Christmas is just around the corner! But, before the big day there’s a feast of football to tuck into. We’ve picked out three games from the lower leagues which we think you should be keeping an eye on this weekend.
cinch Championship – Ayr United v Dundee (Friday, 7.45pm)
Arguably the biggest match in Scotland this weekend, as the Championship’s top two face off at Somerset Park.
The Honest Men will be looking to bounce back after last week’s 3-2 defeat to Partick Thistle at Firhill. The SPFL’s top scorer Dipo Akinyemi found the net once again, taking his tally for the season to 15 in the Championship. But Ayr were second best on the day and suffered their first defeat in all competitions since October 15 at Dens Park. Lee Bullen’s side remain top of the table, just one point above tonight’s opponents. They are the division’s top scorers with 38 goals and have only tasted defeat once on their own patch this season.
Dundee are the division’s in-form team. Gary Bowyer’s side have won each of their last six matches in all competitions and haven’t lost since going down 1-0 to Rangers in the League Cup on October 19. After a slow start to the season, the Dees’ recent form has seen them surge to within touching distance of the league leaders, and with a game in hand.
Dundee ran out 2-1 winners in the most recent meeting this season, with Paul McMullan scoring a Goal of the Month contender but the Honest Men were 3-1 winners in the last Somerset meeting at the end of August. It may only be December, but tonight’s match could go some way towards telling us which team is in the driving seat as the Championship title race hots up.
cinch League 1 – Kelty Hearts v Dunfermline Athletic (Saturday, 1.00pm)
Christmas Eve brings with it the prospect of a Fife derby at New Central Park, with Kelty Hearts gearing up to face league leaders Dunfermline Athletic.
Kelty have enjoyed something of a resurgence in recent weeks. They have come out on top in each of their last three games in all competitions – two wins in the league and a shoot-out victory over Linfield after a 1-1 draw in the SPFL Trust Trophy. Currently sitting in eighth place and within six points of the top four, John Potter’s men will be aiming to mount a challenge for the play-offs in the second half of the season. Former Pars Kallum Higginbotham and Joe Cardle will no doubt have a point to prove against their old club.
Dunfermline’s first half of the season has been near enough perfect, with James McPake’s side in pole position to return to the Championship at the first time of asking. The Pars sit four points clear at the top, with a game in hand on second-placed Edinburgh. While they haven’t been free scoring, the Pars’ success has been built on stability and rigidity at the back. Skipper Kyle Benedictus has marshalled his backline expertly, with Dunfermline’s defence shipping just 10 goals in 17 matches.
The visitors will no doubt be favourites heading into this one, having lost just once in League 1, at Montrose on October 22, but Kelty’s good form will give them hope of causing an upset.
cinch League 2 – Elgin City v Stirling Albion (Friday, 7.45pm)
It’s third against second at Borough Briggs under the lights on Friday night as both sides look to close the gap on leaders Dumbarton, who host East Fife on Christmas Eve.
Stirling are four points adrift of the Sons, with Elgin a further five points back. The Binos were flying in the autumn but have won just one of their last four league matches and haven’t played since the 3-1 defeat at Stranraer on December 3. City were in action the following weekend when they lost to Clyde on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the SPFL Trust Trophy.
It was 2-2 when the sides met at Forthbank in August but Elgin won the last Borough Briggs encounter 3-1 in February and have had the upper hand in this fixture in recent times. Gavin Price’s men have lost just one of their last 11 meetings against Stirling and that will give them confidence.
You’d expect a game with goals – Dale Carrick has netted 16 times in all competitions for Darren Young’s team while Kane Hester has rattled in 22 goals already for the Black & Whites.
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