid-table position this season. They exited the Scottish Cup after losing on penalties in a replay with Johnstone Burgh to enter the Lady Darling Cup.

They received a bye in the Lady Darling first round before defeating St Mungo 3-2 at home in Round 2. Their quarter final saw them crush Leith Athletic 16-0 at home and in the semi-final they saw off Renfrew (Blue) 3-1.

The Game

I didn’t have team lines available for this game and without them I really struggle to do a proper report. What we got though was a fantastic advert for under 21 football, with both teams playing some fantastic football and creating plenty of chances. There was no skimping on tackling, but there was never any indication of the game ticking over into anything nasty.

The Vale started the game well, but with eleven minutes gone it was Barrhead who were given the opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty for handball. The chance was squandered though as the penalty was struck past the post. On 29 minutes, the Vale were awarded a free kick around 25 yards out wide on the right. Lewis Fagan stepped up to curl a spectacular effort into the net and put his side into the lead.

Going one down seemed to spur Barrhead on, and with 37 minutes played they were level, when  cross from the right wing was nodded in by McGroarty. 3 minutes later they had the lead. The impressive O’Neil picked the ball up in the midfield, cut inside and curled a wonderful strike into the net. It was a fantastic goal from a player who showed some real quality.

Vale came out all guns blazing in the second half, and forced Barrhead’s keeper into a couple of early saves. With 55 minutes gone, they drew the game level again. A long throw from Lewis Campbell was knocked past the keeper by Danny Paterson. Vale continued to press and were rewarded with 68 minutes gone. A good move down the right wing saw the cutback steered home by Robbie Stirling to give the Vale a 3-2 lead.

Barrhead pressed for an equaliser, but to no avail until the first minute of stoppage time. A sustained period of pressure saw a free kick and a corner turned behind by the Vale, and with the third ball into the box in quick succession, Barrhead’s captain headed the ball into the net for the latest of late equalisers.

30 minutes of extra time followed, with the game opening right up, and both sides creating chances. Despite a frantic, end to end extra period, neither team could find the winning goal and the game went to penalties to decide the winner. Lewis King missed the first penalty for the Vale as his effort came back off the bar, and despite a delay after the floodlights unexpectedly turned off, the following nine spot kicks were all expertly buried, giving Barrhead a 5-4 win on penalties to lift the cup.

The Pies

I didn’t actually sample anything from Renfrew’s fantastic snack bar tonight, but they had their full service on offer. They had also made the inspired decision to put ice lollies on sale for £1, and by the looks of things did an absolute roaring trade in them. Which was unsurprising on a night like this.

Admission: £3
Programme: None
Pie: £1.50 (and plenty of other options)
Bovril: £1
Attendance: 300 (approx)

Airdrie v Glasgow City

Airdrie Ladies 0-3 Glasgow City Development
SWFL Division Two Central
Excelsior Stadium
Wednesday 23rd May 2018

It was a Wednesday night trip to North Lanarkshire with the sun shining to see first and second in the SWFL Second Division Central battle for the first time this season. With the game being played at the ground that Glasgow City called home for three years, a little extra spice was added to what promised to be an exciting top of the table clash.

The Venue

The Excelsior Stadium was built in the late 90s and opened in 1998 as a replacement home for Airdrieonians, who had moved out of their famous Broomfield ground in 1994. The stadium became home to Airdrie United (who revived the Airdrieonians name in 2013) in 2002 and is colloquially known as New Broomfield. The ground has also played home to Queen’s Park (when Hampden was being redeveloped and used for the 2014 Commonwealth Games,) Queen of the South and Motherwell (for European fixtures in 2008 and 2009) and Glasgow City (from 2014-2017 when the artificial pitch at Petershill was deemed unsuitable for UEFA competitions.)

The stadium has four stands with a total capacity of 10,101 (being built at the time when the SPL had that ridiculous 10,000 seater capacity requirement.) The ground’s record attendance is 9,612 for the 2005 Challenge Cup Final between Hamilton Acidemical and St Mirren. The highest attendance for an Airdrie game is 9,044 for a 2013 game against Rangers, although an unconfirmed report states that the stadium was a 10,000 sellout for a 1998 League Cup tie with Celtic. The Jack Dalziel Stand is the largest, and hosts all of the stadium’s corporate facilities. It stands taller than the other three stands, which are all the same height. I hold particularly fond memories of the East Stand, from Dumbarton’s promotion playoff win back in 2012.

Tonight, entry to the stadium was through the main entrance, and then, something that I’ve never experienced while watching a game as a spectator, through the player’s tunnel before heading into the stand. I was unreasonably excited by this, I really can’t help being a stadium nerd. Both the North and South Stands were tarped off tonight, as were large sections of the East Stand. I’m not sure if this is due to off season maintenance, or if it’s to restrict capacity for stewarding and security purposes. While the ground is far too big for what Airdrie currently need, I find it an extremely comfortable place to watch a game.

The Teams

Airdrie Ladies were formed in 2017, a couple of years after a previous iteration had folded. They were entered into SWFL Division Two Central and only just missed out on promotion in their first season. Going into this game, they sat top of SWFL2 Central with seven wins and one draw from their eight games, having built up a goal difference of 53.

Glasgow City’s Development squad were reformed at the start of this season and were placed into the Central Division of SWFL2. They had started the 2017 season in Division One South, but when coach Amy McDonald left for Rangers, they withdrew from the competition. Several of their squad have made first team appearances, with Carly Girasoli scoring on her first start for the first team last week. The have a perfect record of seven wins from seven games this season, sitting one point behind their hosts, and having amassed a ridiculous goal difference of 75.

The Game

The game started at a fast pace, with the City youngsters looking comfortable and intelligent with the ball. With just three minutes played they created a good chance when Lucy Ronald’s corner was headed goalward by Carly Girasoli. Stacey McCallum in the Airdrie goal saved the header well. Airdrie had a good chance of their own just a minute later when Claudia Stewart latched onto a through ball in space. She was bearing down on goal but was tackled superbly by the imposing and composed figure of Girasoli.

