Inverness & District F.A.

Premier Division

Monday 31st July 2023

Kick Off 19.00 Actual 19.03

Avoch 3 Clachnacuddin Reserves 1, attendance 70

45’ 1-0

56’ 2-0

69’ 2-1

84’ 3-1

@ Coronation Park

Toll Road

Avoch

IV9 8PR

No Admission or Programme.

The Inverness & District F.A. league is made up of three divisions (Premier, 1 and 2) where each division schedule games to be played Monday through to Wednesday, each division having it’s allocated day for fixtures.

Tonight’s game was in the Premier Division and looked to be the pick of the bunch. It was 2nd versus 7th (out of 9) in the league table, but was a dress rehearsal for this coming Saturdays clash between the two sides in the Highland Amateuer Cup semi-final, which will take place at Culbokie.

Avoch, pronounced ‘Och’, is on The Black Isle, looking south back across the Moray Firth. The ground is on the right hand side as you enter the village on the A832 if coming from Inverness. The players get changed at the Avoch Community Centre across the road from the pitch and walk the 100 yards or so to the ground ready changed into their kits. The pitch is partly dug into the side of a grass bank, so gives excellent views of not only the pitch, but also the backdrop of the Moray Firth when watching from behind the one goal end. Access is only really on two sides, but a few watched from the entrance side, but it isn’t really wide enough to watch from there. Coronation Park was opened in 1953 and a magnificent set of listed iron gates adorn the entrance, donated in 1959 by Rosehaugh House, following the demolition of the mansion.

The match was very keenly contested and was still an excellent spectacle despite Clachnacuddin having a man sent off after just eleven minutes, for a late tackle that resulted in the injured Avoch player being unable to take any further part. It still took until what turned out to be the last kick of the first half for the hosts to break the deadlock though, when a corner from the left was volleyed in at the far post. Eleven minutes into the second half it was 2-0, when following a mix up between defender and ‘keeper, the ball was chipped to the far post and headed in unchallenged. Clachnacuddin pushed hard and in a two minute spell had a header off the underside of the crossbar and a deflected shot come back off the post, before making it 2-1 with a 20 yard shot curled into the far top corner. Avoch hit the crossbar themselves, before an angled shot into the far corner made the game safe with six minutes left.

It had rained almost non stop since ten o’clock this morning, but finally eased off about an hour before kick off and actually remained dry for the entire match. Despite the amount of rain the pitch was in excellent condition.

Highland League

Saturday 29th July 2023

Kick Off 15.00 On Time!

Banks O’Dee 4 Wick Academy 0, attendance 161

15’ 1-0

59’ 2-0

76’ 3-0

90’ + 2, 4-0

@ Spain Park

Abbotswell Road

Aberdeen

AB12 3AB

£10 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

Having re-completed the Scottish League grounds four days ago, I was less than two miles away to re-complete the Highland League this afternoon. Again it was at a pretty soulless stadium with a synthetic playing surface. There is a main seated stand with just 85 seats and a couple of sections of covered standing on the opposite side. One goal end has no access at all, whilst the other only gives views through mesh fencing. Official capacity is 876. Judging by today’s crowd, it is plenty big enough for them. Well, at least if they remain in the Highland League. Very few clubs would ever bring numbers anywhere near a sell out ever occurring. Promotion might be another story altogether. Wick only had a couple of dozen supporters here, which is hardly surprising, as a chat with the away team coach driver (who’d done the Inverness to Aberdeen section) revealed that start time from Wick had been at 7.15 this morning for the 207 mile drive south. There is only their game at Brechin City that would be further than this.

This was the opening league fixture. On last season’s finishing positions this was 10th versus 16th (out of 18). The first half was pretty even and very few clear cut chances were created. The only goal went the way of the hosts after fifteen minutes, when a long range shot found the far corner. Banks O’Dee doubled their lead just before the hour mark, finishing with an angled shot into the far corner. They had a man red carded with seventeen minutes left, for an over the top tackle, but still managed to increase their lead within minutes when a cross from the right was poked in at the far post. They rounded off the scoring in stoppage time, cutting in from the right before clinically finishing left footed into the bottom corner.

