Tomorrow sees only two games in the Amateur Football League after some of the teams opted to play last Wednesday instead. All the games are in the League Cup, sponsored by John Pagan & Son, Funeral Directors.
In section A, Lochmaben and Lochar Thistle have already qualified for the semi finals so their clash tomorrow will be to determine who finishes top of the group and hence has home advantage in the semi. Both have four points but Lochmaben have the slightly better goal difference which means that a draw would see Lochmaben top.
Lochar have yet to concede a goal. Last week, they beat YMCA although YM were unlucky not to have scored, missing several chances and also being thwarted by some fine saves by Ryan Chambers. It wasn’t easy, either, for Lochmaben last week. They trailed 3-2 to Morton as half-time approached but, just as in their opening game, they came away strongly towards the end.
This should be close. I just have a feeling that Lochar might just sneak this although there’s little to choose between them. The game, incidentally, is at Barony College, Lochar’s home ground for the season.
The other game in this section saw Morton Thistle play YMCA on Wednesday.
Section B isn’t just so clear cut. Two wins for Upper Annandale means they are certainly through and big wins in those two games almost certainly guarantees top spot. Who joins them will be decided by tomorrow’s clash between Maxwelltown Thistle and Dynamo Star. The two sides are equal on goal difference but Dynamo Star will go through with a draw because they have scored one goal more than Max at present. Both have one win each so far and have lost to Uppers by a similar margin so this will also be very close, just as it usually is when they meet. Although Max are the home side, that won’t give them any advantage as both clubs use Troqueer as their home ground. This could be a draw.
The game in this section played on Wednesday saw Terregles Athletic entertain Uppers.
One thing noticeable from all the early matches is that there is not a huge difference between any of the sides and every single match has been a good one. Let’s hope it continues in the same vein.
The D&DAFL website can be found at www.ddafl.co.uk
With two wins from their opening two fixtures in the League Cup, sponsored by John Pagan & Son, Funeral Directors, both Lochmaben and Lochar Thistle have qualified for the semi finals.
Both won on Saturday, but against opposition who played well and fought all the way. Against Morton Thistle, Lochmaben won 5-3 after having been 3-2 down just before half-time. Gary White set up Shane Watson to put Lochmaben in front only for Russell Jardine to fire the equaliser when a free-kick was touched to him. Gary was again involved in the second, tapping home from Shaun Johnstone. Ally Smith beat two defenders and slotted in Morton’s second equaliser then crossed for Gavin Maxwell to shoot Morton ahead. Right on the break, it was 3-3 when Shane Johnstone set up Dougie McRobert. Gary White ran on to a flick from Dougie to put Lochmaben back in front and Dougie himself burst through to finish things with a hard, low shot.
Shaun Johnstone was best for Lochmaben with Russell Jardine and Martin Rush best for Morton.
Lochar beat YMCA by 3 goals to 0 but the big difference between the sides was Lochar’s ability to convert their chances. In another fine game, YM actually had the best of the first half but Lochar’s keeper Ryan Chambers had two excellent saves from Bobby Green and John Wells. It was Lochar who scored the only goal of the first half with Trevor Campbell picking the ball up on half-way and running through to net from twelve yards. Jordan Nish crossed for Kieran Krause to knock in the second and Jordan took advantage of a poor pass-back to slot in the third.
Upper Annandale went top of Section B by beating Maxwelltown Thistle by six goals to nil. The tactical genius of stand-in coach Davie McCall was evident but he doesn’t want the job permanently. Three goals in each half did the trick although Max did have their chances and Neil Cochrane hit the woodwork twice. A Kevin Wilson penalty brought the opener followed by Kevin Jack tapping in a through ball. A goalmouth scramble ended with Mark Leighfield heading in number three. A Ryan Johnstone shot then flew in, Stephen Jackson added the fifth and Kevin Jack’s quick footwork finished things off.