Ronald was causing all sorts of issues for the Airdrie defence and with 13 minutes played she sent a cross into the box towards Hannah Scott. Unfortunately for City, the cross more hit Scott on the head than her getting any sort of deliberate header and the ball was scooped up gratefully by McCallum. Five minutes later, Ronald linked well with Taylor Hamill, but City had to settle for a corner.

City were dominating possession, showing real ability and footwork, but were finding it difficult to break down a stubborn home defence. With just over half an hour gone, Shanna Hynes found space on the left wing and sent a tantalising cross into the six yard box that was turned just over her own bar by Laura McElroy. From the resulting corner, Scott found herself with the ball on the edge of the box and fired a shot off that was tipped over the bar in spectacular fashion by McCallum. Airdrie did find themselves with one more chance before the break, but the impressive Girasoli was again on hand to thwart Kimberlay Gilmour when it looked like she was clean through. Goalless at the break, but an entertaining first half with some impressive football on show.

Scott started the second half in the same manner she ended the first, and three minutes in she found herself in space around 25 yards out but fired her shot over the bar. Two minutes later she linked well with Hamill, who laid the ball to Mhairi Crooks, but McCallum held the ball again. With 54 minutes gone, Hamill again worked the ball well in the centre of the park. She played it wide to Abbie Warren who struck a powerful effort just across the face of the goal. On the hour, Hamill’s hard work almost paid off when her curling effort from the angle of the box was saved well once again by McCallum.

City dominated the first twenty minutes of the second half, but Airdrie managed to find themselves with a good spell at the midway point of the half. With 67 minutes played, Gilmour broke down the right and sent a looping cross into the box which was just too long for Nicole Goodwin to get on the end of. Four minutes later, Goodwin turned provider for Gilmour but City keeper Sophie Allison was off her line quickly to smother the ball. This spell was as good as it got for Airdrie as their resistance finally fell.

With 77 minutes gone, City really should have taken the lead when Karsey McGlinchey’s cross was scuffed off the head of Scott. From my vantage, she should have left it for the oncoming Girasoli who looked to have the better angle on the header. But three minutes later the deadlock was finally broken. Hamill was fouled around five yards outside the box and substitute Nicola Millar stepped up and curled a spectacular free kick into the corner of the net. Airdrie had the chance to hit back quickly but Gilmour’s long range effort went just wide.

With 84 minutes, City’s lead was doubled. The ball was worked to Natasha Hoole at the angle of the box and she unleashed a stunning strike off the underside of the bar and in. The ball did strike McCallum on the way down, but my initial thought was that it had already crossed the line (GCTV replays were inconclusive, but I think I’ll call it Hoole’s goal.) With two minutes of regulation time left, Ronald cut into the box but forced her shot wide. The scoring wasn’t yet complete, as just as stoppage time was beginning, Ronald’s corner was headed in by Girasoli, who’s performance was frankly deserving of the goal.

Airdrie fought hard, but in the end, the quality and fitness of the City youngsters shone through. A gorgeous night for a game of football and a really good game to boot.

The Pies

No pies tonight, but main reception were selling tea, coffee, hot chocolate and Bovril. There was also a very cute wee dug behind the counter, which is always a bonus.

With the lack of pies, I’m going to talk about a hilarious moment when the ball (the only game ball that the referee deemed suitable after the other one cleared the stand in the first half) got stuck under the tarp covering the seats. After a bit of faffing around, Lucy Ronald eventually made use of her tiny frame to climb up and rescue it. An amusing interlude, but you probably had to be there.

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Pie: None
Bovril: £1
Attendance: 136

Shortlees v Goldenhill

Shortlees 2-1 Goldenhill
Scottish Amateur Cup Final
Hampden Park
Sunday 20th May 2018

It’s the final of the biggest, most prestigious knockout cup for amateur teams in Scotland. Traditionally played the day after the Scottish Cup Final at the National Stadium, it’s a huge occasion for everyone involved. This year is made an even bigger occasion given that it’s a first final for either side. With glory today and qualification for next season’s “big” Scottish Cup on the line, it should be a fantastic afternoon’s entertainment.

The Venue

Ah, Hampden. One of the most famous stadiums in world football, home of Queen’s Park and Scotland. The third venue to have the name, the “current” Hampden was built in 1903 and was the biggest stadium in the world when it opened. The stadium’s record attendance is listed as 149,547 for a Scotland v England match in 1937, and following renovations that were completed in 1999, the current all seated capacity is 51,866. I could probably write an entire, substantial post on Hampden’s history, and I might well do that somewhere down the line, but for today I’m going to focus on how it is today.

The ground in it’s current state is a large bowl on all four sides, with the South Stand the only side that has a second tier. The East and West Stands, both situated behind the goals, are subject to regular criticism for their poor sight lines. The shape of the stadium means there are large unused areas behind the goals, and fans situated in these stands often complain that they struggle to see the action when it’s at the other end. The running track around the pitch also means that spectators are further away from the action than many would like. While I completely understand how behind the goals could be a bit of a nightmare, where we were all situated in the South Stand today gave me at least a pretty good view of the park, and I actually felt like I was further away from the pitch at Central Park, Cowdenbeath last week. Hampden isn’t perfect, but it’s a pretty decent place to watch a game, and the sense of occasion for the guys on the pitch today was completely apparent.

