Still all to play for in league

Four teams are still battling it out at the top of the Forth and Endrick League as the season nears its climax.

Seven points separate leaders Blanefield Thistle, Gargunnock, Balfron Rovers and Gartocharn but with games in hand, the latter three can still catch the Jags.

Tonight (Friday) Gargunnock host Gartocharn, with a win for both teams imperative if the want to stay in the title hunt.

There were no shocks last Friday or on Tuesday in the league.

Two league fixtures were played on Friday while Blanefield and Gartocharn fought for the MacGregor, Ferguson Cup – Thornhill v Gargunnock and Deanston v Drymen.

At Thornhill, the home side were on top in the opening exchanges without managing to take the lead and Gargunnock showed them how when Ally Brown broke away and scored by chipping the ball over the keeper.

Thornhill fought back but the visitors’ defence was in good form and a second goal was nicked when Graeme Balfour broke away and Brown put the finishing touches to the move.

Gargunnock were now on top but could not add to their score and 10 minutes from time one of Thornhill’s rarer attacks was rewarded when a Gargunnock player deflected a shot past his own keeper.

That ended the scoring and the win keeps Gargunnock in contention.

Drymen and Deanston agreed to their game counting for double points to take care of a previously postponed fixture.

The extra incentive seemed to work better for Drymen and they romped to a 4-0 win and six very welcome points.

It was back to league business on Tuesday for Blanefield but their hopes of retaining the lead seemed to be put on hold when their scheduled opposition Deanston, called off.

However, Deanston have conceded and Blanefield get the points and a notional 3-0 win

Gargunnock took the opportunity to keep the pressure on with a good 4-0 at home to Killearn.

Kyle Henderson put them ahead with the only goal of the first half. They were well on top after the interval and Alistair Petrie, Henderson and Mark Fox added three more for a 4-0 win.

Balfron moved into third place with a win in a high scoring match at Buchlyvie.

They went behind after four minutes when the host’s first attack won a corner and Steven Butler headed in a good goal.

The Balfron response was immediate and from the restart they won a corner and Ross MacKenzie headed in the equaliser.

In the next seven minutes Scott Ross and Kevin Meggat both scored to put Balfron 3-1 ahead.

Robert Kinloch pulled one back for the home side before the goals dried up in the first half.

A minute after the restart Meggat scored his second and with Balfron well on top Andy Pender, MacKenzie, Ross and Sam Greenock added four in the final quarter to give Balfron an 8-2 win.

In the other game Drymen added three points with a 2-0 win against Aberfoyle.

This week’s fixtures: Friday, July 25 League: Aberfoyle Rob Roy v Balfron Rovers (postponed); Gargunnock v Gartocharn; Killearn v Deanston; Thornhill v Drymen United.

Tuesday, July 31 - League: Aberfoyle Rob Roy v Buchlyvie United; Drymen United v Gartocharn; Gargunnock v Thornhill.