Make or break for teams in first stage of League Cup

The final games in the first stage of the Thorntons Property League Cup take place this weekend and both will have an impact on who wins the section.

All three teams in Section C could still top the group as Lochee Harp face Downfield at Downfield Park and an abacus is needed to do the calculations.

At present, Tayport are top on goals scored from Downfield with Harp in third.

If Downfield win then they will top the section, however if Harp win 1, 2 or 3-0 then Tayport would win the group but… if Harp win 4-0, they will top the group.

Paul Marr expects to have a full squad available for the game apart from suspended Jordan Colquhoun, while Harp manager Michael Gormley should have a similar squad as were well beaten by Dundee North End last time out.

Section D is close with Forfar West End topping the group but Kirriemuir Thistle will go above them should they beat Brechin Vics by two clear goals or more, while any other result will see West End remain top and win the section.

Kirrie boss Chris Kettles welcomes back Sam King, Ryan Winter and Dale Reid to his squad but will be without Kevin Mcnaughton and Darren Scott.

The visitors have an almost full squad with Adam Davidson back in contention, but manager Iain Ross will leave his selection late.

Broughty Athletic play their final game on grass at Whitton Park this weekend with work scheduled to start on a new 3G pitch next week.

The Super League game sees thirdplaced Broughty take on fourth-placed Thornton Hibs in the region’s match of the day.

Broughty’s title hopes were dealt a blow last weekend at Tayport but Jamie Mccunnie won’t be panicked into changes and has the same squad available.

Carnoustie manager Phil Mcguire expects to have the same squad available for the game against Kennoway Star Hearts at Laing Park.

Lochee United travel to take on Fauldhouse United at Park View.

United were comfortable 5-0 winners earlier in the season at Thomson Park and manager George Shields will be looking for the same kind of performance levels.

The players could be forgiven for having one eye on the Scottish Junior Cup semi-final clash with Auchinleck Talbot, however that is at the back of Shields’ mind as he plots his side’s way to the Super League title.

Shields will include a trialist goalkeeper in his squad, and is boosted by the return of Bryan Deasley, Danny Millar and James Thomson from injury.

Forfar West End manager Daryl Mckenzie will be wanting an improvement on his side’s performance at Carnoustie last weekend as they welcome Tayport to Strathmore Park.

Davidraemadehisreturnfrominjury at Laing Park and he keeps his place in a squad of 18 that includes Callum Walls, Craig Batchelor and Mckenzie himself, who all missed last weekend’s defeat.

Mckenzie’s side are on a run of three straight Super League defeats and want to put an end to that run as soon as possible.

Tayport travel north on a high after last weekend’s 3-2 win that put a dent in Broughty Athletic’s title chances.

Josh Chalmers joins long- term casualties Struan Christie and Connor Ireland on the sidelines but Port boss Stevie Kay welcomes back Jamie Mackie, Chris Liversedge, Craig Sturrock, Grant Paterson and Connor Gray.

East Craigie still hold out hopes of a promotion spot and their Premier League North credentials will face a major test this weekend as they entertain Luncarty at Craigie Park.

The two sides drew 1-1 when they met in Perthshire earlier in the season and the only absentee for the Dundee side will be long-term injured Scott Brannan.

Violet host Coupar Angus and Pansies boss John Dunn is hoping his side can put an end to a poor run of form against the league’s bottom side.

Dunn is able to welcome back Cammy Black and Gavin Burns, while Jimmy Henderson, Gary Wallace and Andy Patullo are all doubtful.

Coupar Angus will be without Rhys Nellies who is suspended but their squad is boosted to 17 with the addition of a number of trialists.

It doesn’t get much tougher for Forfar Albion than a visit from North End.

Albion were unlucky to go down 2-1 at Scone Thistle last weekend. Manager Steven Stewart is boosted by the return of Joe Mangel although Robbie Gallacher is injured.

The Dokens travel with confidence high after last week’s 7-0 win against in-form Lochee Harp at Downfield Park.

With a host of attacking options to choose from, manager Ross Lunan has the tough task of keeping everybody happy and ready for the title run-in.

Lunan takes a full squad to Guthrie Park although he is expected to keep the line-up that won at Harp.

Arbroath Vics will be without goalkeeper Arron Lyall, who has two broken fingers, for the trip to Scone so will have to call on the services of a trialist but otherwise will have the same squad that scared North End two weeks ago.