The Teams

Shortlees are based in Kilmarnock and in this iteration have been active since 2010. They are members of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association and play in that association’s Premier League. They started their Scottish campaign this year in the second round with an 8-3 win over fellow Ayrshire side Bellfield Lochan. Their third round tie was a 3-2 home win over Cambusnethan Talbot, and in the fourth round they were at home again, dispatching Cambria 3-0. Lees were handed another home tie in the fifth round, where they defeated Cupar Hearts 5-1, and at home again in the sixth round the saw off Dumfries and Galloway side Mill by eight goals to nil. In the seventh round, Shortlees once again played at home and defeated Dumbarton Academy FPs 4-2 to progress to a quarter final with Thorn Athletic. After a 2-2 draw in Kilmarnock, Lees travelled to Johnstone where they picked up a 2-1 victory in the replay. The semi-final was played at New Douglas Park in Hamilton and saw Shortlees defeat Bannockburn 1-0 to send them to their first ever Scottish Amateur Cup Final, just eight years after reforming.

Goldenhill are a Clydebank based side and have been playing in one shape or form since 1971. They are a member of the extremely West Coast bases Scottish Amateur Football League and play in their Premier League. They also received a first round bye and started with an 8-2 away win over Newshot in the second round. Their third round trip to Ayrshire saw a 10-0 win over Monymusk, while Edinburgh Star were demolished 10-2 at home in the fourth round. A much delayed fifth round trip to Blantyre Celtic resulted in a 3-1 win, and they fought to a 2-2 draw with Tullibody Community at home a week later, before prevailing 5-0 in the replay. Their seventh round tie away to Edinburgh side Sandys was postponed three times before a 2-2 draw, with Goldenhill winning at home in the replay by three goals to two. Their quarter final saw a fantastic 3-1 home win over Oban Saints, to set up a semi final in Hamilton against Erskine side Bridgewater. Goldenhill also won their semi final 1-0 to set up today’s match.

The Game

After the formalities and handshakes it was on with the action, with Shortlees looking the more confident side from the start. With just seven minutes gone, they were ahead. Keir Knapp’s cross was cleared and from the resulting corner, Gordon Minor rose to send a thundering header past Scott Rennie for the opening goal. Three minutes later it got worse for Goldenhill when right back Steven Dock misplaced a simple pass allowing Joseph Gold to collect and slip a low shot off the base of the post and in.

It could have been easy for Goldenhill to crumble at 2-0 down after ten minutes, but to their credit they got their nerves in check and began to to get themselves back into the game. An attack after twenty minutes saw the ball break to Daniel Gibson, who’s shot was well saved by Garry Murdoch. The rebound fell to Jonathon Dyer, but his effort was scrambled away by the Shortlees defence. While Goldenhill were looking better going forward, their defence was still looking frail. With 28 minutes played, they failed to deal with a routing through ball and gave Richard Mullen the chance to shoot from the edge of the box. Mullen’s strike came back off the bar and Goldenhill once again regrouped.

The game sparked back into life after 32 minutes when Goldenhill pressed forward and scored the goal of the game. With the ball around 25 yards from goal, Martin Lawlor unleashed a spectacular low drive that hit the inside of the post and into the back of the net. It was a fantastic way to bring his team back into the game and breathed new life into the Goldenhill side. The half ended with James Gallagher’s 30 yard free kick flying just wide of the Shortlees goal and the game hanging very much in the balance.

Both sides had good chances to score in the opening minutes of the second half, with Kerr Dale shooting just wide across the goal for Shortlees and Daniel Gibson coming close at the other end just two minutes later. Goldenhill were pushing to find an equaliser, but Shortlees defence was standing tall, and restricting the Clydebank side to long range efforts and speculative crosses.

Goldenhill’s best chance to equalise came after 62 minutes, when a long ball from defence was nodded on by substitute Marc Morrison. Gibson got onto the end of the knock down but couldn’t get enough purchase on his shot to trouble Murdoch. As Goldenhill piled players forward to find the elusive equaliser, it allowed Shortlees to counter, and Minor, Gold and Knapp all had chances to increase the lead, Knapp’s chance coming after hesitation from Rennie in goal, who eventually recovered well enough to save. It was the last chance of an entertaining, competitive final and the final whistle went to the jubilation of the travelling support from Kilmarnock.

The Pies

Hampden’s pies are pretty decent, but also pricey. I’ve definitely had a better steak pie for £2.90, but it was a tasty enough eat. They can get tae with charging £2.30 for a Bovril though. That’s robbery.

Admission: £8
Programme: £2
Pie: £2.30 – £2.90
Bovril: £2.30
Attendance: 1,404

Balfron Rovers v Aberfoyle Rob Roy

Balfron Rovers 1-1 Aberfoyle Rob Roy
Forth and Endrick Football League
Donaldson Park
Friday 19th May 2018

With the sun shining and me having just picked up a new car I fancied taking a run in, I headed to Stirlingshire to take in my second game of the season in the Forth and Endrick Football League.

The Venue

Donaldson Park is handily situated just at the entrance to Balfron from the A811 road, right next to the golf course. (Note to self, check maps before driving straight through the village next time.) It’s a fairly basic set up, a large grass pitch with a small, tidy looking pavilion and flat grass standing surrounding the pitch. There’s a couple of benches, which I suppose add a seated element to the ground’s capacity!

It’s a pretty perfect place for amateur football to be played. The pitch has clearly taken a bit of a hammering with the long hard winter, but with our recent dry spell was in pretty good condition tonight with all things considered. The ground is basic, but extremely well kept, and being enclosed on three sides by trees, feels like a proper football ground rather than a public park. With the sun beating down it was a fantastic place to watch a game.

The Teams

When I saw Gartocharn and Drymen United play last month, I mentioned how stable the Forth and Endrick League has been over the years. Since I wrote that, Kippen have unfortunately had to withdraw from this season’s competitions, while Deanston have yet to play a game due to lack of player availability. I’m hoping that this isn’t a trend, because it would be a real shame to see this fantastic league disappear.