The quickest goal of this, or any, season came in the Dynamo Star-Terregles match. The kick off was touched to Graham Rooney who noticed the Terregles keeper unprepared out of position and promptly planted the ball over his head into the net. Time – three seconds, surely a record. Strangely enough, that was the only goal of the first half. Terregles’ young side came out fighting in the second period and within two minutes had equalised through Brett Ross. After that, though, Star took control. A nice build-up set Joe Burton free to finish with a clever lob, Campbell Steele headed in a free kick, Stephen Green burst through for a fourth and Campbell picked up his second as he rounded the keeper. Late on Darren Cassidy crossed for Ally Hunter to volley in a second for Terregles.
Saturday’s Results: League Cup, sponsored by John Pagan & Son, Funeral Directors.
Section A :- Lochmaben 5, Morton Th 3; YMCA 0 Lochar Th 3.
Section B:- Dynamo Star 5, Terregles Ath 2; Upper Annandale 6, Maxwelltown Th 0.
Fixtures – Tonight (Wednesday) KO 6.30pm
League Cup:- Morton Th v YMCA at Jock’s Loaning (I Brack); Terregles Ath v Upper Annandale (A McNay)
Saturday 28 August
League Cup:- Lochar Th v Lochmaben at Barony College (A McNay); Maxwelltown Th v Dynamo Star at Holm Park (S Grier).
QUAKER
Tomorrow’s games in the Amateur League are once again in the John Pagan & Son, Funeral Directors sponsored League Cup. Although the scores didn’t quite reflect it, all eight sides could take something positive from their first matches last Saturday.
The holders, Upper Annandale, looked ominously good. They have the same basic side as last season when they finished on top and look, yet again, the side to beat. Tomorrow, they take on probably their arch rivals in Maxwelltown Thistle at Moffat. They, too, started with a good win which means these two are the early favourites to go through from the knockout phase. A few new faces have given Max a stronger look this season. They will push Uppers all the way in a tie that is bound to be keenly contested but, especially at Moffat, I think Uppers will have the edge.
In the same group, Dynamo Star take on Terregles Athletic knowing that whoever loses will be out but that a victory will give them a chance to progress. Despite losing last Saturday, both sides did acquit themselves well. Terregles looked very fit and should do well when their new players bed in. Star, too, looked as if they could have a good season. With little to go on so far, it’s hard to pick a winner here. It could well be a draw although that would be little good to either.
Lochar Thistle won this cup two years ago and were runners-up last season and they started with a solid win against Morton Thistle. Tomorrow they play YMCA at the Kingholm in what should be a game full of good football. For their part last week, YM played well against Lochmaben, holding them for over an hour before they seemed to tire. This looks like a Lochar win.
Lochmaben play host to Morton Thistle in the final game. This is often one cup that Lochmaben don’t do well in but they’ve started well and a win here would take them through to the semis. Despite losing last week, Morton played well against Lochar, contributing to an enjoyable contest. I feel, though, that they’ll be hard pushed to hold Lochmaben.
The Amateur League kicked off on Saturday with four ties in the League Cup, sponsored by John Pagan & Son, Funeral Directors. They were all good games, too.
The holders, Upper Annandale were in excellent form, running out 7-2 winners against a Dynamo Star side who also played well, but were no match for the Moffat side on the day. Mark Leighfield, who went on to get a hat-trick, scored two of Uppers’ three first-half goals. He started with a header at a free kick and bundled in his second. Ryan Johnstone beat the offside trap and ran through for the third. Kevin Wilson’s eighteen yard shot made it four before Stephen Green pulled one back with a lovely chip off the underside of the bar. Mark fired in his third, Jamie Carlyle blasted in a free kick from twenty five yards and Kevin got his second with a shot. Stephen also scored a second for Star as they caught the Uppers’ defence square.
