A Bedtime Quickie?

It's getting late and we really should be in bed with a cup of milky tea and a well thumbed copy of the Wee Red Book, but we simply had to tell you about the fixtures taking place across Scotland this evening. So, here's some pre-season action to keep you and the wife entertained just before you go to bed for some post match action, possibly.

Greenock Morton lost their latest friendly when they went down 2-1 at home to Hartlepool. Morton fielded four trailists for the game, but it was  Steven Masterton, recently signed from Clyde who got the consolation goal for the 'Ton. Some trivia for you: Morton played Hartlepool once before, back in 1922, right after the Greenock side won the Scottish Cup. The fixture had been arranged before the team beat Rangers in the final,  so right after the game, the team boarded a train - taking the Cup with them - to Hartlepool to play the game; it remains, to this day, the only time the Scottish Cup has left Scottish soil.

Dundee United may be having a torrid time over in Ireland, but back home the U19's are fairly sticking them away. A slender 7-0 victory away to Lossiemouth is showing the auld yins how you do it. Four-nil up at halftime, the final goal was scored by Scottish youth international - and the youngest ever player ever to score an SPL goal - David Goodwillie (stop sniggering at the back!). 

Not far up the road, Aberdeen sent their youngsters up to Scotland's fastest town, Nairn (think about it) while the seniors where away in Dundee drawing 0-0. The youngsters fared a little better, coming out 1-0 winners. While we're on the subject of Aberdeen, the club have announced the signing of former Celtic and Wolves left back Charlie Mulgrew. Charlie, a former Scotland U21 player, signs a two year deal. He'll be taking Alan Maybury's place at left back after the Irish international declined the offer of a new deal with the Dons. Dundee meanwhile sign another former Wolves player, Colin Cameron. Cameron is still contracted to MK Dons, but has signed a pre-contract agreement with the Dee's.

Forfar's pre-season continues as they beat Angus rivals Brechin City 3-1 at Station Park, Bryan Duell and Kevin McLeish getting the goals for the Loons. It was their first win under new manager Dick Campbell.

Upcoming fixtures include tomorrows games as Airdrie play Hamilton and Dunfermline take on Hearts (who also lost against Irish opposition, the Tynecastle side losing their first game under their new manager 6-5 on penalties to Glentoran). Up in the Highlands, Inverness Caley Thistle take on former Highland League foes Brora Rangers.

On Thursday Falkirk try and do what Morton couldn't do, i.e beat Hartlepool while Forfar hope to continue their winning ways when they take on a Hibernian select XI.

Looking even further ahead, another north-east derby takes place when Aberdeen travel up the coast to Peterhead on Friday, while Celtic travel all the way south to face one of their manager's former sides, Southampton.

Lastly, it looks like Rangers will be playing FBK Kaunus in the second qualifying round of the Champions League. The Lithuanians beat the Andorran champions Santa Coloma 4-1. The Brazillian striker Rafael Ledesma got two of the goals.

That's it for now. We'll bring you the outcome of the Raith Rovers against Hibernian fixture tomorrow; the lines to Methill seem to be down. Hopefully Hibernian can put the disappointment of their early European exit behind them and take out the frustration on lower-league cannon fodder. Or possibly not. Comments to the usual place, talk to you again tomorrow!