AlansHotBath

Excellent game so far. Chances for both sides and a good midfield battle. Watson's goal and play to win the penalty have been excellent. His link-up with Rodgers has been good as well - looking like an excellent addition to the squad so far. I think both pens were soft but cases where if you leave a leg out the opponent will take advantage.

Just spotted Jamie Glasgow has signed for BSC until the end of January - a great player, and great to see him back in the Lowland League (albeit less so for a team we'll have to play against). Hope he gets a hattrick today and then nothing til next month.

Low is indeed on the bench. A big call, but I do think it's the right one. We have a midweek game and a tough month so best to ease him back in.

I agree, I don't think Low should start - not sure what his fitness will be like, and the midfield we've started the season with has proven themselves and deserve to start today. Plus we have very little players on the bench who can change a game if we do go behind. The last thing I want is Low just being directly brought in for either Gibbons or Peggie - I've mentioned before (I think for the EK game) I'd prefer to see us drop one of the strikers and put Low in with those two as part of a midfield three. Plus, we have a winning formula atm, and if it was most other league games, it's fine to tinker a bit, but against Bonnyrigg I'm not so sure. Aside from that the team pretty much picks itself - with Tapping out I'd stick with the back 4 from last week, and no reason to change from Henderson and Dishington on the wings. I cant remember the last time I thought Shire had a genuinely good chance at winning a big game against a top team like this. It'll be difficult, but I think we can edge it. While I dont quite think a loss would sink our season just yet, it would be massively dispiriting and I feel like it would carry over into the next few league games, which are looking difficult as well.

I hope this goes well, and it will be interesting to see how it works in practice. Is it ticketed, and are away fans allowed (not that you could really monitor that if someone turned up without the away team's scarf on)?

Almost signed for Man United apparently, before deciding to go with acting. Reckon his red outfit in Zardoz was a tribute to the colours of the Rose?

FT 7-0. Connelly saves a penalty late on to keep the clean sheet run going. Genuinely think we might never concede again (until Bonnyrigg next week)

Fantastic stuff from Shire, 5-0 up at HT. Hoping for no injuries and another clean sheet from the second half.

Pitch inspection today, unsurprising given the recent weather. 12.15pm.

A draw definitely fair result there - a few chances but I didn't think either team looked particularly impressive, and there was a fair bit of sloppy play. Assuming we can get a win again Vale next I think that's a decent first month in the league.

I am really looking forward to the game tonight. It's the first major test, not just for us, but for EK as well this season. So far we've both came up against mid-table teams you'd expect to beat more often than not if you wanted to challenge for the title, and both have done that without looking incredible. I think it's also the first game between two teams who would have been considered in-and-around the title race at the start of the season. Both teams will want a big win to put down a marker for the season ahead after a disappointing year last year. I really cant call it, but if we do go down 1-0 in a dud of a game again, then it will be impossible to shake off the feeling that this season will be a re-run of last season. I think we are solid defensively, my concern is more not being able to score. If Low is playing (I've no idea where he has been this season) it will be a boost, and I'd like to see him play in a midfield 3 with Gibbons and Peggie, both of whom have really impressed so far and dont deserve to be dropped (and will give a bit more freedom to Low to create chances).

Caught the BSC stream for the first time this season and I thought it was good stuff. Good camera quality (despite the issue with the pole throwing off the focus), and I liked having someone from each team on comms, keeps it balanced and means you get informed, fair views on both sides. In terms of the game, BSC were a bit lucky to be 2 up at HT, but they are clearly more experienced than Gretna 2008 and it showed over the course of the game. BSC looked unusually defensively shaky at times, despite the clean sheet. Gretna looked decent at times and I think by the time they can play teams who aren't going to finish in the top 4/5 they will start to pick up points. Some good players and definitely willing to work hard, just came up short at the key moments at both ends.