In the same section there was a good win for Maxwelltown Thistle who beat Terregles Athletic by 5-1. Terregles also played well, looking very fit but Max were too strong. Neil Cochrane sent a lovely curling shot into the top corner for Max’s opener and Joe Jardine added a second on forty minutes. Mark Montgomery tucked away a penalty five minutes into the second half before Chris McGregor headed in at a corner to make it four. Joe shot Max into a five-goal lead before Brett Ross finished well to give Terregles a deserved consolation. Starring for Max was Kieran Smith with Cammy Grierson best for Terregles.
Lochar were winners two years ago and runners up last season and they started well with a hard-fought victory over Morton Thistle with a goal in each half. Both were good goals and came from new signing, Dale Talaszko. A dipping eighteen yard shot gave Lochar the opener and doubled it when he took one touch to control a cross and crashed the ball home. Morton contributed much to a good, enjoyable game but it wasn’t their day.
In the fourth game, there was very little between YMCA and Lochmaben for over an hour, at which point Lochmaben were narrowly ahead 2-1. However, as YM tired, Lochmaben got into their stride, banging in another five before YM scored a late consolation. Gary White scored Lochmaben’s first and last goals, the first unmarked at a corner, his second, the best of the game, when he completed a fine move with a lovely dink over the keeper. Dougie McRobert’s pace brought him a couple as well, as did Stevie Hislop who beat two defenders and fired in for his first followed by a direct free kick. Shane Watson’s shot from the edge of the area brought the other. The first for YM came when Chris Clark raced on to a through ball and Bobby Green grabbed a late consolation.
Results: League Cup – sponsored by John Pagan & Son, Funeral Directors.
Section A: Morton Th 0, Lochar Th 2; YMCA 2, Lochmaben 7.
Section B: Maxwelltown Th 5, Terregles Ath 1; Upper Annandale 7, Dynamo Star 2.
Fixtures Saturday August 21
League Cup:- Section A: Lochmaben v Morton Th (S Grier); YMCA v Lochar Th (W Vivers)
Section B: Dynamo Star v Terregles Ath at Holm Park (I Brack); Upper Annandale v Maxwelltown Th (D McGuffie)
Wednesday August 25, KO 6.30pm
Morton Th v YMCA at Jock’s Loaning (I Brack); Terregles Ath v Upper Annandale (A McNay)
DUMFRIES AMATEURS Dynamo Star reached there first final of the season on Saturday thanks to a narrow 3 - 2 victory over YMCA in the McQueen Trophies sponsored Tayleurian Cup. Star went one up on 15 minutes with a cracking left foot drive from the edge of the area by Scott Alexander flew in the top corner. 10 minutes later and Star doubled there advantage. Colin Tennant passed to Gordon Tennant who cleverly chipped over his marker before calmly slotting in. YMCA pulled one back on the stroke of half time when a through ball from Keith Falls to Darren Milligan beat the offside trap before shooting in across the keeper. On the hour mark, YM deservedly equalised when good work from Joe Jardine and Keith Falls set up Craig Broadfoot to slot in 12 yards out. In a very even game, it was Dynamo Star who clinched the winner with 5 minutes remaining. Gordon Tennant's cross from the left wing was met with a perfect volley from Campbell Steel giving the YM keeper no chance. In the final, they will play either Lochmaben or Maxwelltown who both won their quarter final ties. At Lochmaben for the third time in 11 days, Lochmben beat Lochar 6 - 3. The visitors scored first when a long ball form Scott Woodward found Trevor Campbell who calmly placed his shot in the bottom corner. Lochmaben manager 'Dome' Robson then turned the game around with 2 cracking goals. The first on 20 minutes was a dipping volley from 15 yards followed shortly afterwards by a bullet header from a corner. Just before half time Charles Common burst through the Lochar defence to bang in his 40th goal of the season making it 3 - 1 at half time. Keith Houston scored just after the break with a neat flick making it 4 - 1 but Lochar pulled it back to 4 -3 thanks to a volley from Stevie Cooper and a 20 yard free kick from Mike McGauchie. 2 late goals from Charles Common and Ross Kuklinski made a slightly flattering score line of 6 - 3 to Lochmaben.
