Dismal weather plays havoc with junior card

After a fortnight of almost complete inactivity, hopes were high that today’s programme won’t be as badly hit, but yesterday was another black Friday leading to postponements galore.

And given the overnight forecast, plenty more are likely to bite the dust with pitch inspections the order of the day.

Broughty Athletic’s Macron Scottish Cup quarter-final tie at Darvel was subject to a precautionary inspection yesterday afternoon, but the game has already been called off as conditions were so bad.

It is now scheduled for next Saturday. Meanwhile the game of the day in the North Super League clash at Thomson Park between Lochee United and leaders Carnoustie is also a casualty.

Indeed, this division is the worst affected with all the games off including a hastily re-arranged one between Dundee North End and Forfar West End.

Still on are the two ties involving Courier Country sides – both local derbies – in the Thornton’s Property Cup.

At Craigie Park, East Craigie welcome Tayport and hoping to cause an upset.

The Shipbuilders are undefeated in the Premier League so shouldn’t be short of confidence when facing Super League opponents.

Tayport’s recent form has shown marked improvement, so this should be an engrossing contest. Craigie have a full squad available while Port are without the suspended Ryan Suttie.

In the other second round tie, Downfield meet tenants Harp and, although the Spiders will start favourites, previous encounters between the pair have been closely contested and this one should be no exception. Both sides will make late selections.

The two North Premier League games are also still on.

Violet welcome Blairgowrie to Glenesk and the Pansies have a score to settle after losing all three previous meetings this season, including a 5-1 reversal when the sides last met earlier in the month.

Pansies boss Andy Heggie will be without three players while Seff Mohammed is out with a fractured hand and Ryan Bannon is suspended. The second-placed visitors expect to have a full squad available.

Brechin Vics and Arbroath Vics meet at Victoria Park the fourth time this term with the visitors holding a 2-1 advantage.

The hosts are at full strength, while Arbroath have Mike Fotheringham and Sam Clark back from injury and suspension respectively as well as Struan Christie who was cup-tied last week, but Corey Gray is suspended.

North Region

Montrose Roselea’s visitors to Broomfield Park are Aberdeen East End.

Roselea will be without suspended pair Jo Reoch and Murray Soutar plus longterm casualties Lloyd Hester, Joe Aitken and Tom Dalgarno.

New striker Connor Yeats, signed from Shotz Amateurs, forward Stephen Greig and central defender Jordan Harrison are available.

South Super League

Second bottom Kennoway Star Hearts had suffered eight defeats on the bounce but their hopes of ending their run of poor form was dashed yesterday when their game away to promotion contenders Thornton Hibs was called off due to the weather.

South Premier League

Newburgh host title favourites Stoneyburn who, though trailing their second-place hosts by three points, have six games in hand!

Last time the pair met at East Shore Park, the sides shared 10 goals, but the Lothian side were 3-1 winners in their last meeting. Burgh’s Harry Galloway is suspended.

Kirkcaldy & Dysart are without four players for their home game with West Calder United. The missing men are Dylan Hunter, Konnor Lindsey, Ryan McGowan and Neil linton.

For their trip to Linlithgow Rose, Lochgelly Albert have both Andrew Stark and Sami Mitchell unavailable.

V Tech SMT Ltd Fife and Lothians Cup quarter-final

Lochore get a rare breather from their battle to beat the drop from the Super League by taking on South League Bo’ness United for a place in the last four of the Fife & Lothians. Greig Renton and Ben Rolland are out injured.