Scone welcome back key quartet for crunch clash against Dokens

There is a top-of-the-table North League clash at Scone Thistle with third-placed North End paying a visit to the Perthshire outfit.

Andy McKenzie, Willie Laing, Ben Moffat and Max Avolio all return for Thistle, but Craig Mitchell remains sidelined.

Dokens boss Ross Lunan names the same squad that defeated Harp last week, which means Michael Stewart is still missing.

With Luncarty hosting bottom side Forfar Albion, the Bleachers are very much odds on to maintain their league leaders status.

However, player-manager Jon Kelly is unlikely to have recovered from injury in time to face the Guthrie Park side.

East Craigie and Harp meet at Craigie Park and it points to being a tight encounter.

Craigie have a full squad available and are unlikely to make many changes from the side that ran Newtongrange close last week. Harp are without Mark Kelly, while Gordon Ramsay is struggling.

All six of Blairgowrie’s absentees last week are available for the visit of Newburgh. However, Ian Plenderleith is unavailable.

Given they had shipped 17 goals in their previous three league games, Newburgh will travel with greater confidence after last week’s narrow cup exit at Crossgates.

But they also have problems at the other end, having scored only once in five outings and are without the suspended Joshua Wilson.

Arbroath Vics are at home to Kinnoull. Due to personnel problems, both sides will make late selections.

With three straight wins under their belt, Lochore Welfare have a full squad for the visit of Brechin Vics. The same can’t be said of the visitors, who will make a late selection due to a lengthy injury list.

South League

‘A must-win local derby’ is how Lochgelly secretary Ian Patrick describes their home clash with Kirkcaldy YM today.

Although strong favourites to collect three points from the league’s bottom club, they are without John Duffy, Iain Millar and Douglas Swan.

Meanwhile Joe Kirby, Ricki Cooper and Steven Page are all expected to have recovered from knocks sustained last week and Craig Bateson is fit again.

YM are without the suspended Greg Jarrett.

Rosyth hope to recover from last week’s 6-1 mauling at Pumpherston’s hands away to Easthouses Lily.

Their prospects aren’t enhanced by both Quinn Franklin and Stan Chitemere being banned and Gavin McCann being unavailable.

Crossgates Primrose face a tough trip to second-placed Edinburgh United. The Humbug outfit are without the suspended Andy McDonald.

Montrose Roselea

After last week’s shock Scottish Cup exit to Coupar Angus, Montrose Roselea are at home to Newburgh Thistle in a six-point encounter impacting on the wrong end of the table.

Lea hopes aren’t helped by player-boss James Collier missing out through injury, while Callum Rae and Joe Aitken are rated very doubtful and could possibly join Jack Dalgarno and Lloyd Hester on the sidelines.

Kelty Hearts

The Kelty Hearts bandwagon rolls on with a visit to Tweedmouth where they hope to make it nine wins out of nine in the East of Scotland League.

Tam Courts’ side average a little under eight goals a game, so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem against bottom-of-the-table hosts who are without a point from their nine outings.