The Mantis

Valur Kvenna 2 FH Hafnarfjörður 0 At Hlíðarendi where St Mirren played the other week. Had a day to spend in Reykjavík before going home and discovered there was a women's game on up the road. 2pm kick off so plenty time to hit the bars later. Anybody who's been to Iceland will know what a progressive, advanced wee nation they are. Me, jealous? Plenty of gender equality on show. The women's game has the same admission prices as the men (2000 ISK, about £11). They get to use the main stadium, and there's all the other stuff like tannoy announcements at subs, music at goals, match ball on a plinth etc. Some decent skill on offer along with some committed defending, and title-chasing Valur (the name means Goshawk) gradually wear down the away side with a goal in each half from Nadia Atladóttir. Enjoyed this much more than the men's game the week before. Both teams had a go at entertaining, attacking football. A decent crowd of about 300 and some chanting even broke out at times... Just for devilment I'm throwing in a shot of the Hallgrímskirkja which is the tallest building in Iceland.

FC Grótta 1 þór Akureyri 2 Iceland, 1.deild, at the Vivaldivöllurinn in Seltjarnarnes which is a suburb of Reykjavík. Arrived in Reykjavík last Saturday early and bummed around town for a few hours then used the excellent bus service to get out to the game. End of season stuff between two clubs at the arse end of 1.deild on a plastic pitch and it was pretty boring with neither team willing to take many risks, in front of a crowd of maybe 120. In fact from the kick-off, Thor must have had about 20 passes across the back three. Maybe I was just tired but it was pretty boring. Two excellent finishes had Thor ahead though, but I missed Grótta's consolation goal with 20 mins left (OK I left for the bus just as it went in). 2000ISK to get in which was well over a tenner. Got to the game and discovered I had left the battery for my wee drone back in my luggage so never even got an aerial shot. More than the game I enjoyed the officials doing their warm-up (look for the Hitler salute ). Saw a women's game the following Sunday at the end of my trip into the interior and I'll stick up a post later in contrast.

I saw a 10-0 in 1995 at the San(ta) Fergie. Think it was a league game.

The bit in Hannibal where Krendler’s brain is served up at the dinner table. I always wondered if that scene would make it into the film (it did).

Ah right, didn’t think Fife would have two of them… he was good craic at Whitehill last season. I wonder if he fancies donning the Santa suit.

Following up on the Saturday Amateur Cup yesterday, decided to pop along the road where Loanhead Miners AFC of the LEAFA Sunday Div 1 beat Gallo AFC of the Championship 3-1. First time I've ever seen two sides wearing black...

Scottish Amateur Cup Rd 1. Cupar Hearts 2 Corstorphine Dynamo 0. Duffus Park. My mate's son plays for Dynamo so had a great day out in the bus with them and a few shandies. Pre-match in the Boudingait which had some fine ales, and hospitality post match in the Cross Keys. Conrad Balatoni plays with Corstorphine too but sadly was unfit so only got on as a sub late on. Couldn't persuade him to sign for ICT. Dynamo will regret missing chances first half and inevitably the holders scored twice in the second period to progress. Didn't prevent the team and supporters singing all the way home in the bus. Great day out.

I'm sure Rothes has 4 distilleries. Did you not get half pished on the fumes? I know I did.

You certainly won’t do any worse than 2017… that must be some kind of world record for a shoot-out.

Scottish Cup PR2. Haddington Athletic 1 Auchinleck Talbot 4. At Millfield. The visitors go ahead after about 20 minutes but are pegged back by a superb Luke Kennedy strike before half time. 2 late goals mean the final score flattered Talbot IMO.

@HibeeJibee WW was 2-0

Called it.

Aye but until Dunc gets punted we’re looking at roughly 3 wins, 3 defeats and 30 draws = 39 points.

He's like a poor man's Jake Mulraney. Out of all the names mentioned, I would say only Sheridan contributed less during his time but, true to form, you'll probably get a tune out of him. We've gone from the club that makes everybody else's duds into players, to, well, there's an old Hollies song about King Midas... Ujdur is class but he always has a mistake in him through his overconfidence.

