Wishaw woefor cupexit
Wishaw Juniors cup dreams were ended in the replay against Culter.
Following the draw at The Beltane, Kieran McGuinness’ side made the trip to Aberdeenshire but crashed out with a 4-2 defeat. Goals from Anthony Maguire and Aaron O’Hare weren’t enough to secure the tie with Rossvale in the next round.
Carluke Rovers lost out to Shettleston in a bad-tempered game against Shettleston.
Graham saw red for the visitors before they too the lead as Danny Irvine stepped up to fire a high swirling lob which landed on top of the keeper,into a strong wind the keeper fumbled and the ball nestled high in the corner.
On 39 mins Carluke where reduced to 10 when Weir collided with Howat with a crunching tackle on the touchline.
After the break they went 2-0 down almost immediately, before Rovers got a lifeline after 56 mins when a defensive mixup allowed Stuart Mitchell to lob the keeper.
Ross Barclay made it three after he found space in the six-yard box, before Donaghy headed in from a corner. However, Rovers went down to nine with a second yellow for Larkin.
Shotts Bon Accord’s clash with Irvine Victoria andNewmains tie with Forth were called off due to waterlogged pitches. Caledonian Braves captain Ross McNeil believes has urged SPFL bosses to let more Lowland League sides play for a chance in League Two.
The skipper believes that The Braves aren’t far behind the current pack of promotion chasers – and that League Two football may arrive at Alliance Park in the not too distant future.
However, the Strathclyde Park based side would have to overcome the likes of big-spending Kelty Hearts and ambitious league leaders Bonyrigg Rose.
Following the promotion of Cove Rangers via the play-off win over Berwick from the Highland League, striker McNeil thinks changes should be made to the current system.
The 27-year-old said: “It’s my fourth year in the Lowland League, and when I first came into the division it was really just East Kilbride and East Stirling going for the title.
“You look at it now and Kelty Hearts, Bonryigg, East Kilbride, East Stirling, BSC Glasgow, Civil Service Strollers. they will all want to be going for that promotion place.
“There is at least seven teams who will fancy their chances of going top of the division, some who have big budgets.
“It’s a much more competitive league with a much higher quality of player. People want to come and play in the Lowland League now.
“Teams in the leagues are now looking over their shoulder at the Lowland League and Highland League.
“Look at Cove. They have just went up and are running away with League Two. Teams like Berwick and Cowdenbeath had been around the bottom of League Two for years.
“In my view it’s only fair that they have to fight for their place. There are plenty of ambitious clubs who want to come into the league and do what Cove have done.
“It’s set up just now so that only one goes up, and the two champions have to play against each other, which doesn’t seem fair.
“Just now Kelty and East Kilbride and some of the Highland League teams are ready. Hopefully we can go close this season and keep building, and we’ll be up there in the next few years.”
Braves are currently above reigning champions East Kilbride in the Lowland League after their win over promotion hopefuls Spartans, however they sit nine points behind leaders Bonyrigg.
McNeil believes his side are making an impact on the Lowland League and will only continue to improve under the guidance of boss Ricky Waddell, assistant Colin Cameron and chairman Chris Ewing. “Getting the win over Spartans in the league was really important for us,” said the forward. “We have been going through a bit of a up and down period. Conceding five at home in the draw with Dalbeattie wasn’t good enough, so we’ve been disappointed in some ways. “In the games against Kelty, BSC Glasgow, and Bonyrigg we could have done better. We could have played better against the bigger teams at times, and we haven’t really done ourselves any favours. “It’s a decent start though. We set targets at the start of the season in the changing room and we are on track, so overall we are happy.” He went on: “At this point it’s important for us to get as many points as possible and finish as high as we can. “Some teams have to deal with a lot of pressure to stay at the top of the division, but that isn’t really on us here because we haven’t spent as much money as them.
“It’s about momentum for us. We want to lay down a marker, do well in the cup competitions, and let people know we are here and what we are about.
“The gaffer has a vision, Colin [Cameron] has a vision, and Chris [Ewing] has the ambition.
“We have put down a bit of a marker down this season with wins over East Kilbride and Spartans, but it’s consistency that we are looking for.
“We want to be getting to finals and competing for the promotion place, that’s the ambition of the players, manager and the team.”
Lowland Focus
Currently only one team from the Highland League and Lowland League have the chance to earn promotion to the SPFL. The winners of the of the both titles face each other in a two-legged game, before they clash with the team who are bottom of League Two – known as Club 42.
Through the current format, which was introduced in the 2014-15 season, promotion for the non-league sides has only been achieved twice.
Former Lowland League champions Edinburgh City earned promotion through the pyramid system back in 2016 as they sent East Stirling out of the leagues. Last season Cove Rangers became the first Highland League outfit to earn