SFL clubs were in action at the weekend in glamour games against SPL or English opposition, games that would determine the destination of silverware or simply games that would helped them prepare for next weekend’s kick off, however not all players ended up getting their boots dirty.
Third Division East Stirlingshire’s friendly encounter against Junior side Tayport fell victim to the monsoon rain conditions that hit the east coast on Saturday morning to leave Manager John Coughlin’s plans to conclude several deals to bolster his threadbare squad incomplete.
Coughlin received a call on Saturday morning to say that Tayport’s Canniepart pitch was flooded and the game was off and that meant that he could not watch potential signing targets in action. That left the former St. Mirren, Berwick and Stenhousemuir boss grumbling, “We have had a few boys in that have looked good in training but I wanted to see them in match action before finalising deals, so it was really disappointing that the game went off particularly as we are in Ramsdens Cup action next weekend.”
“It was too late to arrange anything else and we now run the risk of losing players to other clubs but hopefully they will stick around until Tuesday so I can see them on the pitch in a game.”
The Dumfries Derby between Annan and Queen of the South, that was scheduled to be played at Annan’s Galabank ground was also a victim of the weather however, the clubs got together quickly to arrange a friendly match at East Kilbride.
The Doonhamers won that encounter 1-0 thanks to a goal from youngster Daniel Carmichael.
In the games against SPL opposition the lower league clubs fared reasonably well with Partick and Livingston enjoying wins, Ayr holding their own, Ross County losing by one goal and Forfar keeping things tight for more than an hour.
Thistle defeated a visiting Celtic side that contained last season’s Player of the Year Emilio Izaguirre as well as the out of favour Jos Hooiveld, Josh Thompson and Marten Rasmussen 2-1 in front of a 5,231 crowd.
Paul Cairney fired in a Chris Erskine cut back after 14 minutes, however former Alloa striker Greg Spence netted from close range midway through the first half to level. The winner came 11 minutes into the second half when substitute Tommy Stewart capitalised on more good work by Erskine to thump home from 25 yards.
Firhill boss Jackie McNamara said, “Our players are improving every day ahead of the season kicking off. We scored two terrific goals and I am pleased with how we played.”
Livingston made it four games undefeated against SPL opposition when they completed a Capital double of home wins by defeating Hearts 1-0, 11 days after defeating Hibs 2-1. Striker Iain Russell scored the game’s only goal 10 minutes into the second half when he converted a Kenny Deuchar knock down.
Manager Gary Bollan said, “We have beaten Hibs and Hearts and draw with Inverness and Dunfermline but you will not find anyone here getting carried away as the serious stuff starts next week.”
Ayr United came back from a goal down to draw 1-1 with St Johnstone at Somerset Park with the Perth men going ahead 13 minutes from half time thanks to Chris Millar’s low shot. The leveller came before half-time from the penalty spot with Mark Roberts netting after Michael Moffat had been fouled by visiting goalkeeper Peter Enkleman.
The Honest Men played former Inverness, Ross County and Dundee midfielder Ritchie Hart and former Kilmarnock and Dunfermline ace Alex Burke as trialists with manager Brian Reid commenting, “We are getting ourselves prepared nicely for the First Division.”
Ross County fell behind to hosts Kilmarnock with just over a minute played when Rugby Park new boy Gary Harkins cut in from the wing and curled home a fine shot and it looked like it could be a long afternoon for the Dingwall men when they lost another goal 4 minutes later.
Another new recruit in Ayrshire Danny Buijs netted a low effort and Harkins went close to making it three with a free kick that struck the woodwork before half time.
County settled down and Marc Corcoran pulled a goal back with 17 minutes to play with a drive that took a wicked deflection on its way into goal.
Forfar went down 3-0 to Aberdeen at Station Park with Chris Templeman giving the visitors problems before Scott Vernon fired the Dons ahead from the penalty spot on 18 minutes after Mitch Megginson had been fouled.
