Off The Ball: Thursday Update

The Inside Left kiss-of-death continues. As soon as we say that a team are playing well, stringing the results together and generally impressing, they go and lose. So it was that Deveronvale, mentioned in yesterdays early season review lost to local rivals Huntly in the Aberdeenshire Cup. Goals from Mike Ewen sank 'Vale at Christie Park, a defeat made bitter-sweet as Ewen is a former Deveronvale player. Mark Chisholm got a consolation goal. It was another typical Highland League affair, with plenty of bookings (thirteen yellow cards where handed out), seven minutes of injury time and one sending off as Gary Clark picked up his second yellow early on in the second half. Huntly 2:1 Deveronvale.

The Highland League action continues on the weekend when Cove Rangers take on Fort William (a high scoring fixture last season, can Cove repeat their win against an improving Fort?). Deveronvale take on Lossiemouth and Forres take on Rothes. Nairn County welcome Clachnacuddin and Inverurie Locos, joint leaders with Deveronvale make the long trip north to Wick. Huntly against Keith and Fraserburgh against Brora completes the lineup. All games kick-off at 3pm. Remember what we said the other day - the 'High' in 'Highland' stands for 'high scores', so if you're in the area, go and watch a game!

Queen of the South find themselves in the second spot in the First Division with their win over Ross County last night. The Doonhamers had two penalty claims dismissed either side of half-time, the first when Mark McCulloch appeared to handle the ball when he blocked a Jamie McQuicklen's cross, the second when Paul Lawson went down heavily in the box. It took a goal three minutes from time by David Wetherston, a 20-yard rasper, to seal the win for the Dumfries side. Final score, Queen of the South 1:0 Ross County.

Some worrying news: Stranraer appear to be in financial difficulties. The BBC is reporting that the club are nearly a quarter of a million pounds in debt and are taking steps to avoid administration. Sean Niven, vice chairman at the club is keen to point out that the club is not in immediate danger of going under, but that costs must be cut in order to guarantee the mid-to-long term survival of the club. Stranraer are one of several clubs to have faced financial troubles in recent years. Gretna's rise and demise is well documented, as are Clydebank's and Airdrieonians'. Dundee, Raith Rovers, Livingston, East Fife and East Stirlingshire similarly had financial difficulties but recovered through a combination of supporters-trusts, buy-outs and community actions. Stranraer are currently lying in bottom place in the Second Division.

Rights, that's it for today. There's no games this weekend in the league (apart from the Highland League of course), instead, there's the Scotland game against Macedonia to look forward to. Mind you, with the amount of call-offs, it is going to be another nervy affair. We'll have a preview of that game in tomorrow's match programme.