Maxwelltown are the last semi finalists after a good 1 - 0 victory over Upper Annandale. Very few clear cut chances in the first half for either side with the best going to Ross Halliday whos shot shaved the wrong side of the post. The only goal came on the hour mark with a classic goal. Max keeper Purdie sent Halliday on his way. Ross then played a perfect pass to Ally Walker who held off his marker before placing an inch perfect shot in the bottom left corner. Uppers came more into the game in the last period with Mark Leyfield crashing his shot against the bar and Grant Watson and Davie McDowall both going close. Last Wednesday Uppers took a giant step to the league title beating Dynamo Star 1 - 0 at Moffat with Mike Swan scoring the winner. Depending on disciplinary meetings, Uppers might have won the title by tonight if things go there way.
FIXTURES FOR WEDNESDAY 12 MAY
BURNS CUP QUARTER FINALDynamo Star v Lochar Ref: D. Erskine QUEENS TRUST LEAGUELochmaben v Uppers Ref: D. McGuffie FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY 15 MAYBURNS CUP SEMI FINALUpper Annandale v YMCA Ref: D. Mcguffie TAYLEURIAN CUP SEMI FINAL
Lochmaben v Maxwelltown Ref: J. Thompson
FIXTURES FOR MONDAY 17 MAY6.40pm kick offDynamo Star/Lochar v Lochmaben Ref: I. BrachFIXTURES FOR WEDNESDAY 19 MAY LEAGUEYMCA v Lochar Ref: D. Laurie
Tomorrow’s three amateur league games are all in the Tayleurian Cup, sponsored by McQueen’s Trophies. Last weekend, Dynamo Star and YMCA both had good wins to reach the semis and they face each other tomorrow at Troqueer.
This is a hard one to call. Star finished well ahead in the league although their meetings were close with Star winning 2-1 at home and the game at the Kingholm ending in a draw. On recent form, however, YM might just have the edge as they have been playing very well. On the other hand, Star have had a very tough series of games including a narrow 1-0 defeat by Upper Annandale last Monday. Extra time may be needed but I do feel YM might make their first final for quite some time.
At the quarter final stage of the same competition, Lochmaben and Lochar Thistle will meet for the third time in ten days. The final of the Queen of the South Cup a week past Wednesday attracted a huge crowd to witness an excellent match of fluctuating fortunes ,won, in the end, by Lochmaben. They met again in midweek in the final of the British Legion Cup – result unknown at the time of writing – and now they play again tomorrow. There is little between the sides. I felt in the final that Lochmaben looked a more cohesive unit whereas Lochar had one or two better individual players dotted throughout the side. It perhaps depends how these individuals play but I rather fancy Lochmaben with their consistency and all-round strength will come out on top.
In the semi, the winners of the Lochmaben-Lochar tie will face either Maxwelltown Thistle or Upper Annandale who play at Troqueer. Again, these sides have met several times recently with Uppers gaining the honours. Both lost last Saturday. Unusually for Uppers, they surrendered a two goal lead to Lochar to go out of the British Legion Cup while Max found Lochmaben just too strong. There will, however, be no end-of-season complacency between these two. Uppers should win.
After Wednesday’s thrilling Queen of the South Cup Final, the same two clubs, Lochmaben and Lochar Thistle, will meet tonight in the final of the British Legion Cup, sponsored by Colin’s Carpets.
This is after Lochar recovered from a two-goal deficit at half time to knock out Upper Annandale from the competition by three goals to two. Uppers dominated the first half, scoring twice. Darren Ferbie fired the first into the top corner and, just before the break, Ryan Johnstone banged in a shot after a cross from Mike Swan. The second half was a different story with Lochar’s star man, Terry Jardine, getting a hat-trick. He ran from halfway and slotted in his first, got on the end of a James Rogerson flick to finish with a first time shot for the second, and got the winner with a shot following a corner.