Summing up the basics. Unusually, car parking at the ground was free. The tea bar was under the main stand and had the usual offerings. No match day programmes, but team sheets readily available at the turnstiles.

Moray & District Welfare F.A.

W.J. Tewnion Memorial Trophy

Semi-Final

Friday 28th July 2023

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.26

Craigellachie 3 F.C. Fochabers 6, attendance 115

8’ 1-0 (pen), 46’ 1-1, 49’ 1-2, 57’ 1-3 (pen), 58’ 1-4, 61’ 1-5, 88’ 2-5,

89’ 3-5, 90’ + 4, 3-6

@ Victoria Street

Craigellachie

AB38 9SR

No Admission or Programme.

This was 7th versus 3rd as far as league positions go, with Fochabers being the reigning champions. The first half was end to end stuff and the only goal of the half came courtesy of an eighth minute penalty for the hosts. Fochabers equalised within a minute of the restart and just after the hour mark they had raced into a 1-5 lead. Craigellachie scored twice in the last two minutes to make it 3-5 and had a one on one chance to net another, before Fochabers rounded off the scoring in stoppage time to give them a resounding 3-6 win. They now meet Hopeman in the final after they beat Cullen in tonight’s other semi.

Home to Craigellachie is a pitch across the road from the local play area, at the junction of the A95/A941, in the heart of malt whisky country. The pitch is roped on one side and is very narrow, maybe three yards from 18 yard box to touchline! A good crowd on a very pleasant night weather wise.

Friendly

Thursday 27th July 2023

Kick Off 19.00 Actual 18.55

Kincorth 3 Ellon United 3, attendance 47

6’ 1-0

9’ 2-0

52’ 2-1

62’ 2-2

70’ 2-3

76’ 3-3

@ Kincorth Field

Kincorth Circle

Kincorth

AB12 5NX

No Admission or Programme.

My original plan tonight was to see Ellon United play at home to Whitehills, but that was called off by the visitors, citing a lack of availability. Thankfully, Ellon managed to arrange this game instead and as it was only 7 or 8 minutes drive south from our Aberdeen base, then it fitted in perfectly. The ‘ground’ is just a pitch in a large field, but with an absolutely immaculate playing surface. The changing rooms are not on site and the players walk to the pitch ready changed. It is not in the most salubrious area of town.

Kincorth play in the Aberdeenshire Amateur F.A. League and are the most successful club in the history of the league according to their Facebook page. Ellon United play in the S.J.F.A. North Region Super League. The hosts got off to a flying start, scoring twice inside the opening ten minutes. Surprisingly, there were no more goals in the first half. Seven minutes into the second half Ellon pulled one back, aided by a deflection, before drawing level ten minutes later with a diagonal free kick that beat the ‘keeper in the top corner. The turnaround was completed when an angled shot found the far corner just eight minutes later. Kincorth hit back to make it 3-3 when a cross from the left was headed back across the ‘keeper into the far corner.

An excellent game and another match which was played with full commitment from both teams. The forecast rain never materialised, but it was foggy throughout. Certainly not something you’d expect in July!

S.J.F.A. East Region

Midlands League

Wednesday 26th July 2023

Kick Off 19.00 Actual 19.04

Brechin Victoria 1 Lochee Harp 1, attendance 41

10’ 1-0

52’ 1-1

@ Victoria Park

Nursery Lane

Brechin

DD9 7ET

£6 Admission

No Programme.

I had seen Brechin Victoria win their opening game away at Coupar Angus on Saturday. Meanwhile visitors Lochee Harp had opened up their season by losing 1-4 at home to Dundee North End. They had both struggled a bit last season, having finished second bottom and third bottom respectively, so both teams would have fancied their chances coming in to this.

Brechin got off to a great start, opening the scoring after ten minutes, sweeping in from close range after a corner on the right was headed back across the six yard box. Lochee levelled it up seven minutes into the second half, smashing one in from 12 yards after the ball was pulled back from the right. Brechin should have gone back in front a couple of minutes later, but somehow headed wide when unmarked at the far post. Lochee had a man sent off on the hour mark, following a foul, but Brechin never made the numerical advantage count. They did force a fingertip save from the ‘keeper late on, but never really looked like getting a winner.

