Uppers win third consecutive title in season marred by points deductions
Moffat team Upper Annandale made it a a hattrick of league titles in a season dominated by points deductions. Uppers finished with the best playing record and deservedly lifted the title.
Uppers started their campaign with home defeats at the hand of Lochmaben and Maxwelltown Thistle before rallying putting an impressive string of league results together, dropping only 2 more to new club FC Dynamo Star. A big surprise was the lack of cup silverware for the Moffat team who lost both the cup finals they featured in to Lochar Thistle.
New teams FC Dynamo Star and First Base Dynamos had differeing fortunes. Star, who took a while to get to grips with the step up from Sunady Amateurs put some decent form together near the end of the season and were rewarded with a fine Queen of the South Cup win at Palmerston .First Base Dynamos who stepped up from the Youth League failed to reach the required standard and paid heavily, losing every competetive match of the season. To their credit they never gave up and hopefully things will imporve for them in season 2009/10.
Last year's surprise team Maxwelltown Thistle had an eventful season to say the least. They led the league for long spells only to see their title aspirations squashed by an 18 point points deduction for fielding an ineligible player. They also featured in four of the six finals but poor discipline and injuries late in the season saw them putting out understrength teams in the Tayleurian and Burns cups, losing both to a resurgent Lochmaben side. They did retain the British Legion Cup with a fine win over Lochar Thistle on November.
Lochmaben started well leading the league for the first few months, then had a poor spring period before bouncing back with two cup wins in three days at the end of the season, these coming at the expense of Maxwelltown.
Kirkconnel Amateurs and theYMCA had poor seasons by their standards. The Upper Nithsdale side suffered from players being poached by other teams in the area and with the majority of their squad coming from the remnants of the Kelloholm side who finished near the bottom the previous year any improvement on their position was an indication of any progress. They did reach the quarter finals of the South of Scotland cup, eventually losing a close game to finalists Jed Legion. The YM failed to make any real progress from the previous season. They did record several good wins in the spring but two semi-final appearances were their high points.
Lochar Thistle were the most improved teamn of the season. They benefited from the demise of Sunday cracks Lochside Colts and signed several of their players to bolster what was a reasonable side to start with. Two cup final wins, both coming against Upper Annandale saw the club add to their impressive trophy collection and a runners up spot in the league, albeit at Maxwelltown's expense were a good return for the club who celebrated their 40th anniversary during the year.
Morton Thistle saved their best form for the West of Scotland Cup with the club reaching the 5th round with excellent wins against some very good opposition. On the local front they failed to build on their fine League cup win in 07/08 and did not feature in any of the finals.
Their best season for some time saw Terregles Athletic finish in third place in the league. The club has made steady progress over the past couple of seasons and have gathered a decent squad together. Even in the final few weeks of the season the club still harboured hopes of a league title. This wasn't to be and if the club make continue their improvement they could challenge again.
The new season will see Graham Lockhart returning as General and Match Secretary after a 12 month "rest". Maurice Sproat returns as League President and Treasurer Jim Kirk is giving it "one more year". Steven Todd takes over as Registration Secretary and Vice-President, overseeing the new national registration scheme. The other Vice-President slot is filled by David Nish of Lochar Thistle.
The end of season awards were presented at the AGM which took place on the 16th June 2009.
Tony Pierog Award for Sportsmanship - Kirkconnel Amatuers
Uniroyal Top Goalscorers - Upper Annandale
Jack S Martin Team Conceding Fewest Goals - Upper Annandale
George Cruikshanks Player of the Year - Shared by Sean Kearney (Maxwelltown Thistle) and Ross Dawson (Upper Annnadale)
Jack S Martin Goalkeeper of the Year - Kevin Somerville (Morton Thistle)
William Cross Personality of the Year - Anne Wells (First Base Dynamos)
League Table
Team P W D L F A P
Upper Annandale 18 15 1 2 85 18 43*
Lochar Thistle 18 12 2 4 73 28 38
Terregles Athletic 18 9 3 6 61 50 33*
Lochmaben 18 9 3 6 55 41 30
Maxwelltown Thistle 18 14 2 2 75 28 26**
Morton Thistle 18 6 4 8 57 55 22
FC Dynamo Star 18 6 3 9 56 67 21
Kirkconnel Amateurs 18 5 1 12 50 65 16
YMCA 18 3 3 12 45 65 12
First Base Dynamos 18 0 0 18 14 154 -27***
* Terregles Athletic vs Upper Annandale - 3pts awarded to awarded to Terregles Athletic, 3 points deducted from Upper Annandale
** Maxwelltown Thistle - 18 points deducted
*** First Base Dynamos - 27 points deducted