As I mentioned last time I watched this league, there’s very little information online about the league or it’s teams, but I’ll do what I can! Balfron Rovers were formed in 1930, and have been members of the league since their inception. From what I can tell, they’ve been one of the most successful teams in the league, and were league champions in both of the last two seasons. They have played twice this season, a 7-0 away win against Thornhill last month, and a 2-1 loss at home to Gartocharn on Tuesdasy night.

Due to Balfron producing a match programme, I actually have substantially more information on their opponents tonight than I do on themselves. Aberfoyle Rob Roy were formed in 1910 and were founder members of the Forth and Endrick League. They have been league champions on six occasions, although their last triumph was in 1969. The side have won the Cameron Cup nine times, the MacGregor Ferguson Cup twice, the Telfer Cup once, and the Salmon Leap Inn Trophy for being top scorers once. They have played four times this season, losing to Gargunnock and Killearn, while drawing with Buchlyvie and notching up an 8-2 win away to Thornhill.

The Game

A combination of the game kicking off five minutes early and me taking a spectacular wrong turn up a single track dirt road meant I missed the first ten minutes of the game and the home side taking an early lead. I also failed to take proper notes on the game, so I do apologise for this extremely abridged version of a match report.

When I arrived, Balfron were in the ascendancy and pushing for a second goal. The visitors got stronger as the half progressed however, and were deservedly level six minutes before the break when a long trow into the box was headed on into the net by Sean Wilbert. It was a competitive, energetic first half with some good football played by both sides.

The second half saw Balfron mount a siege on the Aberfoyle goal, but they were kept out by some frankly outstanding goalkeeping from the Aberfoyle keeper who made several top drawer saves to keep the game level. Balfron player-manager David Reid brought himself on early in the second half and his class on the ball shone through. Aberfoyle had a late chance to steal victory away, but the home defence stood tall, and a late long throw from Balfron almost paid dividends, but Aberfoyle’s man of the match keeper kept them out once again.

I’ll definitely be back at Donaldson park before the season ends, and I’ll attempt to do a much more detailed report. This is a lovely, welcoming club, and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit.

The Pies

While there was no food on offer tonight, I must again mention the excellent match programme. There’s a lot of content in just four pages, and it’s an excellent read. It is fantastic to see a club at this level put so much effort into the match day experience, and something that they should get a lot of credit for.

Admission: Free
Programme: £1
Pie: None
Bovril: None
Attendance: 36 (+2 dogs)

 

 

Glasgow City v Hibernian

Glasgow City 1-1 Hibernian Ladies
SWPL1
Petershill Park
Sunday 13th May 2018

These two sides have been playing each other a lot recently, with a 2-2 draw at Ainslie Park in the league four weeks ago followed up with a 3-0 win for Hibs in the SWPL Cup semi final two weeks later. This is the second of three league meetings between the two teams this season, and with the third not scheduled until the penultimate weekend in October, this match will go a long way to shaping the course of the season ahead.

The Venue

The new Petershill Park was opened in 2007, replacing the cavernous old stadium of the same name. Home to junior side Petershill, the new facility has also played home to Rossvale, Rangers Ladies and as a temporary venue for various other sides. The facility is used extensively by youth and amateur setups as well. Glasgow City moved back here towards the end of last season when the synthetic pitch was relaid, after a spell out of town in Airdrie.

The main feature of the ground is the 500 seater stand which runs for about half the length of one of the sides. The seats are a mixture of fold down plastic seats in the middle section and padded benches on the end sections. There is a small area of flat standing room at the back of the stand. The stand offers great protection from the elements, and with the ground nestled at the top of a hill, this is more than welcome. The views from the stand are excellent, although annoyingly there is a large net in front of it for “supporter protection.” It’s the only place I can think of that utilises such a net, and although you get used to it fairly quickly, it can be a bit distracting.

There is a small area of flat standing behind one of the goals, as well as the rest of the stand side, and the other side of the pitch contains a couple of steps of terracing. The capacity is listed at either 1,000 or 1,500 depending on where you look, and I would guess that it’s somewhat closer to the latter. I understand that the ground doesn’t have the same charm, character or atmosphere as the old Petershill, but the facilities are top class, and it’s a really good place to watch a game being played. I like it here.

The Teams

Given that I’ve written about both teams very recently, I’m going to swerve the usual details. Since I last saw these two, Glasgow City have beaten Celtic by 3-0 in the league, while Hibs defeated Stirling University by the same score. Both sides sit with 16 points from their six games, with City on top of the table on goal difference. Grant Scott has also been promoted to head coach following his successful spell in caretaker charge.

Sometimes at Petershill, the earlier games have run on slightly, and you get some bonus football. Today we caught the last 15 minutes of Thistle Weir’s 2-2 draw with Queens Park in the SWFL Division One North. It was a fairly decent wee game, with Thistle equalising really late in the day.

The Game

The first thing I noticed this afternoon was Scott Booth’s decision to start with a front-line of Donna Paterson and Maddie Hill, two naturally defensive players. I can only assume that it was to put a bit of height up against the Hibs defence, but it seemed to be a strange tactical choice.

The game had only just kicked off when City were handed a golden opportunity to take an early lead. Poor ball retention by the Hibs backline led to Abbi Grant being presented with a chance from the edge of the box. Hibs keeper Hannah Reid was equal to Grant’s effort though and the score remained level. With five minutes played, Hayley Lauder created space for herself on the right, but her cross was headed wide by Paterson. After ripping City to shreds in the SWPL Cup semi-final two weeks ago, Abi Harrison took just six minutes to make her first mark on the game, forcing a good stop from Lee Alexander after breaking free of the defence.

Hibs had managed to get a grip on the game and Lizzie Arnot and Cailin Michie both caused problems for the City defence as the visitors asserted themselves on the game. Their energy and drive was rewarded with 17 minutes gone. A defensive mix-up between Megan Foley and Jo Love allowed Arnot to pick up the ball on the left hand side. She took advantage and cut into the box before finishing low under Alexander to give Hibs the lead. City had a chance to equalise five minutes later, but Paterson somehow managed to head Lauder’s cross past the post.

