Des McKeown the one time Celtic youth but eventually lower league ‘journeyman’ footballer turned journalist tried to make the most the current International interlude and lack of ‘real’ football with his column in the Current Bun today by elevating what football we had on offer to some sort of ‘must watch’ and ‘really interesting’ extravaganza. His piece in the Red Top today entitled ‘GAME ON!’ with a sub title of ‘Nothing at stake, are you kidding?’ tried to make a big deal of what was left and to fair to him for those of us who don’t need Premier League connections to float our boat he had a point. He highlighted Hibs, Falkirk, the Championship play-off permutations, the Irn Bru Final, the First division race and eventually reached Clyde, Cowden and a mention of ‘the trap door no open’. I don’t know why Edinburgh City didn’t raise a mention from the bold Des but maybe he knows something your blogger doesn’t – the Meadowbank side are safely ensconced in the ‘big time’.
The highlight of my weekend despite whatever Scotland manage to produce tomorrow evening happened at around five past four this afternoon. With Irene, Murray and his bike somewhere between Middlesbrough and London at around four o’clock I poured myself a large glass or Rose and sat outside in the sun on our back garden decking. I’d hoped to get down to Meadowbank with Robert for the City/Elgin game but Dylan’s 12th Birthday Party and Edinburgh Combat Challenge at Elginhaugh Farm followed by grub for the kids at the new Roadhouse of the same name (without the ‘Farm’) next to it took a bit longer than I’d hoped and after the ‘party’ the wee man and his dad just headed for home. Sitting in the sun in my back garden and sipping my wine I searched for BBC Sport, Football Live Scores and my first port of call was Ladbrokes Scottish League Two. ‘Ya beauty’ 2-0 up with two goals from ‘big foot’ Gair really made my day and had me wishing I’d made it down to the concrete lavvy pan.
City aren’t one hundred percent safe yet but today’s 3-0 result against promotion hopefuls Elgin goes a long way to keeping the newcomers in the ‘big time’. And it isn’t lost on your blogger that the goal scorers (Jordan Caddow added to Dougie’s double) plied their trades in East of Scotland and Lowland League football before making the real ‘senior’ game. Elgin had three comprehensive wins against the newcomers to their credit before today but without their best (injured) player and with a (no doubt) inflated perception of their ability your Blogger and Ross Mac were both quietly confident when we discussed the game at the Oriam yesterday. Thinking what could happen and the players actually executing your thoughts can often be miles apart but not today. Very well done City.
Back in the ‘real’ world Preston were ‘horsed’ as expected by Cumbernauld on Friday evening. At the other end of the table Cunningham’s Civil put the Kilbride champagne on ice today by getting a creditable draw at home to Kilby while The Shire scored four and picked up all the points at Albert Park. Spartans dropping two points at home to Gala was as disappointing for the home side as it was a lift for Noble’s troops and the bronze medal looks like the best Sammy and his players can achieve this season. Down the Solway way visitors Edinburgh Uni and The Souters came up with two great away wins against The Star and 2008 which is more than disappointing for both Border clubs.
That leaves my two most recent clubs. At home, if you can call it that, the improved Stirling students would have been favourite against The Village People and while The Vale facing the unpredictable BSC was more in the balance I had high hopes for my two teams of choice. Any pleasure and solace I took from the half-time score from Meadowbank was totally destroyed when I checked the latest Lowland League results and saw Whitehill were three down and The Vale only one goal better off. Disappointing doesn’t come close to describing how I felt at the time and even more when I saw the final results. Seeing Jay Stevens had continued on his goal trail although pleasing had no chance in raising my footballing spirits.
That’ll do for now. Very well done City while Spartans are missing something and The Vale and Whitehill are missing a lot more. One highlight has to be very good to eclipse three of the lower variety. This afternoon City just did that.
mickeylawson 