Craigindreamland withchampsDarvel
Craig Moore could have thought his title-winning days were over when injury threatened to end his career.
But the former Motherwell and Ayr United striker has bounced back to help Darvel become the first ever winners of the West of Scotland League.
Now the ambitious Recreation Park club are on the cusp of winning a place in the Lowland League, the next step up the football pyramid.
Darvel face a three way play-off against the winners of the South and East of Scotland Leagues. Whoever tops the mini-league will be promoted.
Dates: May 21: Tranent or Penicuik v St Cuthbert Wanderers; May 25: St Cuthbert v Darvel; May 28: Darvel v Tranent or Penicuik.
Moore, 27, twice helped Ayr to promotion and scored 52 goals in 86 starts despite his time at Somerset Park being cruelly blighted by injuries.
He has slowly fought back to fitness and played the 90 minutes in Darvel’s 5-1 win over Shotts a week ago. That prompted boss Michael Kennedy to tweet: “It’s been a tough journey but I never doubted he would return.
“We have seen his undoubted qualities, what a guy and what a player. We are blessed to have him at the club and I’m sure he will score many goals in the years to come.”
Moore replied:“You and the club have been brilliant with me, can’t ask for any more.
“Plenty to give back, onwards and upwards.”
The experienced player got a run off the bench as Darvel wrapped up the title with a 3-2 win over Kilwinning on Saturday thanks to goals from Creag Little, Jordan Kilpatrick and Andy Stirling. Buffs stayed in the game with Lewis Gardiner and Jack McMahon on target.
AUCHINLECK boss Tommy Sloan bemoaned a run of draws for costing them the title after they threw away a long-held lead.
He said:“I felt it went away from us when we drew two or three games on the trot.
“We handed Darvel the initiative but you have to give them a lot of credit – they dug out results when they had to and we haven’t quite managed to do that.
“We had it in our own hands but we weren’t quite good enough in the end.”
Second-top Talbot close their league season at Cumbernauld on Saturday. After that, they have two big cup finals – against SPFL hopefuls Bonnyrigg in the South Challenge Cup at the Falkirk Stadium on Sunday, May 22 (3pm kick-off ).
Then follows their bid for a 14th Scottish Junior Cup against Yoker in the final at Rugby Park on Saturday, June 4 (kick-off 4.10pm).
Talbot’s challenge for the
West title ended with a 1-0 home defeat by Rob Roy last Wednesday when they fell to a Chris Love header from a corner.
They bounced back to beat Glenafton 1-0 on Saturday thanks to an 88th-minute winner from Gareth Armstrong.
GLENAFTON face a gruelling five games in 18 days as they try to secure their place in the Premier for next season.
They travel to Largs tonight before finishing against Beith (home), Blantyre (home), Irvine Meadow (home) and Cumbernauld (away).
Bosses Ryan Stevenson and Mark Roberts, who have made a huge impact since taking over, have been rewarded with two-year contracts.
Roberts said:“For long periods I thought we were the better team against Talbot. It’s disappointing but we’ve got five games left to save the season.”
TROON ended their season with a 2-1 home defeat by Irvine Meadow but with Premier football assured for next season.
Trailing to a Connor Boyd goal at the break, they missed a penalty before Jamie Martin doubled Meadow’s lead with a header.
Sam Jamieson pulled a goal back, but Troon ended on a low note when Tommy Maitland saw red for a last-man foul on Callum Graham.
The club will hold their player of the year awards night in the Portland Park Social Club on Saturday, June 4.
CUMNOCK striker Jordan Moore bagged a hat-trick as the Townhead team signed off with a 3-3 draw at Cumbernauld.
WHITLETTS captain Jordan Boyd won the player of the year and top goalscorer award at the club’s presentation night in the Abbotsford Hotel.
Players’player of year: Isaac Kerr; Sam Galloway Trophy (most man-ofmatch awards): Callum Ogston; young player of year: Connor Yair; goal of season: Louis Kerr; Brian Darroch award: Gavin Brown.
MUIRKIRK close in Conference A at home to second-top Shotts after running undefeated leaders Arthurlie close in a 3-2 home defeat. Nathan Gordon and John Hetherton got the‘Kirk goals.