Match Day : The Weekends Action In Scotland - 23rd August

Another exciting day of football in Scotland comes to a close.

A quick glance at the results tells us that Hamilton messed up a chance to go top of the SPL, while St. Mirren defy the odds and score a goal (but still lose). Dundee remain top of Division One and the pain continues for St. Johnstone as another four goals are added to their 'GA' column. Down in the Second,  Alloa and Stirling are still looking for their first win of the season, and in the Third, the Blue Brazil take pole position as Albion Rovers lose their title as 'no pointers' as they beat Berwick and move off the bottom of the table. And Fort William take to the field again up in the Highland League; will they finally win a game?

Scottish Premier League

It's everything back to normal in the SPL as Celtic sit proudly atop the table (thanks to goal difference) after they tanked Falkirk (3:0). Goals from Georgios Samaras and Stephen McManus had them dancing in the aisles at a packed Parkhead. All in all, good preparation for next weekends first Old Firm game of the season. It was not all good news though as Scott McDonald will be out with a groin injury. Hearts managed to get a win against St. Mirren (2:1) even though the Saints played with 10 men for most of the game. Spanish summer signing Tonet was sent off on the half-hour for a tackle that would have won him a Judo gold medal in Peking. Jamie Mole opened the scoring for Hearts, Billy Mehmet equalised on 70 minutes and when Miranda pulled back Andy Driver in the box, Michael Stewart was on hand to convert the penalty. Hamilton slipped down to fourth place as they lose away to Kilmarnock (1:0). Manuel Pascali headed in a Mehdi Taouil cross on half-time. Hamilton played well throughout and where unlucky not to get more out of the game. They didn't help their cause when David Graham was sent off towards the end of the game, the Hamilton being shown the red card after he fouled Pascali from behind. Motherwell and Dundee United fought out an entertaining draw (1:1) in a game where United only had three Scots in the starting line-up. Check out the Arab Blog for an in-depth review of this game.

Scottish Division One

Dundee remain top of the First Division after their win against Morton at Dens Park this afternoon (1:0). Eric Paton scored the only goal of the game on the half-hour, and fifteen fouls, seven offsides and ten shots on target later, Dundee get the three points. Dunfermline and Airdrie could only manage a goalless draw (0:0). The Pars had Nicky Phinn sent of after half time for his second bookable offence. The two points dropped sees Dunfermline drop down to fourth place. Airdrie moved to seventh. Livingston where made to work for their three points against Clyde (2:1). Goals by Anthony McPartland and Leigh Griffiths cancelled out an early Pat Clarke goal for Clyde. The win keeps Livingston in the top three while Clyde remain in eighth. Partick Thistle continue their good form with a convincing win over a hapless St. Johnstone who have now conceded seven goals in two games (4:0). John Robertson opened the scoring in the sixth minute, Ian Maxwell added a second just after the restart. The win was more or less assured when Paul Paton added a third. Gary Harkins drove the final nail in the St. Johnstone coffin when he added a fourth with twenty minutes to go. All the Saints had to show for their efforts was four yellow cards and plenty to think about for Derek McInnes as they travel back to Perth.

Scottish Division Two

Kevin Fotheringham's late free-kick snatched a narrow win for East Fife as they sneaked past Arbroath at Gayfield Park (0:1). Fotheringham fired in the 88th minute free-kick to give the visitors three points in a hard-fought encounter. A Stuart Anderson goal in the sixth minute secured the three points for Neale Cooper's Peterhead against Alloa (1:0). The defeat leaves Alloa at the bottom of the division looking for their first win. Queens Park needed a goal from Barry Douglas to secure a point against in-form side Brechin City (1:1). Gary Twigg scored for the Angus side, who now slip to fourth place. Raith Rovers beat Stranraer this afternoon thanks to a Kevin Smiths's injury time winner (2:1). Mark Campbell opened the scoring on seven minutes, Gregory Tadé equalised shortly afterwards when he fired in Andy Gibson's cross. The points looked to be shared, but then Kevin Smith popped up to head in the winner in injury time. League leaders Ayr United stay at the top of the table despite throwing away a two-goal lead against Stirling Albion (2:2). Bryan Prunty scored twice in as many minutes to give Ayr a comfortable lead with less than fifteen minutes on the clock, but Stirling responded first through Nathan Taggart and then via the penalty spot as Ian Harty converted the penalty that resulted from the foul made on him by Martyn Campbell.

Scottish Division Three

Pat Walker scored twice for Albion Rovers as they finally book their first win of the season against Berwick Rangers (2:0). The result lifts them over East Stirlingshire who lost at home to Forfar (0:3). John Russell scored twice for Forfar on his debut; Derek Lilley completed the scoring just after half-time. Russell was denied his hat-trick when Greg Mitchell in the East Stirlingshire goal saved from close range. Andrew Shirra scored in the last minute to give Stenhousemuir a hard-earned victory over Dumbarton (1:2) as the Warriors continue their unbeaten run. Cowdenbeath take over from Annan Athletic at the top of the division with their fine win over Elgin City (0:2). Elgin played with ten men for the second half when Steven MacKay was sent off after fouling Brian Fairbairn. The resulting penalty was saved, but the sending off was the cue Cowdenbeath needed: Darren McGregor put the Blue Brazil ahead on sixty minutes and John Gemmell secured the win direct from the kick-off when he put the ball past Andy McNulty. Annan Athletic remain unbeaten but their draw with Montrose today (1:1) sees them overtaken by Cowdenbeath. Scott Anson scored first for Montrose early in the first half, and the Gable Endies where unlucky not to extend that lead when John Baird drilled a penalty against the post. Annan got the equalizer through Graeme Bell with twenty minutes left on the clock. Montrose were down to ten men shortly afterwards when Hugh Davidson was sent for an early bath. Annan where unable to turn the advantage into a win and had to settle for a point.

Highland League Round-Up

Three remarkable events in the Highland League to tell you about: Fort William did something they've not done for a while, i.e. score, we've had the first goalless draw of the season, and only two  players where sent off in this weekends games.

In a day when league and Cup action combined, Fort William lost to Forres Mechanics (3:1) but they had many a fan wondering if Nairn County manager Les Fridge's prediction last week before his sides game against The Fort would come true. The two sides went in level at half-time, but two goals from Ricky Wardrop to complete his hat-trick secured the points for Forres. Lossiemouth edged out Rothes (1:0) with Mark Cody getting the winning goal while a forgettable game up at Brora, with Clachnacuddin the guests, ended 0:0.

In the SFA North Region Challenge Cup, both non-Highland League teams left in the competition, Golspie Sutherland and Shetland FA, where knocked out. Golspie lost away to Inverurie (2:0), while Shetland had a tougher game away to Cove Rangers. The defending champions showed their class as they won comfortably (6:2). Up in Banff, Deveronvale beat their rivals from along the coast, Buckie Thistle (2:1). Deveronvale had to come from behind however, and the it took a last minute winner from Grant Noble to advance his side into the next round. In the final game, it took extra time to separate Keith and Fraserburgh (2:3). Ryan Christie, sent off last week against Wick in the league popped up to fire in the winner for the Broch.