LEAFA Sunday Div 1. Loanhead AFC 2 Gotham City 2. Burghlee Park, Loanhead. Growing up in Loanhead this was always known as the Tin Pan Alley. Hadn't seen any sign of Loanhead Miners AFC last season and assumed they had folded. Anyway their badge says 2024 and this was the first game of the season. I didn't know any of the players and there was nothing on twitter. Gotham City match reports are on FB and are a real hoot, but haven't been updated since March. Anyway this was a decent game and if this is a new Loanhead team then they looked decent especially second half. They took the lead after about half an hour but were disappointed to go in behind at half time after losing 2 quick-fire goals from corners right on the break. They pretty much dominated the second half and got a well-deserved point.

Lewis & Harris FA: Jock Stein Cup rd 1, at Pairc an Rubha, Garrabost. Point FC 6 Stornoway Athletic 0. A fine night in Point and breezy so midge-free, and a healthy attendance at £3 a pop. Since my last visit Point have continued to improve the ground and now there are 2 seated stands. The Social Club, Ionad Stoodie, named after a club legend, is excellent and was opened in 2007 by John Greig and Ronnie MacKinnon. The anticipated demolition of Aths became reality although it took half an hour for the breakthrough as Andrew Murray stole in and lobbed the keeper (1st pic). There followed 4 from Angus Macdonald and one from Alfie Macmillan as Point progressed to a meeting with Lochs in the next round.

Saw them dismantle Kilwinning back in the spring and Scotty Gray was outstanding. That’s fitba - ICT and Ross County swapped players for years while they were only a division apart and it helped develop the careers of players like Don Cowie. It was also good for players at the end of their days.

Aye, get it sorted Tarmo!

It’s a strange one. 930 for the season’s finale v Forfar, and 1017 the previous game v Spartans doesn’t suggest any drop off in interest. Only 622 last week v Arbroath but that was a dead rubber, but doesn’t lend much weight to the Hearts/Rangers theory either. CE has done quite a rebuild too so you’d think people would want to see how they cope. I have to say, apart from the first season, I find Bonnyrigg a hard watch. I’d rather watch the Welfare, even though the standard is dire, the games are more entertaining and you usually get goals.

If you get the luck of the draw you can often get Mon-Wed-Fri but the fixtures don't come out till April. In fact this year it seemed to be a secret as the website didn't publish them at first, and I was there from 12/4 this year but didn't know till later. Last year they started on 14/4 and I was in luck. Although some years the pitches are too soggy or the weather is just awful in April. We normally travel Fri-Fri which cuts down what I can see as Friday is a popular night for fixtures. It's just wonderful on a summer's night though, say a drive up to Ness or Carloway, and there's nothing else on in the village so there's a decent turnout. If you've not already seen my blog it's worth a look. This year I've been trying to visit the Forth & Endrick League but due to various circumstances I've only been at 4 out of the 10.

I think you should pay a visit to see how his grandson is filling his shoes...

Fair do's , some achievement. Maybe you relocated to Aiberdeen or whatever. Can't see me ever going beyond the Midlands League. Been to St Ninian and Cromdale though. I suppose my claim to fame is the Lewis & Harris League as I'm up there a lot. Hoping to be at Point next Monday, just in case any Midlothian burglars are reading this.

A decent game decided by a scrappy goal. I thought The Welfare could have made it more comfortable but in the end they were glad to hear the whistle. I think the guys got a donation of claret and blue paint which has spruced up the barriers no end. They were white before, and from personal experience it's a lot of work.

Whitehill Welfare 3 Blackburn Utd 3. EOSL Div 1. Ferguson Park looking majestic for the new season. Welfare conceded after only 3 minutes, but a strong first half saw them come back to lead 3-1 at half time, having missed a hatload of chances. However Blackburn came back strongly and dominated the second half for a well-earned point.

I'd like to digress too...