Vics gain two and lose two as North End come calling

Arbroath Vics are able to welcome back Barry Gourlay and Lee Jones as they face a tough game at home to North End.

However, as Vics welcome back two players, two more are missing with Scott Donald on holiday and Charlie Wilson working.

Dokens boss Ross Lunan will be hoping that he is able to name one of the players that missed last week’s win over Forfar Albion.

Blairgowrie are aiming to maintain their challenge to the top two as they face Lochee Harp at home.

The Berrypickers won 4-1 at Lochore as Harp were going down 2-1 at home to Violet.

Harp’s task is not made any easier by the absence of both Mark Kelly and Jonathan Smart after they were both sent off last weekend. Harp boss Michael Gourlay is also without James Cochrane and Josh Perera.

Second-placed Luncarty will fancy their chances as they visit Coupar Angus this weekend.

The Perth side were 3-0 winners in a derby against Scone Thistle last week but manager Jonny Kelly’s task isn’t helped by missing eight players.

Long-term injured Dale Smart, Nathan Kennedy and Andy Kirkcaldy are joined on the sidelines by Stuart Nicol and Darren Kelly while Richard Doig and Callum Kirkcaldy are on holiday and Steven Mcallister is working.

Brechin Vics face a tough afternoon as they travel to face leaders Violet.

Vics have shown definite signs of progress under Phil Mcguire but the former St Andrews United manager is faced with selection dilemmas once more. Violet are missing Johnny Mcbride, who is on holiday, while Ross Mccleary is injured.

The bottom two, Forfar Albion and Newburgh, face each other at Guthrie Park.

Despite bringing in a number of players, Newburgh boss Alan Fortune has only managed to oversee one victory – a 3-0 win over Lochee Harp at the beginning of August – but he will be confident of a second win against the league’s whipping boys who have conceded 29 goals in five games.

Inconsistency is the problem at East Craigie. Last week they could only draw at Arbroath Vics after knocking Super League Broughty Athletic out of the East of Scotland Cup.

This week East Craigie face Kinnoull at Tulloch Park. The Dundee men are without Gary Welsh, who is working, while Kinnoull expect to have 18 available but also hope to add a fresh face to the squad before the game.

Scone Thistle face Lochore Welfare in a mid-table clash at Farquharson Park.

Both sides suffered defeats last weekend.

Lochore boss Andy Healy is without Ethan Anderson, Liam Valentine and Aaron Wood but he is able to welcome back Davie Byrne, Ewan Robertson and Scott Warrender.