The scoreline stayed the same until 19 minutes from time when Ryan Jack headed in a second and Rob Milsom added a third before the end.
The Renfrewshire Cup will stay in the hands of St Mirren for a sixth consecutive season after they defeated Morton 4-2 at New St Mirren Park. Former Rangers striker Stephen Thompson converted a cross from fellow new ‘Buddie’ Gary Teale to put the Paisley men ahead on 20 minutes and they doubled their advantage 3 minutes later.
Thompson was again the man on target as he headed home a cross from former Morton man Paul McGowan with Thompson turning goalmaker for Steven Thomson at the start of the second half to make it three nil.
It was McGowan who grabbed the fourth goal for Saints when he shot home from 12 yards midway through the second half, with Morton’s Peter Weatherson firing in two late goals to give the scoreline a better reflection.
Peterhead also won silverware as they lifted the Scottish Week Challenge Cup by defeating Airdrie United 2-1. Summer signing Jamie Redman headed in from a corner with 10 minutes remaining in the first half before another new recruit Paul Watson curled home a free kick to double the lead.
Airdrie’s John Boyle pulled a goal back however the Blue Toon held on with manager John Sheran saying, “We have had a good pre-season, winning 5 games in a row however, Alloa is a real tough task next week.”
Stirling Albion went down 3-2 to fellow fan owned club Cliftonville at the Doubletree Dunblane Stadium with the Irish side going home with the Ladbrokes Supporters Cup as a result.
Cliftonville opened the scoring through Joe Gormley on 28 minutes and just 3 minutes later the scorer was fouled in the box by Shaun Dillon and George McMullan netted from the resultant penalty.
Former Dumbarton youngster Alan Cook, playing as a trialist pulled a goal back before the first 45 minutes were complete, however hopes of a stirring fightback took a knock when Gormley scored a fine solo goal.
Former Motherwell and Ross County winger Darren Smith, who was also listed as a trialist scored a second for Jocky Scott’s men.
East Fife fans enjoyed their Saturday afternoon as they edged out neighbours Raith Rovers 7-6 on penalties after a goalless draw to qualify for the Final of the Gilvenbank Hotel Football Festival at New Bayview.
Laurie Ellis and a trialist striker missed from the spot to send John Robertson’s men through to face Dundee who saw off Paul Sturrock’s side 2-0 thanks to goals from Graham Webster in the first half and Graeme Bayne right at the death.
The New Bayview fans enjoyed their Sunday just as much as they defeated a Dundee side that included manager Barry Smith in a playing role 1-0 to win the four team tournament. The winning goal came just after the quarter hour mark when Robert Sloan’s mishit shot reached Robert Ogleby and he set up a trialist, in the form of former Ross County, Partick Thistle and Morton player Kevin McKinlay who stabbed the ball home.
Prior to the Final being played Raith drew another blank on Sunday afternoon as their game with the Shrimpers finished goalless with both sides settling for the wooden spoon as opposed to going to penalties.
Hosts Stranraer made it to the Final of the Stena Cup by defeating Northern Irish side Glenavon 3-0 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. The Blues looked to be going out of their own competition until Craig Malcolm hit a late goal to cancel out a goal from Glenavon’s former Morton striker Kevin Kelbie.
Coleraine made their way to Sunday’s Final by seeing off a young St Mirren side 3-0.
Keith Knox’s side went on to lift the trophy on Sunday afternoon with a 5-4 penalty success over their Northern Irish visitors after a 1-1 draw. Shane Jennings had put Coleraine ahead in the first half and local teenager Dean Agnew levelled with a shot from 12 yards on 64 minutes.
Captain Danny Mitchell scored the winning penalty after a fine stop by his goalkeeping colleague Ryan Marshall.
Glenavon defeated St. Mirren 2-0 to seal third place.
Falkirk played Preston North End and they stunned their English visitors by taking the led with a goal in only 40 seconds when teenager Blair Alston headed in a cross from Craig Sibbald. Matthew Flynn added a second midway through the second 45 minutes when he touched home a Darren Dods knock down, however Preston hit back for a share of the spoils.
