SOMEONE HAS TO ASK LEADING QUESTIONS?

WILL MICHAEL DUNLOP AND GARTCAIRN HAVE CAUSE TO CELEBRATE ?

What next for the WoSFL’s First Division title and promotion stakes ?

The question begs to be answered because yet another reset of one’s thinking is now called for as a result of the latest round of midweek fixtures involving a trio of the leading contenders..

Frontrunners Gartcairn , already assured of promotion prior to Wednesday night dropped two points (they could afford but would have preferred not to) despite being twice in front through Reegan Aitken and Darren Brady goals away to relegation battling Shotts Bon Accord only to be pegged back by Paul McGeough (pen) and Craig Crawford scores.

The Bonny earning an unanticipated share of the spoils in tandem with fellow strugglers Cumbernauld United going down to a 1-0 defeat against Neilston for whom Ciaran Friel netted the only goal of the game meant safety from the drop was guaranteed for John McKeown’s side whereas Gartcairn’s falter has, at the very least, put the slightest of dents in their title aspirations ahead of two final league games against Cumbernauld United (tomorrow) and Benburb (next Saturday),both on the road.

It would be taking things too far to suggest everything is now up for grabs given that back-to-back victories in these vital encounters will see the Michael Dunlop steered Cairn assume the mantle of champions but what their Hannah Park blip did do was open the door to the possibility of their nearest challengers, St Cadocs, overhauling them in the run-in after their clinching promotion into the Premier top flight came with the added bonus of closing the gap between the leading pair to just three points thanks to a first half Grant Anderson counter securing a 1-0 Wednesday night triumph over Drumchapel United.

And if as expected, the highly ambitious Newton Mearns outfit (not a fault even if they did sack manager John Doyle earlier this month) emerge as resounding winners, firstly at home to the First Division’s rank bottom markers Rossvale today followed by a similar outcome away to next weekend’s opponents ,already relegated Bonnyton Thistle , then they will be poised to take full advantage were a further Gartcairn slip-up to occur.

Describing their twin targets as `resounding` is recognition of Gartcairn having a better +6 goals differential than their rivals however it’s no slight whatsoever on either Rossvale or Bonnyton to suggest a suitably motivated St Cadocs appear the better placed of the title contenders to run up handsome winning margins ???

This head to head for First Division pole position is mirrored by the ongoing battle for the third and final promotion place between current third top of the table Benburb and three points worse off Drumchapel United..

One would contend the men from Govan have tougher obstacles in their path in heading down to take on fifth placed Kilbirnie Ladeside tonight before what is promising to be a titanic New Tinto Park tussle with Gartcairn next Saturday however Adam Stokes and his Drum players will not have things all their own way in having their season defining matches against Shotts Bon Accord and Whitletts Vics (both away) crammed into the next four days on account of the prestigious South Challenge Cup Final clash against Lowland League leading outfit Spartans looming up next Sunday.

Taking the spoils at Valefield will see the Bens six points to the good but back-to-back league successes by the Drum (something they last achieved in late March) would almost certainly put their noses in front given their superior +4 goals differential and eave Paul Lovering’s side needing to take something from the Gartcairn game.?

So one feels compelled to ask again “What next for the WoSFL’s First Division title and promotion stakes ?”

Matters are nowhere near as tense in the Second Division where Ashfield were assured of going up along with current league leaders Renfrew on the back of a hard fought 2-1 defeat of Finnart on Wednesday through Jonny Black and Bobby Barr efforts .

The Jimmy Quigley steered Frew are rated odds on certainties to clinch the title honours with a win at home to Glasgow University tonight while Ashfield’s triumph has set up a veritable humdinger of a Saracen Park clash tomorrow against third placed Maybole ,still needing three points to secure their own promotion.

And celebrations may yet again be in order for Third Division leading lights Vale of Clyde hard on the heels of promotion being assured by a 2-1 midweek win over Lanark United where Tiger Lawson and veteran Kevin Turner were on the mark either side of Jordan Campbell notching for the Yowes.

