The cold conditions have begun to take hold of local football, with two games called off this weekend. Meanwhile, we speak to Bervie Caledonian coach Danny Mevlin after their loss to league leaders Newburgh Thistle. Plus Stonehaven held their league’s former table toppers to a draw away from home.
Bervie Caledonian were defeated 3-1 at home by Division One North Amateur league leaders Newburgh Thistle – David Salmond grabbed Bervie’s only goal, with the Newburgh goals being credited to Ewan Robertson, Scott Robb and Steven Malcolm.
Thistle have yet to be defeated in league action this term, although Caley had gotten the better of them in a Stephen Shield fixture earlier in the campaign.
A win over Thistle would have given Bervie an advantage – albeit a pending one – for the race for the title. Such a result would have seen Bervie trail Thistle by 14 points, with five games in hand. Of course meaning winning them all would put Caley top.
NE98 Spoke to Bervie Caley’s Coach Danny Mevlin about the result and aims for the remainder of the season.
Danny said:
“Saturday was a hard one to take after dominating the game for so long after Newburgh went 1-0 up. We missed a few chances and were denied a stonewall penalty at 1-1.”
“Promotion was the end goal at the beginning of the season and is still very much the aim of everyone involved with the club.”
“All we can do is win our games and put as much pressure on Newburgh and Rattrays XI as possible and hope something goes our way.”
Bervie host University, who are currently second bottom just a point off of the bottom of the Divison, this Saturday.
Stonehaven continue to scrap at the bottom end of the McBookie Junior Superleague – but they’ve had to do so by grabbing a point against a team from the opposite end of the table.
Bridge of Don Thistle did lead the Superleague before being held to a 1-1 draw at home, by then bottom side Stonehaven on Saturday.
Banks O’Dee have now leapfrogged Thistle to top the division – with four games in hand – while Stoney have jumped past Maud, although now last placed Maud do have four games more to play.
Martin Shand picked up the equaliser for Stoney in the game, with their Facebook page describing the game as “A well contested match in which Stonehaven showed a never say die attitude.”
All of the teams around Stonehaven do have varying amounts of games in hand, plus the Hive still sits in the automatic relegation zone. Martyn Rollo will be hopeful however that other sides do them favours to keep other relegation battlers within reach, leaving it in Stonehaven’s own hands.
Attention turns to the first round of the McLeman Cup this weekend however, with Stoney hosting Dyce Juniors.
AC Mill Inn were defeated 2-0 by Banchory Amateurs this weekend in the East Division One. The result sees Mill Inn drop to four points behind their opponents – eight points adrift of the promotion spots, having played five games more than the two teams currently occupying those positions.
Inn travel to recreation Park this Saturday to face Insch in the second round of Kintore Trophy Centre Association Trophy.
A Mearns derby between Cowie Thistle and St Laurence in the Premier Division was called off due to the weather. St Laurence will take part in the Third round of the Kintore Trophy Centre Association trophy this weekend, hosting Division One East Tolbooth. Cowie meanwhile travel to Old Aberdonians in the league.
Stonehaven Athletic also had their match called off this past weekend – they had been due to face Abergeldie, but every Division Two North match was called off due to weather.
They’ll attempt to play another league match this weekend, hosting Feughside, who sit tenth in the Division Two North, trailing Athletic by ten points.
Mearns Fixtures This Weekend:
Stonehaven Vs Dyce Juniors, Glenury Park, Stonehaven, Saturday at 1:30
Insch Vs AC Mill Inn, Recreation Park, Insch, Saturday at 1:30
St Laurence Vs Tolbooth, Memorial Park, Laurencekirk, Saturday at 1:30
Old Aberdonains Vs Cowie Thistle, Balgownie, Aberdeen, Saturday at 1:30
University Vs Bervie Caledonian, Balgownie, Aberdeen, Saturday at 1:30
Stonehaven Athletic Vs Feughside, Jim Glennie Park, Stonehaven, Saturday at 2:00
NE98 