In the quarter finals of the Tayleurian Cup, sponsored by McQueen Trophies, Dynamo Star beat First Base and YMCA accounted for Morton Thistle. They will now face each other in the semis on Saturday.
Goals came at regular intervals for Dynamo Star as they finished up with fifteen against an under-strength First Base Dynamos. Russell Milligan led the way with six, Campbell Steele netted four, there was a hat-trick for Craig Muir and one each for Scott Alexander and Brian Dick. Special thanks to ref Cameron Telfer who stepped in at the last minute and did such a good job.
YM turned in an excellent showing to defeat Morton Thistle 5-1. They were two up in twenty minutes through a dipping Craig Broadfoot shot and a tap-in by Joe Jardine. What could have been the turning point came in the twenty fifth minute when YM were reduced to ten men, only for Paul Hastings to save the resultant penalty and keep their two goal advantage. Just on half-time, John Wells headed in YM’s third. Craig and John both added their second in the second half, both with shots, before Billy Gracie scored a late consolation from the edge of the area.
Saturday’s final game was a Burns Cup quarter final tie which saw Lochmaben beat Maxwelltown Thistle by 4 goals to 2. This competition is sponsored by The Lochar Inn. Apart from a spell towards the end, Lochmaben held the upper hand and deserved their win. Stevie Hislop’s twenty yard shot put Lochmaben ahead in the seventeenth minute and Stuart Callander’s left foot drive made it two at the break. A back post header by Colin Robson soon made it three. A Ross Halliday penalty pulled one back and Ally Walker hit a post but, as Max pushed forward, Lochmaben grabbed a fourth through Stefan Ramsay after a good save was palmed out to him. Late on Alan Varco hit a second for Max.
Tonight’s final of the British Legion Cup is at Galabank, Annan, with a 6.40pm kick off. If it’s anything like the Queen of the South final, it should be an excellent match.
Results: Queen of the South Cup Final:- Lochmaben 5, Lochar Th 3.
British Legion Cup – semi finals:- Upper Annandale 2, Lochar Th 3.
Tayleurian Cup, quarter finals:- Dynamo Star 15, First Base Dynamos 0; YMCA 5, Morton Th 1.
Burns Cup, quarter finals:- Maxwelltown Th 2, Lochmaben 4.
Fixtures tonight (Wednesday) British Legion Cup Final, sponsored by Colin’s Carpets. KO 6.40pm at Galabank:- Lochar Th v Lochmaben (W Vivers)
Queens’ Trust League: Upper Annandale v Dynamo Star (D Erskine)
Saturday May 8, Tayleurian Cup (sponsored by McQueen Trophies), quarter finals:- Lochmaben v Lochar Th (J McEwan); Maxwelltown Th v Upper Annandale (S Grier)
Semi-final:- Dynamo Star v YMCA at Holm Park (I Brack)
Monday May 10, Queens’ Trust League:- Lochar Th v Upper Annandale (J Thomson)
Wednesday May 12, British Legion Cup – quarter final:- Dynamo Star v Lochar Th (D Laurie)
Queens’ Trust League:- Lochmaben v Upper Annandale.
At such a busy stage of the season, it’s strange to find that, at the time of writing, there is only one definite fixture in tomorrow’s amateur league. There will certainly be more once the busy midweek schedule has been resolved but the only game at present is a quarter final tie in the Tayleurian Cup, sponsored again very generously by McQueen Trophies.
The match sees YMCA meet Morton Thistle at the Kingholm. An interesting game this, sure to be closely contested with some good football. On paper it looks like an away win. In their two league meetings, Morton won both by a single goal including an epic 6-5 at Kingholm. The Thornhill boys finished much higher in the league, too, but have not done so well in recent weeks whereas YM have maintained their steady form of all season. For me, it’s YM to win this by a narrow margin.