Jamie Proctor netted a penalty after a hand ball was spotted in the Bairns box with 9 minutes to go and Conor McLaughlan fired in a volley right at the death to tie the scores.
Hamilton took on Huddersfield Town on Sunday afternoon at New Douglas Park and went down 2-1. The damage was done early with Danny Ward scoring after only 5 minutes and Alan Lee adding a fine second 20 minutes later.
Before half time Grant Anderson kept up his fine pre-season form by pulling a goal back shortly after Grant Gillespie had struck a post however the Accies could not force an equaliser.
Cowdenbeath continued their impressive build up to the new season by seeing off a young Dundee United side 4-0 with Mark McKenzie firing the Blue Brazil into an early lead and Lewis Coult quickly adding a second.
Ramsay added a third from the penalty spot just before half time and McKenzie grabbed his second and the Central Park side’s fourth on the hour mark.
Third Division Champions Arbroath came from two goals behind to defeat local rivals Montrose 3-2 at Gayfield with Player/Manager Paul Sheerin leading the comeback. Martin Boyle’s double had the Links Park side two ahead at the interval, however Lee Sibanda grabbed a goal back just 3 minutes into the second period.
Sheerin volleyed past former Falkirk goalkeeper Michael Andrews to restore parity on 51 minutes and he scored the winner 9 minutes from time when he converted a Lee Bryce pass.
Dumbarton played Alloa in a closed doors match at Recreation Park and emerged as 2-1 winners with both goals coming from trialist. Alloa captain Darren Young missed a penalty when the score was 1-0 however, Craig Campbell did net his first goal in Recreation Park colours.
Stenhousemuir and Clyde drew 1-1 at Ochilview with Stewart Kean putting the Warriors ahead on 63 minutes when he headed home a cross from Stevie Murray. The Bully Wee pulled level six minutes from time when trialist Stephen McDonald curled home a fine goal.
Albion Rovers won 2-0 against Junior hosts Lanark United with Jamie Gilmartin playing a key role in both goals. The Coatbridge side opened the scoring when a shot from Gilmartin struck a post and hit a defender on its way in with the Rover having better luck in getting the second goal credited to him when he netted with a cleaner strike.
Striker Craig Smith scored a second half hat-trick at St Andrews as Queen’s Park defeated a youthful Dunfermline side which included Ross Millen, the teenage son of 46 year old Andy, who starred for Queen’s Park last season 6-1.
The Spiders opened the scoring on 14 minutes when Sean Burns sent the ball across the face of the goal and Jamie Longworth volleyed in and the Pars drew level on 27 minutes when experienced striker Pat Clarke thumped home from the penalty spot after Ross Drummond had been fouled in the box by a combination of Richard Sinclair and Luke Whelan.
Queen’s got the lead back right on half time when Burns floated in a free kick from the left and centre back Jamie Brough rose to head home from 6 yards out.
The Glasgow side dominated the second half and went two goals ahead on 53 minutes when Longworth lashed home from 8 yards out and Smith then took over and he shot home 10 minutes later after good work again on the wing by Burns.
Smith finished in style to put Gardner Speirs’ side 5-1 up and with just 4 minutes to go a long kick out from Neil Parry was headed on by Longworth for the frontman to run on and net his third.
Berwick went down 2-1 to a Newcastle XI managed by Peter Beardsley with the Premiership youngsters going in front just before half time thanks to a goal from Yven Moyo who darted away from two defenders before scoring.
Brandon Miele added a second before Fraser McLaren pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after he had been fouled by Patrick Nzuzi.
Elgin City continued their good pre-season showing against Highland League sides by defeating Keith 3-0 thanks to goals from former Raith Rovers striker Graham Beveridge in the first half with Craig Frizzell and Jason Crooks, with a penalty, netting in the second.
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