That chance was about as good as it got for City in the first half, as Hibs dominated possession and were causing all sorts of problems to an out of sorts City defence. Harrison and Shannon McGregor both created good chances before half time and in truth the visitors should have been more than just one goal to the good going into the break.

A nasty looking injury to Donna Paterson just before half time saw the introduction of Kirsty Howat for City and with a natural striker on the pitch, the home side improved markedly as the second half began. With just five minutes of the second half gone, City were level. Hill picked up the ball on the right hand side and passed to Howat inside the box. Her cut back landed at the feet of Hayley Lauder who finished off an excellent team move.

Both sides created chances as a much more even second half played out, but neither side could quite find the breakthrough. With only seconds left to play, City almost snatched the win, but Howat couldn’t squeeze the ball over the line after Reid had flapped at Lauder’s cross. Hibs will be ruing not taking advantage of their first half domination as a huge chance to lay a marker down was missed. It happened in unfortunate circumstances, but Howat’s introduction into the game, completely changed the momentum, and City were a completely different side in the second half. I expect it to go right to the wire between these two again this season, their third and final league meeting will be back here at Petershill on the penultimate day of the season.

The Pies

It seems to be about 50/50 when City are playing whether the servery will be open. It wasn’t today, and the inside bar had no hot food available. So it was vending machine fare or nothing today. We had stopped for a McDonald’s on the way in case this happened. Which was a good shout.

Admission: £5
Programme: None (but “SheKicks” magazine available for free on entry)
Pie: None
Bovril: None – coffees available from bar inside
Attendance: 125 (approx)

Cowdenbeath v Cove Rangers

Cowdenbeath 3-2 Cove Rangers (Aggregate: 3-2)
SPFL League Two Playoff Second Leg
Central Park
Saturday 12th May 2018

It’s one of the single biggest games in Scottish football, as the 42nd and final club that will play in the SPFL next season will be decided over 90 (or 120) minutes this afternoon. With implications afoot for more than just the two teams involved, I’m expecting a tight, tetchy game at a sunkissed Central Park.

The Venue

Central Park was opened in 1917, and the crueller fan has been known to say that it hasn’t changed much since then. While that is a bit harsh, it’s not hard to see where that old adage comes from. Central Park is a bit ramshackle, and has some real quirks which make for an interesting day out, if not the greatest view for watching football.

The ground has two distinctive stands down one side of the pitch, the “Old Stand” and the “Alex Menzies Stand”. A fire damaged around half of the old main stand in 1992, with the Alex Menzies being built in 1995 to replace the destroyed section. The two stands give a total seated capacity of 1,622, although many of these seats do have a restricted view due to the floodlight pylons which are bizarrely placed in front of the stands. The rest of the ground is uncovered stepped terracing and grass banking. There is a stock car track round the outside of the pitch (the racing being a major source of income) which does mean that supporters are a fair distance away from the pitch. The official capacity of the ground is 4,309, although not much has changed here since the record attendance of 25,586 was set against Rangers in 1948. Another example of how health and safety just didn’t used to be a thing.

Today the sun was shining and it was a pretty pleasant experience to be here. Yes, you’re miles away from the pitch because of the track. Yes, you have a restricted view from just about anywhere due to the fence (I do understand the necessity of it for the stock car racing) and pylons. And yes, the facilities are a little bit on the basic side. I’m glad I saw the ground on a day like today, I can’t imagine it being much fun in rougher weather. It’s a ground with character, and while it may not be the best place in the world to take in a game, I quite like the place.

The Teams

Cowdenbeath formed in 1881 with the merger of Cowdenbeath Thistle and Cowdenbeath Rangers and joined the SFL in 1905. The club have spent most of their history moving between the lower reaches of the national leagues but have played in the top flight in two spells between 1924 and 1933 and for one season in 1970-71. Cowdenbeath have never won a major title or cup in their history, but do boast three second tier league titles (1913-14, 1914-15 and 1938-39) and one title in both the third tier (2011-2012) and fourth tier (2005-06). The club were as high in the pyramid as the second tier Championship as recently as the 2014-15 season, but only avoided being relegated in three successive seasons by defeating Lowland League Champions East Kilbride on penalties in the League Two playoffs a year ago.

After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, Cowden were hoping to rebuild and find themselves in a better position this term. Ultimately though, they ended up having an even more miserable season, finishing eight points adrift at the bottom of the table with only four wins to their name all season and having sat bottom since the sixth week. Their League Cup campaign saw one win (against Highland League side Buckie Thistle) and three losses in the group stage to see an early elimination. They lost to Dundee United in the first round of the Irn Bru Cup, and were knocked out of the Scottish Cup at the first hurdle in the second round by East Kilbride. Gary Bollan has been in charge since November 2017.

Cove Rangers, based in the Cove Bay area of Aberdeen, were formed in 1922 and have played most of their history as an amateur side. In 1985 they joined the North Region junior setup, before applying to and being admitted to the Highland League one year later. They have won the Highland League on six occasions since their first title in the 2000-01 season. In 2008, the club were one of four applicants to the SFL when a vacancy arose due to Gretna’s demise. Despite being ultimately unsuccessful, their ambition was set for all to see. At the end of the 2014-15 season, they were forced to move out of their long term home Allan Park, as it didn’t meet the criteria for promotion. Their new Balmoral Stadium is set to open next season, and the last three years have seen the club share mainly with Inverurie Loco Works, while playing some “home” games at Banks o’ Dee and Formartine United. Cove lost in the 2015-16 Highland/Lowland Playoff to Edinburgh City.