Victoria Park has two covered seated stands as well as an area of covered standing. There was even a row of seats perched high on the grass banking behind the left hand goal. Tea bar in operation…menu needs no introduction!

Above : The grass bank seats.

Above : Lochee Harp send the equaliser on it’s way.

Scottish Professional Football League

League Cup

Group C

Tuesday 25th July 2023

Kick Off 19.45 On Time!

Cove Rangers 0 Livingston 5, attendance 683

44’ 0-1

55’ 0-2

58’ 0-3

81’ 0-4

90’ + 2, 0-5

@ Balmoral Stadium

Wellington Circle Roundabout

Aberdeen

AB10 1ZT

£12 Admission

£3 Programme, 40 pages.

Tonight’s game meant I once again completed seeing a game on every ground in the Scottish Football League. It seems an age ago now, that I first achieved this when I saw a game at Forfar Athletic back in 1995. Wow, where have those 28 years gone?!

The day before visiting Forfar, I had been to see Cove Rangers play at home, which in those days was at their former Allan Park ground, which they left in 2015 and when they were still members of the Highland League. They moved here to the newly constructed Balmoral Stadium in 2018 and in 2019 gained promotion into the Scottish League, which was then followed by back to back promotions. It is fair to say the new stadium suits their needs, sensibly, for these parts, having a synthetic pitch, but I’d be surprised if it ever got on anyone’s ‘favourite grounds’ list. It is made up of five ‘temporary’ kit stands as well as the main stand, which is the only permanent structure and that only has just over 300 seats! Total capacity here is listed as 2,391.

The match was Championship versus Premiership as far as league placings go, but this was a group match in the League Cup, where there are groups of five teams and they play each other once, with luck of the draw deciding who you get home or away. Drawn games are decided by a penalty shoot out, where the winner gets an extra point. These two were unbeaten, Cove having beaten Brechin City and Clyde in their games, whilst Livingston had drawn with Hamilton Academical (but lost on penalties) and beaten Brechin City.

The first half was pretty even and had very few clear cut chances. Livingston broke the deadlock in the dying seconds of the half when a diagonal free kick was headed back across the six yard box and re-directed back into the far corner. The second goal was going to be crucial as far as the final outcome went. When it went the way of the visitors, ten minutes into the second half, it seemed to totally deflate Cove. Livingston totally overran them for the remainder of the game and it was a bit of a surprise that they only added three more goals, such was their dominance. Pick of the bunch was goal number four, curled into the top corner from 25 yards by Stephen Kelly.

Friendly

Monday 24th July 2023

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.28

Rothie Rovers 2 Cowie Thistle 1, attendance 76

39’ 1-0

68’ 1-1

76’ 2-1

@ Forgue Road (B9001)

Rothienorman

AB51 8UE

No Admission or Programme.

Rothie Rovers play in S.J.F.A. North Region Premier League, whilst Cowie Thistle are in the Aberdeenshire Amateur F.A. Premier Division. It was hard to believe this was a friendly, such was the intensity of both teams. There were plenty of chances, but it took until six minutes before halftime for Rothie to make the breakthrough, after a cross from the right was headed in at the far post. Cowie drew level midway through the second half, when a shot from the edge of the D found the bottom corner, but the ‘keeper should really have kept it out. Rothie won it with fourteen minutes left, when a shot from the corner of the 18 yard box was curled over the ‘keeper into the far top corner.

Rothie play in the village of Rothienorman, north of the A96 roughly halfway between Inverurie and Huntly. The ground is on the right hand side as you enter the village on the B9001, adjacent to the bowls club. No admission charge tonight, but the tea bar was up and running about half an hour before kick off, with pies and hot/cold drinks available.

The evening started off sunny, but went chilly during the second half. At least it remained dry.

Jamie Reid Testimonial

Sunday 23rd July 2023

Kick Off 13.00 Actual 13.04

Jeanfield Swifts 5 St. Johnstone U20 5, attendance 370

1-0 (6), 1-1 (15), 2-1 (26), 2-2 (38), 2-3 (42)

3-3 (50), 4-3 (58), 5-3 (60) pen, 5-4 (62), 5-5 (78)

@ Riverside Stadium

Bute Drive

Perth

PH1 3BP

£7 Admission

No Programme.

