Meigle take second spot after slip by Gordonians

With the title and relegation issues settled, there was no way that the Strathmore and Perthshire NEC was going to end with a bang.

However, as has so often been the case this season, the weather ensured that the final day was more of a damp squib.

The match between Arbroath and Dundee HSFP never got started and titlewinners Stoneywood Dyce got to 73 for two, with Liam Lindsay unbeaten on 44, against Strathmore until the weather put a stop to that.

The one change that was of some interest was the second slot finally claimed by Meigle who overtook Gordonians in the final stretch.

It looked as though Meigle were up against it at Doo’cot Park when they slumped to 120 all out with only Alan Neave’s 44 getting on top of the home bowling.

Ivor Patterson took four for 14 and Steven Boyd three 22 for the Perth side but they fared even less effectively with the bat, all back in the pavilion for 72.

Jack McCreanor was the only one to put up any resistance to Neave, who took four 14, and Matt Farmer who claimed four for 23.

As a result, Gordonians slip to third spot in the final tally after chasing a Mannofield total of 223.

They were cruising to that target until Craig Knight took a hand, claiming five wickets including a hat-trick.

Kinloch suffered a fate which has become all too familiar for them this season.

Only Arun Trevidi hung around when the home side batted with 29 out of a total of 93 and, although Sohail Ahmed took two wickets, those were all visitors Forfarshire II lost in passing the target.

It will all come to a head next week when Stoneywood Dyce look likely to face Corstorphine for the big promotion spot.

At the other end, bottom club Kinloch’s fate is still to be decided and will depend on the success of Stoneywood Dyce in the play-off on the one hand and whether or not any promotion is effected from Strathmore and Perthshire Division 1 on the other.