Cove stormed to the Highland League title this season, picking up 90 points from their 34 games and losing just 3 times, despite having to play up to three times a week towards the end of the season to ensure that a league champion was crowned in time for the playoffs. They defeated Spartans 5-2 on aggregate in the Highland/Lowland Playoff to reach the League 2 Playoff for the first time. Cove played in the Irn Bru Cup this season, reaching the third round after defeating Stenhousemuir and Hamilton’s under 20s. They eventually lost to Northern Irish side Crusaders. The club also had a memorable Scottish Cup run, reaching the fifth round for the first time before eventually losing 3-1 to Championship side Falkirk. John Sheran is the current manager, having been appointed to his second spell in charge in April 2014.

The Game

The implications of this game reach further than the two sides involved. Because the two clubs lie on different sides of the Highland/Lowland divide, Vale of Leithen and the entire Highland League will be watching closely. If Cove win promotion, Cowdenbeath will drop to the Lowland League, relegating Vale of Leithen to the East of Scotland League in the process to keep the Lowland at 16 teams. Cove’s promotion would also leave the Highland League with 17 teams, potentially opening the door for an application (most likely from Banks o’ Dee). If Cowden win to remain in League 2, the status quo will be maintained, with Vale of Leithen in particular benefiting. The first leg at Inverurie last week finished 0-0.

After the goalless first leg, you could have expected another tight, defensive game. What we got was anything but, and was nothing short of entertaining from start to finish. The home side made the breakthrough with just six minutes gone when Robbie Buchanan was impeded while making a bursting run into the box. Left back Harvey Swann stepped up and coolly slotted home the penalty to give Cowden the perfect start.

The lead was short lived though, as Cove were on level terms again just three minutes later. A promising move looked to be cleared by Cowden, but the ball was looped back into the box onto the head of Mitch Megginson who guided his header past David McGurn for the equaliser. Megginson looked like he may have been in an offside position from where I was standing, but there were minimal protests and the goal stood. The equaliser seemed to stun Cowden, and Cove tried to take advantage. But although they were dominating possession in the midfield, the final ball was lacking. With 21 minutes played, Paul McManus found space to shoot from the edge of the box, and the ball flew just past the post with McGurn at full stretch.

A minute later, McManus turned provider as his right wing cross was met once again by Megginson, who made no mistake with a cracking finish to a lovely move. The visitors were well on top and showing real fight after going behind so early. Cove continued to pass the ball around well, and were causing concern in the Cowden defence. On either side of the half hour, their efforts were almost rewarded from corner kicks, but on both occasions, a header from Scott Ross fell just wide. Jordyn Sheerin had the best chance of the half for the home side with 37 minutes played as he shot from the angle of the box after some good footwork, but his effort went just over.

There was still time in the first half for Cove to have one more good opportunity as the ball was worked well down the left wing. Left back Harry Milne was the one who had the shot, but a last ditch tackle from Bryan Gilfillan saw the ball cleared by the hosts. The Highland League winners well on top at half time and looking like they were cruising into League 2.

I don’t know what Gary Bollan said to his players at half time, but whatever it was worked, as Cowden came out for the second half looking like a completely different team. With five minutes of the second half gone, they were level. A free kick wide on the right about 20 yards out was swung in by Swann and it somehow managed to evade everyone, including Cove keeper Stuart McKenzie and end up in the back of the net. It was a poor goal to lose, especially for a team who conceded just 22 times in 34 league games, and the momentum of the game was swung entirely. Just two minutes later, Cowden had a fantastic opportunity to retake the lead when David Cox was played in by Brad Smith after a fantastic run, but his shot was tame and straight at McKenzie.

Cowden were in control of the game at this point, and saw a free kick from Swann and a low shot from Buchanan both come close. At the other end, McManus found himself with a decent opportunity, but snatched at his shot and it was easily held by McGurn. With 70 minutes gone, the home side retook the lead with one of the most bizarre goals I’ve ever seen in all my years watching football.

A long ball forward from Cowden was being chased by Sheerin, who seemed to get a push in the back as he was running forward. Meanwhile McKenzie had rushed out of his box to clear the danger, but muffed his clearance straight to the feet of Brad Smith. Smith then found himself with an open goal, as McKenzie appeared to be tripped by Sheerin as he made his way back to his goal. With both the Cove keeper and Cowden striker on the ground, Smith lofted the ball from 40 yards into the back of the net. The Cove players protested furiously, but the referee’s mind was made up. Neither of the seemingly blatant fouls had been given, and Cowden were 3-2 up.

Cove had another couple of chances, as Megginson worked hard, but were unable to capitalise and it seemed that Cowden would have enough about them to see the tie out. But as the final whistle drew near, there was a huge shout for a penalty as McManus claimed he was pushed by Gilfillan. I didn’t have a clear view from where I was, but the Cowden fans I was near breathed a huge sigh of relief as referee Steven Kirkland waved play on.

The game ended in utter chaos as the Cove players completely lost their heads in stoppage time. Firstly, McManus was shown two yellow cards in the space of 20 seconds, both for dissent. And a couple of minutes later all hell broke loose. A Cowden player (I couldn’t make out who) was bundled into the dugout by a wild lunge, sparking a full scale brawl involving all 21 players on the pitch, coaching staff, substitutes, and even Bryan Gilfillan, who joined the fray hopping on one leg, having just minutes before been taken off with an injury. Punches appeared to be thrown, and after the dust had settled, Cove’s Scott Ross and Eric Watson were both shown red cards along with what appeared to be a member of Cowden’s coaching team. The final whistle blew amongst the madness and Cowden survive a second consecutive relegation playoff.

The Pies

We gravitated to the opposite side of the ground from the stands today, and I assume that’s where the pie stall is. At the side I was on, there was a burger stall at the back of the terrace. The burgers were all £3.50, and while it’s a little steep, they hit the spot nicely. Fair play for not charging any extra for cheese or onion as well. I’ll be honest and say I was hungry and forgot to take a picture!