A decent crowd turned out for this and it would have been well in excess of 400 if you counted all the kids in the various bouncy castles installed as part of the event. Thankfully it remained dry, as the area of cover wouldn’t have been anywhere near big enough to accommodate a crowd of this size. It was odd that the only food on offer was from a mobile food wagon, which was very expensive and seemed to do little trade, but hardly surprising as it didn’t offer the normal fayre you’d expect at a Scottish non-League venue. Venison burgers didn’t really hit the mark somehow. No hot drinks either and ‘cold’ drinks were served from a table, rather than a fridge!

Jeanfield had played their first league match of the season yesterday in the East of Scotland League Premier Division, whilst the St. Johnstone team were still only recently back in training for the new season. With no pressure on either side it gave way to a good open game, with both teams playing with a positive attitude. Plenty of goals and numerous missed chances to boot. The visitors led 2-3 at halftime, but the hosts won the second half by the same score to see the honours shared in a 5-5 draw. I was quite surprised on checking my records afterwards that this is now the sixth time I’ve seen this scoreline.

A guard of honour from both teams had greeted the man of the day Jamie Reid onto the pitch before kick off and the biggest cheer of the day came when he stepped up to score from the penalty spot to put Jeanfield 5-3 up on the hour mark. Two late goals from the visitors would have done little to take the shine off his day and everyone would have gone home happy….apart from the defensive coaches!

Above : Jeanfield Swifts head in the opening goal of the day.

S.J.F.A. East Region

Midlands League

Saturday 22nd July 2023

Kick Off 14.30 On Time!

Coupar Angus 1 Brechin Victoria 2, attendance 65

26’ 0-1

42’ 1-1

72’ 1-2

@ Foxhall Park

Forfar Road

Coupar Angus

PH13 9AW

£6 Admission

No Programme.

It was good to finally get a proper competitive game in, with a season opener in the Midlands League and a match between the teams that had finished 13th and 18th (out of 19) in the league table last season. Leaving from an overnight stop in Carlisle, it started off with light rain/drizzle, but it improved the further we headed north, taking the route that skirted Glasgow, Stirling and Perth, arriving in Coupar Angus just after one o’clock, by which time blue sky was appearing and it was warming up nicely.

Brechin will certainly look to improve on last season, having won just four of their thirty six games and will be delighted to return north to Angus with three points safely in the bag. They opened the scoring just after the midway point of the first half, breaking away down the right before pulling the ball back for a finish into the top corner. Coupar Angus levelled just before halftime scoring at the far post from a cross on the right. Brechin won it with eighteen minutes left, driving in from the right hand side before squaring a pass for a left footed finish into the bottom corner. There didn’t look to be much between the two sides and the result could easily have gone in favour of the hosts. An excellent start to the trip.

Friendly

Thursday 20th July 2023

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.39

A.F.C. Croydon Athletic 4 Lingfield 2, attendance 35

27’ 1-0

35’ 2-0

45’ 2-1

46’ 2-2

56’ 3-2

65’ 4-2

@ Mayfield Stadium Training Pitch

off Mayfield Road

Thornton Heath

CR7 6DN

No Admission or Programme.

This was a Step 5 clash, as Combined Counties League Premier Division South hosted Southern Combination League Premier Division. I had been to the main stadium here (known then as NFC Sports Ground) back in March 1995 when I saw Croydon Athletic lose 1-2 to Hillingdon Borough in a London Spartan League Premier Division match. Tonight’s game was played on the training pitch here, which is on the right as you drive down the potholed track that leads to the stadium off Mayfield Road. Despite there being no floodlights, it was scheduled to kick off at 19.30, finally getting underway nine minutes late, due to Croydon making no effort whatsoever to get themselves out onto the pitch, even though they were out warming up when I arrived around 18.50.

It was a decent game, which threatened to boil over a couple of times following some hard, but fair, challenges. Croydon looked to be coasting when they led 2-0, but a goal a minute each side of halftime saw Lingfield draw level at 2-2, having offered very little up until this point. Croydon edged back in front when a block by the ‘keeper was followed in at the near post, before wrapping it up with a fourth goal nine minutes later, when a driving run from the left was played inside and finished with a shot on the turn.