Final scoreline was harsh on Dalbeattie. I thought they were the better team in the first half, although Shire definately improved in the second. We really lacked creativity in the first half, particularly with Low and Brown missing, and Dishington well below what he's capable of. A few of our new signings have had impressive starts, but I have particularly liked what I've seen of Connelly in goals. A definate step-up from a declining Barclay last season, and yet to concede a goal - can't improve on that as a keeper!

We're lucky to be up 1-0 at half time here. Dalbeattie have been the better side and have missed a few decent chances.

Sorry, but you've got to go. At least the WoS will be a schoosh with all the big teams throwing in the towel already

Graeme McGregor and Kris Faulds? That's a shame, as neither of them were that old, although Faulds had a few bad injuries when he played with us a few seasons ago. I imagine the current situation will have a few players retiring or taking time away from the game when they otherwise wouldn't have considered it.

Firstly I blame the Official Catch-Up guys, predicting goals galore in a game inevitably leads it to be a low-scoring dud. While not a classic, I felt like this was the type of game we would have lost 1-0 last year, and we have 3 points to start the season with which is ideal. Our new keeper, and Gibbons in the middle of the park, both looked like good additions when called on, which admittedly was rarely given how little Civil offered going forward. The streaming quality is really good, will happily pay for that this season.

All the best to Whitehill for the season ahead as well.

I think realistically newky is right, the chances of this season being finished (unless they elongate it into next season) are shrinking and shrinking. But ignoring that - I also think Kelty will win the league again. They were the best team last season and they look to have strengthened this season. As for Shire, I've no idea. I think we look like a better team than last year, and I'm also happy with a lot of the signings we've made. I dont see us catching Kelty, but I'm hopeful of us being able to put up a better challenge this year. EK will be better, how much more so I dont know. There's always the danger they could end up with a few signings like we had last year, very good in concept but couldn't really be arsed. BSC and Bonnyrigg also in the top 5, Bonnyrigg are probably still the best of the rest and have the advantage, as last year, of having a settled, very experienced team. BSC will get over the loss of their front line without too much trouble, I think. I dont see anyone in the rest of the league breaking into that top 5, a lot of decent sides in there but not really enough consistency to keep up imo. I'll pick Vale to be relegated, but it would funny if they somehow wriggled out of the drop again, and the posters on here who have a weird obsession with having them punted from the league lost the plot. All in all, I am very much looking forward to Saturday afternoon, and best of luck to everyone ahead of the season. Hopefully we can all make it through relatively unscathed. Oh yeah, and does anyone want to predict who the first team are that will fake a Covid scare in order to have a game postponed?

Good to see the club have announced plans to live-stream games this season, with the first game against CSS free https://mobile.twitter.com/TheShireFC/status/1313242841775247360

That last one is a really good episode. I have to admit I'd never fully considered what it takes for players to get to games under COVID, particularly with not being able to car-share, and having to get right back in the car and leave without being able to shower or even change. I've got a massive respect for any player who puts up with that through whatever season we manage to get, being a part-time player must be a tough grind at the best of times. Also, I totally agree with what you've said about the impact on mental health that a lack of football is having. Being able to get out the house and socialise is massive for people, and I think that, for some folk, going to the football is one of the few times where they feel comfortable being openly emotional. Anyway, keep up the good work.

Fair play, then. It'll be interesting to see what the PPV prices are like across the league when they are announced. This is obviously an outlier, would imagine they'll mainly be £5-8.

Noticed it said "on agreement with both clubs" so I wonder if that's either: BS, and Kelty just jacked up the price; or there has to be some arrangement as there would be with gate money, with the cash being split given the number of St Johnstone fans that will be paying for the stream.

For what's it worth I really like it. I was unsure when I first saw it, but it really grew on me, and I like the concept of dots tracking results. Not sure that's been done before

It's actually difficult to fathom the depths of how stupid this comment is. I would be willing to bet that this is because Sturgeon, Salmond, and any other former or potential FM doesn't give a solitary shit about 5th and 6th tier football, COVID-related concerns or otherwise, and it's not crossed their minds.