King missing trio for visit of Fauldhouse

Super League

Tayport welcome Fauldhouse today and boss Charlie King will be looking for his side to bounce back from last week’s defeat at Carnoustie.

King, however, is without Kieran Conway and Conor Gray through injury while Craig Sturrock is on holiday.

Forfar West End host Glenrothes after an excellent cup win at Violet.

Last week the Glens were seriously short-handed but battled bravely before losing to Broughty by the odd goal.

With four or five of last week’s missing half-a-dozen back, the Fifers are in far better shape for the trip to Strathmore Park.

Both Thornton Hibs and Kirriemuir Thistle, who meet at Memorial Park, are keen to bank three points to improve their league positions.

However, Thistle have five missing and boss Chris Kettles intends including a trialist in his squad.

Treaton Park stages a basement battle between the bottom sides Kennoway Star Hearts and Whitburn.

With no game last week, Hearts’ only injuries are long-term pair Nicky McGowan and Davie Cunningham, but Mark Partridge is unavailable.

Downfield face the daunting task of becoming the first side to halt Lochee United’s 100% record in their Thomson Park clash.

Bluebells boss George Shields has six out injured – Kevin Buchan, Scott McComiskie, Alan Tulleth, Scott Webster, Bryan Deasley and Craig Smith.

No such problems for the Spiders who have a full squad as they look for a third consecutive win.

The other side with an unblemished record are Broughty Athletic but Carnoustie at Laing Park will be a challenge.

North League

Luncarty made a statement of their intentions this term by defeating league leaders East Craigie in the DJ Laing Cup, so will face Blairgowrie in confident mood.

Not surprisingly, the Bleachers are likely to be on the same lines as last week, while injury-hit Blair are missing Gary Axworthy, Drew Maddock-Jones, Gordon Norrie, Darren Neave and Robbie Hood.

Harp and Scone Thistle are level on points, so their meeting at Downfield Park looks like being too close to call.

Boss Derek Lawson is still without the injured pair of Martin Strachan and Arron McKay as well as John Bonar, who is on holiday.

Brechin Vics will be looking to make it a hat-trick of victories after their two recent big wins when they entertain pointless Coupar Angus.

As he tries to turn things around, Coupar Angus boss Tom Stevenson intends including a few trialists.

For their trip to Forfar Albion, Kinnoull have a few players nursing injuries and boss Alan Cameron hopes to have a squad of 16 or 17 but that won’t include Joe Kinnon, who has a broken finger.

But that shouldn’t prevent the Perth men collecting three points against one of three sides yet to get off the mark.

Following Mark Caldwell’s departure, Alex Ross and Angus Gallacher have been entrusted with trying to revive Albion’s fortunes.

South League

As they prepare to take on Kirkcaldy YM at Crosshill, Lochore Welfare boss Andy Healy is in the midst of the worst injury crisis he can recall in his 15 years as manager.

No less than 10 players – Todd Arthur, Kearyn Hicks, David Byrne, Wes Kirkwood, Scott Small, Jamie McNeish, Ewan Sutherland, Murray Fraser, Sean Johnstone and Ewan Robertson – are unavailable.

YM, who are going great guns, have no such problems with Callum Geddes and Lewis Ross available again, although Kieran Hay is out injured.

Though Newburgh lost at Harthill last week, Newburgh boss Scott Hudson was pleased with their second-half showing in the 2-1 cup defeat.

They will need to transport that into 90 minutes at Pumpherston who have a 100% record this term after being champions last term.

Last week’s 12-1 thrashing of Coupar Angus was Rosyth’s first win of the season and now they’ll want to break their league duck from their home derby encounter with Lochgelly Albert.

With Craig Anderson and Mark Higgins back in the squad, Scott Gillfillan is Recs’ only absentee.

Albert had no game last week but lost 3-0 at Kirkcaldy last time out, so will be hoping they can bounce back.

DJ Laing East Region Cup – The

draw for the third round is:

Harthill Royal v Forfar West End, Pumpherston v Luncarty, Forfar Albion or Kinnoull or Scone Thistle v Brechin Vics, Broughty Ath v West Calder Utd, Kennoway Star Hearts or Downfield v Rosyth, Lochee Utd v Carnoustie Panmure, Kirkcaldy YM v Dundee North End or Lochgelly Albert, Livingston Utd v Kirrie Thistle. Dates for the ties have still to be arranged.

Today’s fixtures (all kick-offs 2.30pm) – McBookie.com East Super League – Carnoustie Panmure v Broughty Athletic, Forfar West End v Glenrothes, Kennoway Star Hearts v Whitburn, Lochee United v Downfield, Tayport v Fauldhouse United, Thornton Hibs v Kirrie Thistle.

McBookie.com Premier League North – Brechin Vics v Coupar Angus, East Craigie v North End, Violet v Arbroath Vics, Forfar Albion v Kinnoull, Lochee Harp v Scone Thistle, Luncarty v Blairgowrie.

McBookie.com Premier League South – Armadale Thistle v West Calder United, Harthill Royal v Bathgate Thistle, Livingston United v Stoneyburn Juniors, Lochore Welfare v Kirkcaldy YM, Pumpherston Juniors v Newburgh, Rosyth v Lochgelly Albert.