Junior Football round-up Shotts nab a vital point from leaders Gartcairn
GARTCAIRN .............................................. 1 SHOTTS BON ACCORD ............................ 1
Shotts Bon Accord boss John Mckeown admits his side performed a‘smash-and-grab’on leaders Gartcairn on Saturday.
A 1-1 draw at MTC Park moved secondplaced Shotts a point further away from idle Ardrossan Winton Rovers in third – and with a game in hand – as they stayed three points behind their opponents.
Michael Collinder scored the opening goal for Shotts in 38 minutes when a setpiece was spilled by Gartcairn keeper KP Mcallister, and the forward was on hand to net.
However, Gartcairn levelled through Ryan Donnelly in 44 minutes.
Mckeown says his side were fortunate to go in level at the interval, and was pleased in the end to emerge with a point.
He said: “We were poor, we didn’t really deserve to win, so it was a good point.
“Conditions affected the game, the pitch was rock solid. Fair play to Gartcairn for getting the game out on, surprised that it was played.
“Both teams struggled to play attractive football, though they adapted to it better than us, and will probably feel that they should have won.
“It was a point that we probably didn’t deserve, but we’ll take it.
“Our goal was a set-piece, the goalkeeper spilled it, and it was one of those scrappy goals.”
Shotts are back on the road again this weekend as they travel to Ayrshire to clash with a Maybole side that is second-bottom of the table, having taken 12 points from 19 games.
Mckeown expects a tough encounter and doesn’t have problems to seek with regards to injuries.
He said: “We have four or five players still out just now, but we want to try and get a wee cushion and stay as close to Gartcairn as we can, as we go for the title.”
Four other Lanarkshire League One clubs weren’t as fortunate, with games falling on Saturday like toy soldiers, due but
Iwas to pitches that were either frozen solid, covered in snow, or waterlogged.
Bellshill’s visit to Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Blantyre’s home game against Lugar Boswell Thistle and Wishaw’s game at Shettleston were all called off.
Royal Albert’s game at home to Maybole also fell foul of the winter weather, leaving boss Jamie Nesbitt cooling his heels.
He said: “The pitch was in a bad way after the defeat to Yoker and, with the frost setting in, we knew the game was in doubt early in the week.
“We don’t have an issue with fixtures, the rain has affected the pitch after the pre-season efforts of South Lanarkshire Council.”
Eleventh-placed Albert travel on Saturday to a Shettleston side that are two places below, but just a point behind, and with a game in hand.
Jamie said: “Greenfield Park is a place I’ve always liked to visit – it’s a proper junior ground.
“Both teams looked evenly-matched a few weeks ago in our home fixture, so we will be looking forward to the same again.”
Meanwhile, Royal Albert have parted company with striker Greg Fernie, and are looking to bring in a replacement.
This weekend, Larkhall Thistle face a Whitletts Vics side that sit 34 points above them in the Mcbookie.com Championship table, but having played five more games.
Jags will still be looking for their first league win of the season in 18 attempts.
Bellshill travel to near neighbours East Kilbride Thistle and Blantyre Vics are at Maryhill, while Wishaw host Glasgow Perthshire.
All games are at 2pm.