Two other games which will go ahead are in the semi finals of the British Legion Cup, sponsored by Colin’s Carpets. One of these should be Lochmaben against Stewartry, but right now, there seems to be uncertainty in the Stewartry camp with the result that they may not be able to fulfil the fixture. In the other one, Dynamo Star or Upper Annandale, who play midweek, will face Lochar Thistle. The winners of the two semis will meet at Galabank, Annan, in the final on Wednesday night.
The match secretary has covered all his bases by organising other fixtures which will go ahead depending on the result of all the midweek games.
Looking at the Queens’ Trust league, it’s now down to a two-horse race between Lochmaben and Upper Annandale. Lochmaben, with forty one points, have one match left while Uppers sit on thirty three points but still have six games to play. Lochmaben’s final game sees them entertain Uppers. This will be a big hurdle for the Moffat boys, especially as they lost there recently in a cup tie but, for me, they should be able to take enough points from the rest of their programme to make the Lochmaben result irrelevant in terms of retaining their title.
The final of the Queen of the South Cup, sponsored by the Queens’ Trust, will be played at Palmerston tonight. It features Lochar Thistle and Lochmaben, both of whom won their semi finals on Saturday.
Lochar had their place booked in the final after a mere twenty minutes, by which time they led Morton Thistle by four goals to nil. Eventually, it ended 5-0. Jim Brown’s perfect through ball saw Terry Jardine fire in the opener, followed soon after by a second from Stevie Couper who cut inside and scored with a crisp sixteen yard shot from an acute angle. It was three when a long ball over the top saw James Rogerson beat the advancing keeper to the ball and head it over him from the edge of the box. The fourth and best saw a good move between Terry and Trevor end with Terry slotting in his own second.
Morton improved markedly in the second half with Chris McGreogor and Darren Brown going close before Terry completed his hat-trick by bundling home a long cross near the end.
After a very even first half which ended 1-1, Lochmaben pulled clear against Dynamo Star to win 3-1. Lochmaben went ahead on eighteen minutes; a corner was headed out only as far as Charles Common who thundered home a volley from the edge of the box. On the half-hour, Gordon Tremble’s through ball allowed Kirk Tweedie to score through a ruck of players from fifteen yards. A fine penalty save by Star’s keeper, Grant Ireland, who had an excellent game, kept the score at 1-1 but Lochmaben did go back in front when Keith Houston and Alan Maxwell combined well to set up Charles for his second. With eight minutes left, Stevie Hislop clinched things, cutting inside two defenders and curling home. Andy Thom and Stefan Ramsay were best for the victors; Grant, Aaron Johnstone and Duncan Clowe starred for the losers.
Upper Annandale kept up their league title hopes by beating Maxwelltown Thistle by four goals to one. One very sad aspect of this one was the broken leg suffered by Max’s Tommy Jardine. Everyone wishes him a speedy recovery. Uppers opened their account on the half-hour as Richard Swan fired in from eighteen yards as a corner was cleared to him. The other three all came from Kevin Jack. His first came with a neat chip over a defender and a twenty yard volley A tremendous free kick from thirty yards brought his second and his third was just as good from a slightly closer free kick. Kevin, Mike Swan and Peter Pagan played really well for Uppers. Max, who have been hit by several serious injuries this season, tried hard right to the end and were rewarded with a Bruce McQuarrie goal ten minutes from time.
Results: Queens’ Trust League: Dynamo Star 2, Terregles 5;Lochar Th 13, First Base 2; Lochmaben 5, Morton Th 1; Upper Annandale 4, Maxwelltown Th 1.
Burns Cup (sponsored by the Lochar Inn)YMCA 5, First Base 0; Upper Annandale 6, Morton Th 0.
