SFL DIVISION ONE
Game of the Day
Dunfermline Athletic v Partick Thistle
Two teams in great form meet in what should be a test of their promotion credentials. Dunfermline won 4-0 last weekend with Andy Barrowman, Ryan Thomson with 2 and Josh Falkingham the scorers. The Pars had no Ramsdens Cup game midweek and should be the fresher of the two. Partick won 3-1 v Falkirk in the league last weekend with Steven Lawless and a Kris Doolan double helping them dispense with one promotion rival; midweek though Thistle had a torturous game against third division side Queens Park. Eventual winners 5-4 they had to score twice in the 90th minute to secure that victory. Though Aaron Sinclair, Christie Elliot, Chris Erskine (twice) and Stuart Bannigan all got on the score sheet the question may be will they recover?
Dunfermline
Reported Out
Ryan Wallace, Fassyl El Backhtaoui
Partick
Reported In
Scott Fox, Alan Archibald, Hugh Murray
Reported Out
Sean Welsh, David Rowson
Prediction
This should be the game of the day and I would expect a home party but a very hard fought one by an odd goal.
Dumbarton v Cowdenbeath
This pits two old foes against each other having had plenty of battles when both were second division teams last season. Dumbarton are having a turgid time of it as they lost 4-1 to Airdrie United last weekend, James Lister getting their goal in the 62nd minute when they were already 3-0 down. Cowdenbeath had a similar experience in they shipped 4 goals to Dunfermline but didn’t manage a consolation like the Sons did. It was a miserable start at home to their campaign but midweek they did manage a 3-0 victory against East Fife. A Jamie Stevenson double with Kyle Miller getting the third may have settled some nerves.
Dumbarton
Reported In
Mark Lamont, Mark Gilhaney, Ross Forsyth
Reported Out
Pat Walker
Cowdenbeath
Reported doubtful
Joe Mbu
Prediction
This is difficult to predict early in the season but Cowdenbeath have recovered sufficiently during the week to suggest a draw.
Falkirk v Raith Rovers
I tipped Falkirk to win the first division and despite last weekend – a Kyle Taylor consolation against Partick as they lost 3-1 – I still think they have enough to go all the way. They need to start winning though and there is never a better time than when playing at home. They still have their Ramsdens Cup tie against Rangers to play so the players should have plenty to play for in each game. Raith have found their scoring boots with 7 goals in 2 games. Brian Graham got a double last weekend against Hamilton and then he did it again midweek with a double against Montrose in their 5-2 demolition of the third division outfit. Allan Walker, Pat Clarke and Greig Spence getting the other 3.
Falkirk
Reported In
David Weatherston
Raith Rovers
Reported In
David McGunn
Reported doubtful
Player/ manager Grant Murray
Prediction
It ought to be a steal for the away side as they are scoring so freely but the lessons learnt last weekend by Pressley will probably make Falkirk hard to beat. A narrow home win for me.
Hamilton Academical v Greenock Morton
This is a tie between two teams that really need a good season. On paper it should therefore be an absolute cracker. The Accies lost 2-0 last weekend to Raith and the poor showing they have had at the beginning of the season is bound to heap pressure on Billy Reid. Allan Moore has had a disjointed start as they drew 2-2 with Livingston – Peter Weatherson and Tony Wallace getting their goals – before they lost 2-1 to second division Queen of the South at home midweek. Michael Tidser had put them 1-0 up.
Hamilton Academical
Reported In
Gary Fisher
Reported doubtful
Andy Ryan
Greenock Morton
Reported Out
Mark McLaughlin, Willie Dyer, Peter McDonald
Reported doubtful
Martin Hardie
Prediction
It is extremely hard to call for two teams I would like to see battling for the top spot and to be fair to both they have managers who believe they should be too. A draw would not be an unfair result but I think that Morton’s continued bad luck with injuries means that Hamilton may just shade it again and be Morton’s bogey team for a second season.