Admission: £10
Programme: £2.50
Pie: Unknown (Burgers/Hot Dogs £3.50)
Bovril: £1.50
Attendance: 1,762

East Kilbride Pirates v Edinburgh Wolves

East Kilbride Pirates 27-28 Edinburgh Wolves
BAFA Premier Division North
Braidholm
Sunday 6th May 2018

And now for something completely different. As a long term fan of the NFL and American College Football, I felt it was time to finally go and watch a domestic game. While studying a few years back, I attended the Varsity match between Edinburgh and Napier Universities, my first taste of British American Football. With long term Premier Division team East Kilbride moving to Giffnock for this season, and this game taking place against their Scottish rivals, there seemed like no better time to attend my first senior game in the British National Leagues.

The Venue

Braidholm, located in Giffnock is the home of Glasgow Hutchesons Aloysians Rugby Club, and from this season, also the home of East Kilbride Pirates. It has a capacity of 1,250, with a mixture of grass flat standing and a large wooden grandstand consisting of bench seating. With one of the sides backing onto another pitch, I assume the capacity could be much higher than listed if required.

The modern club buildings are situated behind one of the endzones where the changing and toilet facilities are housed. There is a large indoor bar with full length windows looking out over the pitch. For Pirates games the PA is used to give game commentary For the uninitiated to the game. A nice touch. On a day like today with the sun shining (on a bank holiday weekend no less) this is an excellent place to watch a game.

The Teams

East Kilbride Pirates were formed in 1985, and were named by a competition in the local newspaper. They began competition in 1986. The club have played in several iterations of both the British and Scottish leagues since formation, and have in the past ten years formed a reputation as one of the top clubs in British American Football. They won the overall British Division One title in 2011, which promoted them back to the Premier Division, where they had previously played two seasons, and have remained ever since. The Pirates also won the Scottish Championship twice in the late 90s. Their season got off to a rough start two weeks ago, when they lost 22-0 at home to the Sheffield Giants.

The Edinburgh Wolves were formed in 2002, following in the footsteps of multiple previous teams in the capital. This is the Wolves second season in the Premier Division, having won the Division 1 North title in 2015. They started their season with a fantastic 30-10 win over the Sheffield Giants last weekend.

The Game

It turns out that it’s really difficult to write a match report on American Football without it just becoming a list of play by play action. So I’m going to summarise very succinctly and then list the scoring plays. East Kilbride dominated the first quarter defensively, with two interceptions returned for touchdowns, and stopping Edinburgh from getting any sort of offence. They continued this in the second quarter but Edinburgh managed to start to find a way through. The second half went completely differently, with the visitors really finding their groove and coming back to win in spectacular fashion. It’s a long game, that can drift in and out of action depending on what’s happening, but I’d definitely recommend going along to a game and checking it out.

1st Quarter

6-0. EKP. Craig Sanders 32 yard interception return. PAT no good
13-0. EKP. James Lightbody 10 yard pass from Neil Baptie. PAT good.
20-0. EKP. Ryan Miller 45 yard interception return. PAT good.

2nd Quarter

20-8. EdW. Calum Davidson 1 yard run. 2 point conversion good, run by Jamie Morrison

3rd Quarter

27-8. EKP. Scott Widdowson 40 yard run. PAT good
27-15. EdW. George Fell pass from Jamie Morrison. PAT good.
27-21. EdW. George Fell 8 yard pass from Jamie Morrison. PAT no good

4th Quarter

27-28. EdW. Jamie Morrison 3 yard run. PAT good

The Pies

The pies at Braidholm are a pretty standard, but very tasty Scotch pie. The crust is especially good. They also serve a variety of other food including hot rolls, hot dogs and chips, in the clubhouse upstairs. The real winner though is the ability to have a pint and sit and drink it in the stand. For just £3 a pint as well, it will be tempting to take the train out here for a future game.

Admission: £3
Programme: None
Pie: £1.50
Bovril: £1 (Beer £3)
Attendance: 300 (approx)

Threave Rovers v Kelty Hearts

Threave Rovers 0-4 Kelty Hearts
Lowland League Promotion Playoff First Leg
Meadow Park
Saturday 5th May 2018

After a particularly enjoyable Saturday afternoon watching Kelty Hearts win the East of Scotland League last Saturday, my wife Kaitlin asked me what happened next. When I mentioned that there would be a playoff with the South of Scotland League winners and that the first leg would be in Dumfries and Galloway, her interest was piqued and it’s off to Castle Douglas we go.

The Venue

Meadow Park is situated just south of Castle Douglas town centre. It’s a welcoming little ground, featuring a large indoor pie hut with a decent sized seating area, a bar and hospitality area which caters for both home and away fans before and after the game as well as at halftime, and modern clean toilet facilities. The changing rooms are adjacent to the other buildings. A decidedly wonderful quirk at this ground is the viewing area on top of the bar building, accessed by a staircase giving an excellent view from behind the goal.

All four sides of the ground are used for spectators with a mixture of uncovered stepped terracing, a seated stand, grass banking and hard standing. The roughly 180 seats were purchased from St Mirren when Love Street was demolished in 2009. It’s an old fashioned football ground with excellent facilities and a welcoming atmosphere from entering to leaving. The ground’s official licensed capacity is 1,671.

The Teams

Threave Rovers are based in Castle Douglas, and are named after Threave Castle, the ancient stronghold of the “Black Douglases” situated just outside the town. The club were formed in 1953, and after six years playing friendlies and local cup competitions, they joined the South of Scotland Football League in 1959, replacing Whithorn, who had folded at the end of the previous season. The club remained in the SOSL until the 1998-99 season before joining the East of Scotland League to increase their level of competition. Despite being competitive, finishing as high as third in 2003-04, the travelling became a strain on finances, and the club rejoined the SoSL – where they had continued to run a reserve side – at the start of the 2004-05 season.