The Tin Pail have a four points lead atop the standings and will be crowned champions if their predicted three points haul from facing relegation threatened East Kilbride Thistle at the Showpark coincides with third top Larkhall Thistle ( the only team able to overhaul the Vale’s points total) fail to come out on top away to second in the table Ardrossan Winton Rovers, likewise needing all three points to go up.

TONY MUSES OVER WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR HIM AND DARVEL ?

Meanwhile ,one of the most intriguing aspects around this time of the season is discovering what becomes of players, established or otherwise , after clubs make managerial changes.

Already one is aware of Michael Kennedy’s departure from Darvel to assume the reins at East Kilbride F.C. whose interim team boss Martin Fellows is reputedly on the verge of being appointed Doyley’s successor at St Cadocs while former goalkeeper Stevie McNeil has been installed as the outright gaffer at Petershill .

Yet arguably the most eye catching appointment of them all is Darvel’s hotseat appointment of Tony McInally who has quite literally been out of the game since his unceremonious parting of the ways with Cumnock on the run up to Xmas last season.

He has been installed at Recreation Park a matter of seven days yet has wasted no time in bringing long standing ally Stewart Ralston to his side (with others to follow) as well as overseeing a number of dressing room changes,most notably the departure of Jordan Kirkpatrick (scorer of the winning goal in the Ayrshire side’s famous Scottish Cup victory over Aberdeen) who has left to join Stenhousemuir on freedom of contract.

Loan signing Robbie McNab has gone back to Kelty Hearts and word on the street has the influential Ian McShane bound for Johnstone Burgh while centreback Andy McDonald is thought to be on the verge of reuniting himself with former gaffer Kennedy who is also allegedly after a further trio of his erstwhile playing charges in goalkeeper Chris Truesdale, defender Chris McGowan and midfield playmaker Craig Truedale.

McInally is not thought to have made any signings other than former Junior internationalist defender Mark Sideserf who played under him at Shotts Bon Accord and more recently Pollok however Darvel’s playing resources are set to be boosted by the new gaffer wanting the return of loanees Lewis Morrison (at Hurlford United) ,Andy Wilson (Cambuslang Rangers),as well as Max Kerr and Callum Scott (both Arthurlie).

Macca was reputed to be keen on Pollok midfielders Del Esplin and Johnny Lyon only for the lure of the rewards on offer at Johnstone Burgh enticing away the former while one time Morton signing Lyon is believed to yet another name on Kennedy’s ever lengthening shopping list along with Auchinleck Talbot striker Kier Samson.

Said the Darvel boss, “ It’s been a hectic seven days made all the more difficult by being in Vietnam on business when I accepted the job offer but I’m looking forward to getting my feet under the table.

“Speaking with Darvel’s current playing squad is paramount in my thoughts and only then will I get around to looking at transfer targets but it’s already obvious there will be some comings and goings.”.

WEEKEND GAMES: (2PM unless stated. PDM Buildbase First Division. Cumbernauld Utd v Gartcairn, St Cadocs v Rossvale, Whitletts Vics v Johnstone Burgh, Shotts Bon Accord v Rossvale, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Benburb (Tonight 7.30PM), Rutherglen Glencairn v Blantyre Vics.PDM Buildbase Second Division. Maybole v Ashfield, Wishaw v Greenock, Glasgow Utd v Yoker Athletic, Maryhill v Craigmark, Muirkirk v St Anthonys, Renfrew v Glasgow University(Tonight 7.30PM),Kilsyth Rangers v Forth Wanderers. PDM Buildbase Third Division. Bellshill Athletic v Carluke Rovers, Dalry Thistle v Lanark Utd, Girvan v Port Glasgow, Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Larkhall Thistle, East Kilbride Thistle v Vale of Clyde, Kello Rovers v Irvine Vics, Royal Albert v Lugar Boswell, Lesmahagow v Vale of Leven, Newmains Utd v Finnart.

Regards

Jim O’Donnell