Livingston v Airdrie United
Jimmy Boyle’s Airdrie have strapped once again into the rollercoaster which is their season and started last weekend by winning 4-1 against Dumbarton. A John Boyle hat trick with returning Paul Di Giacomo getting the 4th was followed by an inexplicable 3-0 loss to East Stirling. Livingston, with no Ramsdens Cup game midweek drew 2-2 last weekend with Morton.
Livingston
Reported Out
Liam Fox, Jason Talbot
Reported doubtful
Kyle Jacobs
Airdrie United
Reported In
Marc Warren, Jack Boyle
Reported Out
Grant Evans, Kieron Stallard
Prediction
Home win and the continued roller coaster ride that is being an Airdrie fan.
SFL DIVISION TWO
Game of the day
East Fife v Queen of the South
It has not taken long for the Doonhamers to show their promotion potential and with an efficient 2-0 win against Forfar last weekend followed by a 2-1 win against Greenock Morton midweek this is a team determined to get back up the leagues. Derek Lyle and Gavin Reilly were on the score sheet against Forfar whilst Mark Durnan and Nicky Clarke in extra time despatched Morton at Cappielow. The Fifers drew 1-1 against Alloa last weekend with Darren McCormack scoring and then lost 3-0 away to Cowdenbeath midweek.
East Fife
Reported Out
Collin Samuel, Steven Campbell, Craig Johnstone, David White, Ross Brown
Reported doubtful
Queen of the South
Reported In
Allan Johnston, Derek Lyle, David Orsi
Reported Out
Derek Young, Willie Gibson, Kevin Smith
Prediction
An away win and the return home for East Fife after 4 games away from home on the trot not as successful as they had hoped.
Albion Rovers v Alloa Athletic
Alloa drew last weekend against East Fife and will hope this weekend to get back into winning ways. Stephen Simmons got their equaliser in the second half. Albion Rovers meanwhile lost 1-0 to Brechin City and desperately need to see some return on their efforts.
Albion Rovers
Reported Out
Tony Stevenson
Alloa Athletic
Reported In
Ben Gordon, Ryan McCord
Reported Out
David Cox
Prediction
For me Paul Hartley should see 3 points on his board.
Arbroath v Ayr United
Paul Sheerin returns to Ayr United, having been one of the squad that took the Honest Men to the League Cup Final in 2002. Last weekend they drew 1-1 with Stranraer with Darren Gibbon having to level in the second half. Midweek they lost 3-2 to Forfar with Paul Currie and Darren Gibbon again on the score sheet. Ayr United had a disappointing 1-1 draw with Stenhousemuir, losing a goal in the last minute after David Winters had put them 1-0 ahead.
Arbroath
Reported Out
Stuart Malcolm, Scott Robertson
Ayr United
Reported In
Austin McCann
Prediction
The loss for Arbroath in two key people in defence alongside Ayr picking up a midfield general missing last weekend should see an away win.
Stenhousemuir v Brechin City
Stenny have had a decent start to the season with a draw against Ayr – Ross McMillan securing a single point in the 90th minute whilst winning 3-0 away to Annan Athletic midweek; Stewart Kean, Andy Rodgers and Sean Dickson getting the goals. Brechin started well too with a 1-0 win against Albion Rovers. Andy Jackson getting another to add to the one he scored against Rangers in the Ramsdens.
Stenhousemuir
Reported Out
Eric Paton
Brechin City
Reported In
Ryan Stewart
Reported Out
Alan Trouten, Derek Carcary
Prediction
This could be a draw as each side want the win and seem to have some form.
Forfar Athletic v Stranraer
Last weekend Forfar lost 2-0 to promotion favourites Queen of the South and then lost again 3-2 to Arbroath midweek. Gavin Swankie and Keith Gibson got both Forfar goals. Stranraer have regained some respect with a 1-1 draw against Arbroath last weekend, Michael Moore giving them a 1st half lead.
Forfar Athletic
Reported Out
Jamie Bishop
Stranraer
Reported In
Max Wright
Reported Out
David McGregor
Prediction
I think that Stranraer may struggle up in Forfar and a return to the third might be in line. Home win for me.