British Legion Cup (sponsored by Colin’s Carpets) Maxwelltown Th 0, Lochmaben 4.
Queen of the South Cup (sponsored by Queens’ Trust) Semi Finals: Lochar Th 5, Morton Th 0; Lochmaben 3, Dynamo Star 1.
Fixtures: Tonight (Wednesday) Queen of the South Cup Final at Palmerston KO 7.30
Lochar Th v Lochmaben (Ref. S Grier; assistants D McGuffie & J Thomson)
Queens’ Trust league (KO 6.45) Upper Annandale v First Base (D Erskine)
Saturday May 1 – British Legion Cup Semi Finals: Lochmaben v Stewartry (W Vivers); Dynamo Star or Upper Annandale v Lochar Th (J McEwan)
Tayleurian Cup (sponsored by McQueen Trophies); YMCA v Morton Th (D McGuffie)
Provisional games for Saturday: Tayleurian Cup: Dynamo Star v First Base; Maxwelltown Th v Upper Annandale.
Burns Cup: Maxwelltown Th v Lochmaben
Monday May 3: Queens’ Trust League: First Base v Lochar Th (J Thomson); Upper Annandale v Stewartry (S Grier)
Wednesday May 5: British Legion Cup Final (sponsored by Colin’s Carpets) at Galabank, Annan.
Both semi final ties in the Queen of the South Cup, sponsored by the Queens’ Trust, will be played tomorrow with the winners meeting in the final at Palmerston on Wednesday evening.
Both look good games with the home side starting favourites in each case. Lochar Thistle take on Morton Thistle in one, Lochmaben entertain Dynamo Star in the other.
Lochar’s home record this year is pretty good. One of their wins was back in September against Morton in the league. Although, at present, the Thornhill boys are five points ahead in the league, they have played four games more. Neither has been at their best recently although Lochar played very well in a big win over YMCA last Saturday. However, defeat before that to Lochmaben in the league more or less killed off any lingering title aspirations. Morton won well last time out but will do well to make progress in this one.
It’s top versus second equal when Lochmaben play Dynamo Star. The home side, though, have proved to be Star’s bogey team time and time again this season, beating them twice in the league and in a couple of cups. Their most recent meeting, in early April, saw Lochmaben win well in Dumfries. A good win, too, for Lochmaben last week to reach this stage by beating Upper Annandale. Star, though, are the holders and won’t let their grip on the trophy go easily. Their league position shows they are no mugs.
The Burns Cup is sponsored once again by the Lochar Inn to whom the league are very grateful. In the first tie of this year’s competition, First Base Dynamos take on YMCA Despite a couple of league defeats last week, YM should win this. They have already beaten the bottom side several times this season, always with a good bit to spare. In their last outing against Stewartry, First Base fell away badly. I can’t see them winning this one.
In the league, Upper Annandale trail the leaders by eight points but they do have five games in hand. One of these is tomorrow against old rivals Maxwelltown Thistle at Moffat in what is Max’s final league match. When the pair met recently at Moffat, Uppers won on penalties after two hours of play failed to produce a single goal, showing there’s not a lot between the two sides. For the first time for a long while, Uppers lost a game last week going out of the Queen of the South Cup to Lochmaben. Max had no game but have been going reasonably well. This really is a must-win for Uppers if they are to reel Lochmaben in. Three “easy” games remain for them which they should win but this is one of four more difficult fixtures. If they clear this hurdle, and cope with the extra games they have to play, they could well catch the leaders.
The draw for the Burns Cup, sponsored by The Lochar Inn is:-
Dynamos Star v Lochar Th; First Base Dynamos v YMCA; Upper Annandale v Morton Th; Maxwelltown Th v Lochmaben.
For the Tayleurian Cup, sponsored by Queen Trophies, the draw is as follows:- Lochmaben v Lochar; Maxwelltown Th v Uppers; Dynamo Star v First Base; YMCA v Morton Th.