South Scene: latest from the pitch
THE South of Scotland league competition got under way on Saturday with six fixtures taking place across the region.
Champions Threave Rovers started their campaign to retain their crown with a home match at Meadow Park against Mid-Annandale who spoiled the party by taking a point from the contest.
The Lockerbie side opened the scoring after half an hours play through Nathan Muir with Andrew Donely pulling a goal back eight minutes later but it was the visitors who went in at the break in the lead when Robbie Dodds scored just on the half time whistle.
Chris Norval put Mid further ahead four minutes after the re-start and it took until eighteen minutes before the final whistle for Threave to find the net again when Sean Milligan put the Meadow Park side right back into the match.
Eight minutes from time Darren Kerr ensured a share of the points and the champions blushes with the equaliser but it was the visitors who took most of the credit from the match and almost pulled of an early season shock victory.
St Cuthbert Wanderers find themselves at the top of the league on goal difference after beating Abbey Vale at New Abbey by two goals to nil with Adam Johnstone bursting though the Vale rear guard in the eighteenth minute to give the Kirkcudbright side a half time lead. On the hour mark the visitors ensured the three points when Jack Nixon bundled the ball over the line on the hour mark
An Allen Murdoch goal at Lorimer Park separated Nithsdale Wanderers and Wigtown and Bladnoch while Newton Stewart and Heston Rovers shared the points in a six goal thriller at Blairmount Park with three of them coming straight from free kicks.
Dalbeattie Star had a very good victory over Stranraer by the odd goal in five at Islecroft with a double for Stranraer striker Angus Cochrane being cancelled out with goals from Jack Steel, Roman Soltys and Scott Milligan although the visitors played for half the match with ten players after Craig Bradley had been red-carded for using foul and abusive language.
The South of Scotland League Cup First Round ties are scheduled for this weekend with the Dalbeattie Star versus Crichton taking place on Friday night with a 7pm kick-off. This should be a close and entertaining cup tie with home advantage possibly being the deciding factor.
Threave Rovers travel along the A75 to play Newton Stewart at Blairmount Park and although the Castle Douglas side will start as favourites to progress to Round two Mid-Annandale showed in last Saturdays league match that Threave can be vulnerable at the back, a fact which will not have gone un-noticed by the Creesiders. St Cuthbert Wanderers will host the winning side at St Marys Park on Saturday 14th August.
Abbey Vale and Heston meet at New Abbey for a match that looks like it could go either way but again home advantage may play a part in the final result with the same applying to the contest at Lockerbie where Mid-Annandale host Creetown. With Cassencarrie Park still not able to be used Creetown have given up home advantage and this will give Mids the edge to progress where the winning side will meet the winners of the Wigtown and Bladnoch versus Fleet Star first round match the following Saturday.
Stranraer and Nithsdale Wanderers will meet at Stair Park in a South of Scotland league match. There is a full programme of league matches scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, August 11 with champions Threave playing Crichton in the Castle Douglas sides third successive home match.
This could well be a very exciting and entertaining match with plenty of goals for the spectators with both sides knowing the road to goal but the home side will be keen to put points on the board in an effort to retain their title.
Dalbeattie Star travel the short distance to New Abbey to play Abbey Vale while St Cuthbert Wanderers play hosts to Wigtown and Bladnoch at St Marys Park, Kirkcudbright.
Stranraer entertain Creetown at Stair Park and the match at Sanquhar where Nithsdale Wanderers play Mid-Annandale looks likely to be a close run contest with a share of the points being a distinct possibility. Another close match could be at Gatehouse where Fleet Star host Newton Stewart.
With both sides looking to prove that they have improved since last time around this is another match that could go either way.
Fixtures for Friday, Aug 6; Kick-off at 7pm
League Cup R1; Dalbeattie Star v Crichton
Saturday, August 7; 3pm
League Cup R1; Newton Stewart v Threave Rovers, Abbey Vale v Heston Rovers, Creetown v Mid-Annandale (Played at Lockerbie), Wigtown and Bladnoch v Fleet Star, South of Scotland League; Stranraer v Nithsdale Wanderers
Wednesday, August 11; 7pm unless otherwise stated.
South of Scotland League; Abbey Vale v Dalbeattie Star, Fleet Star v Newton Stewart, Nithsdale Wanderers v Mid-Annandale, St Cuthbert Wanderers v Wigtown and Bladnoch (7.30pm), Stranraer v Creetown (7.30pm), Threave Rovers v Crichton (7.30pm)South of Scotland League
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Weather for Newton Stewart
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South
