Random Matches You Are Going To...

[Guest]

Larkhall Thistle 5-0 Irvine Victoria

On the road again

Two in two for us as we swap the East Premier for the West Third and a promotion battle between Larkhall and Irvine Vics. Have a pal that stays in Larkhall and invited us down. I wouldn't just turn up in Larkhall you understand.

4th v 5th in a league that three go up so points were vital for both teams. I did not see a 5-0 coming, two first half penalties and a hat-trick for the son of Andy Smith made this a very easy three points for Larky in their promotion bid.

I like the Gasworks. Good park and good folk. Scotland's oldest ground still has a lot of life yet.

[Andy groundhopper]

Glos County local derby - less than a mile apart : Patchway 2 Little Stoke 1 att 88. Decent  niggly affair with the Stokers' gk sent off and another sin binned in 1st half.20 looked safe until pen for 21, then late pressure almost saw an equaliser.Patch hold on to take it to the last game for survival.

[Andy groundhopper]

[Marten]

Gargunnock 4-0 Deanston

My 11th and final ground in the Forth and Endrick League (including Thornhill who are currently in abeyance). Another ground with nice views, not as spectacular as Aberfoyle, but still good. Another one sided game won by Gargunnock, they impressed me over the last 2 games and surely must be one of the favourites for this season. They continuously play with a high pace. Their only weakness is that at some point they seem to run out of steam, because just like last week they again should have won by more.

My mate who I've done these games with is also Dutch and living in Scotland. I wonder if we are the only 2 foreign groundhoppers to have completed the Forth and Endrick League. I will definitely go back to some of the grounds in this league though as I really like this league.

[atfccfc]

Dunterlie Park for Arthurlie V Hurlford United in the West of Scotland Premier Division today.

Match started off a little slow. But the home team won a penalty in the 23rd minute only for no 8 to shoot wide. Within two minutes of that miss, Hurlford put together a quick passing move which resulted in No 11 foring a left footed shot beyond the Arthurlie goalkeeper. This settled the visitors down and they made it 2-0 on 33 minutes when no 10 placed a wonderful 20 yard + right footed shot past the goalkeeper.

A deserved lead for the visitors at half time. The second half started with Arthurlie playing a little better and a bit more purpose to their game. No 4 made it 2-1 on 54 minutes. The game then settled and both teams had a couple of chances. Bit Arthurlie got caught on the break on 88 minutes when a clearance came off no 8 of Hurlford and he duly controlled the ball before making it 3-1. 

It turned out a decent game after a slow start. Hurlford were the better team and deserved the win. 

Admission £7

Programme £2.

Steak pie £2.50. A bit dry but tasted good. 

Ground. Decent 

[Marten]

St. Roch's 3-5 Benurb

A spectacular game in the West of Scotland League Division 1. The first 30 minutes St. Roch's were all over Benurb, they were deservedly 2-0 up and it could even have been more as they had some big chances. When Benurb got back in the game just after the half hour mark, everything changed. Thanks to goalkeeping heroincs (including a penalty save) the hosts managed to keep the 2-1 lead until HT, but the visitors had the initiative. Eventually, 2 quick-fire goals just before the hour mark got them a 2-3 lead. After that their victory never looked in doubt. They scored a 4th, St. Roch's did get one back but Benurb didn't panic and decided it with their 5th goal. Over the full 90 minutes the better team won. An excellent game for a neutral.

[Jute]

Bonnyrigg Rose 3-0 Elgin City. Bonnyrigg securing their league status on final day and condemning Albion Rovers to play offs. Elgin had secure their own league safety last week but didn’t lie down to the Rose and made them work for this. Over 2,000 in attendance. 
 

[Andy groundhopper]

Patchway 1 Frampton 2 att 105. After a good effort, relegation confirmed for the Patch in this must win game. Two headers from a corner and free kick 02 ht. Back in the game with 20 mins to go, rattled the bar and had corners - but lack the physical threat/target man. One of the founder members of the Glos County League in the 1960's now have to plot their way back asap.

[Andy groundhopper]

[Andy groundhopper]

[Trackdaybob]

Back at The Walks then. 

National League play off semi final v Kidderminster Harriers. 

[Trackdaybob]

Kings Lynn Town 1-4 Kidderminster Harriers 

Att: 3002

Kidderminster well worthy winners. Good luck to them next week. 

[The Mantis]

LEAFA. IME Cup semi-final at Newcraighall

Edinburgh East 2 Musselburgh Utd 1. 
A decent cup tie played in a good spirit. Referee was Brian Canavan who I think might be Amy Canavan's old man.

[Crow]

Edinburgh South 2-1 Tweedmouth Rangers (2-1 HT) @ Paties Road Stadium . East of Scotland League 2nd Division. 7.15pm. South recovered from going behind midway through the 1st half to lead just before the break and that proved to be enough to secure the 3 points. Crowd 41.

Edited May 8, 2023 by Crow

[Crow]

Heart of Midlothian 0-2 Celtic (0-0 HT) @ Tynecastle Park . cinch Scottish Premiership. 2.15pm. The home side impressive in the 1st half but lost Alex Cochrane (45) to a controversial DOGSO VAR call. Celtic struck twice in the 2nd half to seal the title. Crowd 18,243.

[The Mantis]

Edinburgh Utd 2 Edinburgh South 3. Not a night for staying in the hoose so it's a short drive to the Auld Reekie equivalent of the Milan Derby as the two ground sharers meet at Paties Road. EOSL Div 2. United have gained a healthy bunch of Ultras c/w pyro since my last visit in August.

[Crow]

Edinburgh United 2-3 Edinburgh South (1-2 HT) @ Paties Road Stadium on Tuesday night with @The Mantis. EOSFL Division 2. 7.30pm. An early goal for the visitors was cancelled out but a goal either side of the break saw them 3-1 up. United pulled one back but just couldn’t find a late equaliser. Crowd 138.

[Crow]

Arniston Rangers 3-2 Thornton Hibs (1-2 HT) @ Newbyres Park . EOSFL Division 2. 7.30pm. The visitors twice ahead in the 1st half but Arniston levelled then, with Hibs down to 10 men , won it 5 minutes from time. Scenes . Huge 3 points in the promotion race. Crowd 203.

[Craig fae the Vale]

Drymen United 4-1 Balfron Rovers.

First Forth and Endrick League game for me this season. A comfortable win for Drymen as Balfron never recovered from having a man sent off after half an hour. Good entertainment.

[Guest]

Oakley United 2-1 Vale of Leithen

We're in Fife today to witness the battle to not have the worst record in Scotland apart from Bonner Bridge. 

Vale off the back of a fine win against also relegated Blackburn last week will have been in as much confidence as they can as they continue their plummet down the Leagues. Oakley who came up the Premier last year are also comfortably back down. 

Oakley bossed this game from the start and barring hitting the post early on Vale never really had a kick. STOP PRESS. Vale score a freekick from inside their own half to get back into it. That's goal of the season wrapped up. However, Oakley finish the season with two victories, doing the double over Vale.

Blairwood Park is fantastic in the sunshine. A healthy crowd in attendance, partly the weather, partly no Dunfermline game and partly it was youth team day *shudder*. Vale booed on the park and Oakley receive a raputrous reception from the stars of the future. The ground might not be much in January but it was great in the middle of May. Hopefully both clubs are more competitive next year.