Gargunnock back on top
Two of the three games played in the Forth and Endrick League in the past week have kept things interesting at the top of the table.
While Buchylvie United registered only their third win of the season on Tuesday with a 4-3 victory over Aberfoyle, it wasn’t enough to ease them off bottom spot.
Instead, it was at the other end of the James D Bilsland-sponsored league where the action was.
On Friday Gargunnock regained the leadership over Blanefield Thistle with a comfortable 4-0 win in a derby match at Provost Park against Thornhill.
The visitors have hit some good form recently and that was reflected in the half-time score, a 1-0 lead to the Gunny, thanks to a goal from Steven Welsh.
In the second half Gargunnock were on top but found goals hard to come by until the visitors tired. Then Kyle Henderson, Ross Corry and Andy Bailey each put his name on the scoresheet to give their side a convincing 4-0 win and three points to take them a step closer to the title.
The next step was a stumble, however. On Tuesday they went to Gartocharn whose form has been sometimes variable. When they are good they can be very good and this was one of their better nights.
Dougie Wilson gave them an early lead with a hotly disputed penalty kick and before 20 minutes had gone they were two-up following a spot of hesitancy in the Gargunnock defence when Sean Edwards scored.
A two goal deficit hardly reflected Gargunnock’s contribution to the game but as the game progressed they found that their hosts were well organised and adept at protecting that lead. For the last hour Gargunnock did most of the attacking with no success while Gartocharn with much less of the ball managed to threaten the visitors’ goal on rare occasions with quick breaks. The score remained unchanged and the champers is still on ice.
Tonight (Friday) the Cameron Cup begins with two first round ties and the luck of the draw has brought together the four sides currently vying for the league title.
Pessimists will possibly feel that two quality sides must fall at the first hurdle. Others might take the view that the draw has given an opportunity for lesser lights to shine in the later stages. In any case, Balfron Rovers host Gargunnock and Blanefield Thistle are home to Gartocharn.
Two league matches have been rearranged at Killearn and Thornhill where Buchlyvie and Aberfoyle are the visitors.
There are three league matches on Tuesday which involve the four contenders for the title. Gargunnock have an opportunity to take revenge on Gartocharn knowing that a win would take them closer to their first championship since 1994. They will not find it easy because Gartocharn too are in a ‘must win’ situation.
Blanefield, with a game in hand, are at Aberfoyle and will be aware that this season the Rob Roy have taken points from Gartocharn and Balfron and given Gargunnock a big scare in a seven-goal thriller.
Balfron have four games to play starting with Killearn, their oldest adversaries. Results Friday, July 27 - League: Aberfoyle Rob Roy v Balfron Rovers (postponed); Gargunnock 4-0 Thornhill; Killearn v Deanston (match conceded as 3-0 win for Killearn). Tuesday, July 31 - League: Gartocharn 2-0 Gargunnock; Aberfoyle 3-4 Buchyvie United. Fixtures Friday, August 3 - Cameron Cup first round - Balfron Rovers v Gargunnock; Blanefield Thistle v Gartocharn. League - Killearn v Buchlyvie United; Thornhill v Drymen United. Tuesday, August 7: League - Aberfoyle Rob Roy v Blanefield Thistle; Balfron Rovers v Killearn; Gargunnock v Gartocharn.