“Despite missing 5 first team regulars I was always confident in getting the right result. Although it went to extra time and Westdyce made it difficult for us I felt if we needed to we could always step up a gear and secure victory.”
Those were the thoughts of Bervie Caledonian coach Danny Mevlin after his side defeated Westdyce 6-5 in extra time to progress to the semi-final of the Rainbow City Taxi’s Stephen Shield.
NE98 had the chance to catch up with Danny after Frazer Cerretti scored four and David Salmond notched two free kicks to send Bervie to the semi.
Danny said:
“With Frazer Cerretti and David Salmond in the form they are this season we’ve always got a chance. It’s good to get through to the semi-final of The Stephen Shield which is our leagues, league cup.”
Having already found success in this competition as a player, Danny, who still acts as a player-coach, would like to guide the team to cup victory once again.
“It’s one I have won as a player and one I’d like to win as a manager.”
NE98 also had a chance to ask Danny about his side’s performances overall this season.
Danny said:
“The season has started well and despite losing a couple of players to Cowie. We have recruited well and have probably got the best squad Bervie have had in a long time.”
After some disappointed in not gaining promotion last season, Bervie are looking to make a challenge again this term:
“The boys have kicked on from last season and look to put the disappointment of missing out on promotion via a playoff behind them. Being manager has it’s difficulties, like getting boys to training but we have a good bunch of lads who all get along well. We are a young squad and are improving every week.”
Caley currently sit fourth in the Division One North on 21 points. Should they gain positive results from their two games in hand, they could leapfrog Bridge of Don and Rattrays XI to go second.
Although, Bervie will still trail top of the league Newburgh Thistle by two points if the Inverbervie outfit win all four games they have in hand over the league leaders – but in the midst of a cup run, they’ll feel anything is possible.
Danny Mevlin will take his side to face Cove Thistle this weekend in more cup action. This time taking part in the Soccer World North of Scotland Cup Second Round. Facing a Premier Division side will be a stern test for Bervie, but one where they’ll be determined to prove their worth.
Switching to the junior ranks briefly, it wasn’t a fantastic weekend for Stonehaven. Stoney have slipped into the relegation playoff spot, third bottom of the McBookie Superleague. This following a 2-1 defeat at Hermes.
That’s now two games on the bounce Martyn Rollo’s side have lost. They’ll be looking to get back on the horse this weekend as they travel to Nairn to take on St Ninian. The Nairn side currently sit sixth, six places ahead of Stoney but also only six points ahead. Showing just how tight things are in the league table.
Back to the amateur ranks and looking at the Premier Divison. St Laurence have put together a three game win streak that seems them sitting fifth in the Premier Divison. With Cove, Cowie and Woodside all within five points, it’s been a successful season thus far for the Laurencekirk side who were promoted last term.
It was a 2-0 win over third bottom RGU that helped the saints fend off Rothie Rovers from behind them in the league – although Rovers do have a whole five games in hand.
St Laurence are also playing in the Second round of the Soccer World North of Scotland Cup this weekend. They’ll host fellow Premier Divison side MS United at Memorial Park. Just two points separate these two teams in the table.
It was disappointment for Cowie Thistle in their Rainbow City Taxi’s Premier Trophy quarter final tie with Rothie Rovers. A 2-1 loss after last week’s abandoned fixture due to sinkhole (Below) saw Thistle knocked out of the tournament.
The two teams will repeat this fixture on Saturday. Again, taking part in the Second Round of the North of Scotland Cup.
Ac Mill Inn are up to sixth in the Divison One East after a 3-1 win against Torphins. Torphins sit second bottom in the division. They are ahead of bottom Glendale on goal difference having played four more matches, so a win for Inn was probably expected but appreciated nonetheless.
Rock bottom Glendale are actually Inn’s next opponent. They’ll travel to Maryculter to look to make it two wins out of two against the leagues basement sides on Saturday.
Stonehaven Athletic started the season like a house on fire, but that fire has been quelled in recent weeks. A 4-2 loss to bottom half of the league Blackburn this past weekend has seen Athletic slip to fifth – albeit with plenty games in hand.
The club’s Facebook page rounded up the defeat:
“Although not as bad as a couple of weeks ago, another defeat and we now slip down to 5th in the league, albeit we have games in hand but we need to convert those in to wins to get back near the summit.”
A decent result is needed for Athletic and they’ll look to do that this weekend at Jim Glennie Park as they host Auchnagatt Barons. Barons are ninth, trailing Athletic by seven points.
Listed below are the fixtures for each side, kick off times and venue, get along and support your local team if you can:
Stonehaven Athletic v Auchnagatt Barons at Jim Glennie Park, Stonehaven (Kick-off 2.00pm)
Glendale v AC Mill Inn at Corbie Park, Maryculter (Kick-off 1.30pm)
St Laurence v MS United at Memorial Park, Laurencekirk (Kick-off 1.30pm)
Cowie Thistle v Rothie Rovers at Mineralwell Park, Stonehaven (Kick-off 1.30pm)
Cove Thistle v Bervie Caledonian at Catto Park, Aberdeen (Kick-off 1.30pm)
NE98 