Rovers were one of the first non-league clubs to gain an SFA Club License, and were therefore one of the three clubs (along with Spartans and Preston Athletic) who were invited to automatically become members of the newly formed Lowland League for the 2013-14 season. The club struggled to compete at this new level, finishing second bottom in the inaugural season, and bottom in the subsequent two years. Rovers were given the option to remain in the league for the 2016-17 season, but decided to accept relegation back to the SoSL to regroup. All in all, with this season’s championship included, Threave have won the SoSL thirteen times, and have won all of the league’s associated cup competitions on multiple occasions. This season, they won the league with 73 points from their 28 games, winning by 7 points from nearest rivals Mid-Annandale. In cup competitions this season, Threave have still to contest the Potts and Tweedie Cup finals, are still in the Cree Lodge Cup at the quarter final stage, reached the quarter finals of the South Challenge Cup, are still active in the much delayed Haig Gordon Cup, exited the League Cup in the first round, and the Southern Counties Cup at the second round. They were knocked out of the Scottish Cup by junior side Glenafton Athletic in the first round. Scott Wilby is the current man in charge.

Since winning the East of Scotland League last weekend, representatives from Kelty Hearts have been taking the league trophy on a tour of the town, dropping in at schools, sponsors and other local businesses. It’s a real show of community spirit, and has strengthened the community club aspect of Kelty Hearts even further. A sizeable travelling support is expected today from Fife for what is one of the biggest games in the club’s history.

The Game

This is the third season that it’s been possible for this tie to take place since “automatic” promotion to the Lowland League was introduced, but the first time it has actually been necessary. Prior to the 2015-16 season, the pyramid system in the Lowland League region came fully into force, and a team would be relegated from the Lowland League. If both EoSL and SoSL winners were licensed, a playoff would be implemented to decide the team to replace them. In the 2015-16 season, EoSL winners Leith Athletic and SoSL champions St Cuthbert Wanderers were both unlicensed, so neither went up. In 2016-17, EoSL winners Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale had not acquired a license, but SoSL champions Edusport Academy had, so were promoted without the need for a playoff. This is the first season that both league winners have been licensed, so it’s a historic moment in Scottish non-league football.

Threave started the game with pace and with less than a minute gone had almost opened the scoring. A poor clearance fell to 49 goal striker Roman Soltys 30 yards from goal and his attempt to lob Scott Christie was only just tipped onto the bar and over for a corner. It was however, the brightest spot in the first half for the home side, as the EoSL champions regrouped and started to dominate possession. Jake Gemmell in the Threave goal was finding himself a busy man inside the opening ten minutes, as he saved well from Ross Philp, saw Brian Ritchie’s effort fly just wide of his post, and make a remarkable save at point blank range from Stuart Cargill as the visitors were knocking on the door.

Kelty right back Elliot Ford was causing problems for the home side, and with 16 minutes gone his 25 yard effort sailed only just over the bar. Back in the starting lineup following his clinching goal from the bench last week, Scott Taylor-MacKenzie was enjoying his afternoon. With 19 minutes gone, he forced a good save from Gemmell after latching on to a breaking ball. He followed this up with a shot from the edge of the box agonisingly wide on 23 minutes, and a 25 yard free kick that went just over the bar four minutes later.

The visitors were absolutely dominating the ball, reducing Threave to speculative long range efforts, with Soltys cutting a sullen figure being isolated up front. But for all their possession and chances, Kelty just couldn’t find a way through. Four minutes before the break, Ritchie got on the end of a cross from Ford with a diving header but it was saved well by Gemmell. And in the dying embers of the half, captain Shaun Greig’s shot from Philp’s cutback ended up just a matter of inches wide of the post. 0-0 at half time, but the visitors were fully in the ascendancy.

Kelty started the second half as they ended the first with a barrage on the home goal. Threave managed to scramble the ball clear with some last ditch defending after 47 minutes, but their defences were finally breached just a minute later. Scott Dalziel picked the ball up on the right hand side and worked well down the wing before firing a low ball across the box that was met by Philp who knocked it past the despairing Gemmell. The proverbial floodgates had been opened and two minutes later it was 2-0. Cargill pounced on the break of a ball and squared it to Philp, who saw his shot saved by Gemmell. The Threave keeper couldn’t hold onto the ball though and Dalziel was there to tap in the rebound.

Threave were presented with a chance just before the hour, when a loose ball from Sean O’Neil was picked up by Saltys. Despite having space to run into the box however, the striker could only fire a tame shot straight at Christie from the edge of the box. MacKenzie-Taylor once again had a spell of menacing the Threave defence and he almost had the ball in the net with 64 minutes gone. His cross-cum-shot was picked off just under the bar by a grateful Gemmell. Three minutes later he unleashed a long range effort that went just over the bar, and two minutes after that, forced a really good low save from Gemmell.

With 74 minutes gone, the tie was all but put to bed when a Kelty corner was turned in at the front post by Cargill. Kelty continued to attack, and five minutes from time it was 4-0. Another corner was swung in from the right and this time met by the head of Ritchie who powered the ball into the net. It’s one and a half feet in the Lowland League for Kelty as the tie moves to Fife next Saturday. Only a minor miracle from Threave will stop them becoming the first Lowland League side from “The Kingdom”.

The Pies

Threave’s pie hut is extremely welcoming, with seating for about 20 people or so. Their pies are alright, a really good crust, but a tad too salty a filling for my taste. A decent enough pie, but the real gem of a trip to Castle Douglas is Moore’s chip shop located just down the road. We went after the game and shared a scampi supper before heading up the road. It’s easy to see why this place has won countless awards over the years, it’s absolutely up there with the best chippies that I’ve ever been to.

Admission: £4
Programme: £2
Pie: £1.50
Bovril: £1
Attendance: 170 (approx)