SFL DIVISION THREE
Game of the day
Clyde v Peterhead
So it would be dead easy to make the game of the day every week the one involving Rangers but there are other teams in the league and last weekend Peterhead showed they were the equal to these new boys. Goals from Rory McAllister and Scott McLaughlin – that put Peterhead 2-1 up – were enough to dominate back pages but not take the 3 points. Clyde had their own mountain to climb last weekend as they were 2-0 down at half time to Montrose before goals from Bryan Gilfillan, John Neil and Stuart McColm got them all 3 points. The game today is at Recreation Park Alloa as the Broadwood pitch is still not ready.
Clyde
Reported In
Stevie Masterton, Bryan Gilfillan, Gavin Brown
Reported Out
Michael Oliver
Peterhead
Reported Out
Graeme Sharp, Davie Ross
Prediction
I think Peterhead are a good bet for second place and this could be a decent game of football ending with an away win.
Annan Athletic v Berwick Rangers
Annan lost 5-1 to Stirling Albion last weekend with Graeme Bell getting their only goal when they were already 5-0 down. Graeme Ramage saw red in that game. Midweek it got worse as they lost 3-0 to Stenhousemuir. The other Rangers opened their account with a 0-0 draw with Elgin City.
Annan Athletic
Reported Out
Peter Watson, Kieran McGachie
Reported doubtful
Graeme Bell, David Murray
Berwick Rangers
Reported In
Ben Millar, Dean Hoskins
Reported Out
Steve Notman
Prediction
Annan are on the wrong sort of run at the moment and for me that will stop soon. I don’t think it will be today though and I am going for an away win.
Elgin City v Stirling Albion
Elgin drew 0-0 last weekend with Berwick Rangers but had Daniel Moore sent off whilst Stirling Albion slammed 5 past Annan and must be feeling good. Scott Davidson, Graham Weir, Daniel Ashe, James Clark and Gavin McPherson got the goals and it looks good for the Binos so far in the league this year. Mind you it is only game two…
Elgin City
Reported In
Paul Millar, Paul Harkins
Reported Out
Daniel Moore
Stirling Albion
Reported In
Kieran McAnespie, Mark Peat
Reported Out
Bradley Coyne, Shaun Fagan
Prediction
Stirling are looking far better than they have for years – an away win and the renaissance continues!
Queens Park v Montrose
The Spiders began their campaign with a 2-0 win against East Stirling. Lawrence Shankland got both goals. They then lost 5-4 midweek to Partick Thistle which was a particular heartache. Lawrence Shankland, Jamie Longworth and Anthony Quinn had scored before Richard Little in the 86th minute made it 4-3 Queens. Two goals in the last minute sent them out the Ramsdens Cup! Montrose meanwhile have been hosting the Young and Watson show. Two games, both with two goals for the team in them and both scored in each game by Lloyd Young and Paul Watson. Unfortunately they lost the first 3-2 to Clyde and then the second 5-2 to Raith Rovers!
Queens Park
Reported In
David Anderson
Reported Out
Jamie Brough
Montrose
Reported In
Leighton McIntosh
Reported Out
Martin Doyle, Jamie Winter
Prediction
Montrose’s season to get worse and Queens to win.
Rangers v East Stirling
For me this is what having Rangers in the third division is all about! East Stirling auctioned off being Chairman for the day and one of the supporters has raised some cash for the club and will have the day of his season by becoming their Chair! We all know that Barrie McKay and Andrew Little got Rangers out of jail last weekend and they have still to take on Falkirk in the next round of the Ramsdens whilst East Stirling have lost 2-0 to Queens Park then beat Airdrie United midweek 3-0. With goals from Scott Maxwell – a candidate for goal of the month, Kevin Turner and Michael Herd they seem to be turning into big cup style game players…
Rangers
Reported In
Emilson Cribari, Maurice Edu
Reported Out
Ross Perry
East Stirling
Reported In
Sean Kelly, Craig Donaldson
Reported Out
Grant Hay, Michael Hunter
Prediction
Erm… home win?
