Stonehaven missed a big chance to continue their battle against relegation after losing to Maud at the weekend.
The 1-0 defeat has seen Stoney fall back into the relegation zone – adrift of the team that beat them on goal difference.
Stonehaven’s Facebook page said:
“It was a game lacking in quality on a tight poor surface and it was always possible that a mistake would define the game and that’s exactly what happened.
Stonehaven switched off at a freekick and allowed a runner a free shot at goal that bobbled its way into the corner.”
The goal now becomes clear for Stonehaven – who have two games remaining. They’ll need to pick up more points than both East End – who have one more game to play and are a point ahead – and stay in front of Ellon United – who they currently have four points on, but Ellon have played three games less.
Even if Stoney achieve that, they’ll still face a relegation play-off, so they’d need one of the other teams surrounding them – Maud, Dufftown and Hall Russell United – to have a disastrous end to their campaign.
Stoney do not have any fixtures this weekend, instead Martyn Rollo and co will be hoping for favourable results from other relegation candidates’ games. East End are away to Bridge of Don Thistle, Maud host Champions Banks O’Dee, with Ellon United playing host to Hermes.
The weekend following is a massive crunch game for Stoney, playing away to Ellon United.
It was a disappointing weekend for Stonehaven Ladies – they suffered a 4-2 defeat to Montrose. Both sides gained promotion to the SWF Division One North last season. They’ll need to wait to put things right, they’ve got a weekend off this week.
Cowie Thistle’s attempts to retain the Aberdeen FC Trophy has come to an end after a 2-0 loss to Echt in the Quarter-Final.
It’s been an overall successful season for Cowie, but Ross Adie’s record of having won silverware in every one of his seasons at the club will come to an end.
Cowie’s Facebook page said:
“A disappointing result, with only a couple of players getting pass marks, the effort was there from all just not the quality required. We’ve 8 league games remaining to try and finish as high up the league as possible.”
It’s the battle of the Thistle this weekend – Cowie host Cove at Mineralwell Park – Cowie are currently 3rd, with Cove sitting 7th.
Meanwhile, Premier Division rivals St Laurence were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Insch. Neil Arthur got the Laurencekirk side’s only goal of the game.
The Club’s Facebook page said:
“The game was end to end in the first have with Saints having a lot of the play but not creating many clear cut chances due to a lack of intensity.”
St Laurence host Rothie Rovers this weekend, St Laurence sit two positions and five points better off than Rothie – but Rovers have played just 11 games thus far – so a win is required for the Laurencekirk side to give them at least a little hope they can stay ahead before the end of the season – Should Rothie even managed to play all of their games in hand.
Most of Rothie’s missed fixtures have come due to their amazing performances in the Scottish Amateur Cup. They were eliminated with just two games to go before a trip to Hampen.
A 4-2 win for Bervie Caledonian over Burghmuir has kept their promotion hopes very much alive in Division One North. Frazer Cerretti inspired the win, netting a hat-trick, with Connor Freeman grabbing the other goal.
Caley’s Facebook page said:
“Credit to Burghmuir who fought hard throughout the match”
Caley will need to put themselves into the top two in order to gain promotion to the Premier Division – they are currently third, but only one point adrift of Rattrays XI – with two games in hand.
Once those games in hand have been played, there will be just four more fixture to go, so should Bervie take an advantage in league placing – they’d be odds on favourites to retain that position.
Bervie face sixth place Turriff Thistle this weekend.
AC Mill Inn’s away game against Tarves was postponed in the Division One East – they’ll attempt to replay the game on Saturday.
Stonehaven Athletic continued their inconsistent form, recovering from last weekend’s loss to thrash Glentanar Reflex 10-0 in Division Two North.
Lewie Sawyer scored four times, now totalling 37 for the campaign.
Athletic’s Facebook page said:
“We have now set a standard we expect to see every week, so no pressure boys!”
The result keeps Athletic in contention for promotion – and possibly even the league title – as they sit second, three points off of table topping FC Polska – but with the teams around them having games in hand, nothing is for sure.
An away game against mid-table Lads Club this Saturday is an excellent opportunity to keep the pressure on.
Stonehaven Youth FC’s under 19’s suffered a 5-2 loss to Banchory Eagles on Saturday.
On Sunday, Stonehaven Youth FC’s Under 15’s were also defeated, suffering a 5-0 loss to City Youth YFC in the C League, although the Under 14’s were successful in section 1 with a 2-1 win over Newmacher.
The under 13’s thrashed Kemnay 6-0 in League C section 2 and Bervie Caley bowed out of the Colony Park Cup at the semi-final stage, losing 6-1 to Westdyke.
Here’s the full fixtures for the Mearns side this weekend…
Cowie Thistle Vs Cove Thistle, Amateur Premier Division, Mineralwell Park, Stonehaven, Saturday 2PM
St Laurence Vs Rothie Rovers, Amateur Premier Division, Memorial Park, Laurencekirk, Saturday 2PM
Turriff Thistle Vs Bervie Caledonian, Amateur Division One North, The Haughs, Turriff, Saturday 2PM
Tarves Vs AC Mill Inn, Amateur Division One East, Hillhead Park, Tarves, Saturday 2PM
Lads Club Amateurs Vs Stonehaven Athletic, Amateur Division Two North, Potterton, Saturday 2PM
NE98 