| Catch-a-Match: Buckie and Clach start pre-season against SFL opponents |
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Two further Highland League clubs get their pre-season games underway with matches against local SFL opponents. At Victoria Park, Buckie Thistle will play their first game since being presented with the Highland League championship at the end of last season when they welcome Elgin City for a Moray derby. Meanwhile, Clachnacuddin make the trip to Dingwall for a bounce game against Ross County, the first time the Staggies have been in action since their Active Nation Scottish Cup final defeat to Dundee United in mid-May. Log onto http://www.highlandleague.net/ this evening for a full round up of the action with full previews below. Buckie Thistle v Elgin City (kick off 7.45 pm) Highland League champions Buckie Thistle get back to work with their first home pre-season friendly of the summer. Elgin City are the visitors to Victoria Park for this Moray derby which will trigger memories of some memorable clashes between the pair when the Black and Whites were still an SHFL outfit themselves. The Jags returned to pre-season training just over a week ago and now the intense running is out of the way, the focus is turning to the match action and that is something the players are relishing according to boss Gregg Carrol. He said: "The boys have done very well at training and they have all come back in quite good shape. They just can't wait for the game now. That is what they thrive on and they just want to get into the games and get going again. Because of their fitness levels with them coming back in good shape, any knocks and the strains haven't started appearing yet." The Jags are without midfielders David MacRae, Robbie Brown and Donnie Munro due to holidays while full back Hamish Munro is another who is away for this game. However, summer signings Michael Morrison, Brian Bell and Darren Wood are fit and available to turn out in the hoops for the first time. Ross County v Clachnacuddin (kick off 7.30 pm at Jubilee Park, Dingwall) Clachnacuddin have embarked upon a summer of bulking up on seasoned professionals ahead of the 2010/11 Highland League campaign after coming out of administration and allowing manager Iain Polworth to dip into the transfer market. The job of gelling the team together ahead of the season's curtain raiser on July 31st starts with this friendly against Scottish Cup runners up Ross County. Lilywhites boss Iain Polworth believes it is the ideal match for both clubs to begin their pre-season programmes with as they look to get up to speed in time for the start of their respective league seasons. He explained: "It is a good wee number and we are grateful to Ross County. We did it last year and it was successful and worthwhile from both clubs' points of view. They get a nice wee touch of the ball in an easy one for them and it is a decent run around for us playing against someone from a higher level." Polworth will be without injury duo Scott Davidson and Gordon Morrison as they are ruled out by a shoulder and a hip injury respectively. Polworth takes up the rest of the team news: "Chris Ross is still out but Gordon Mackenzie will probably make an appearance at some point although I don't want to rush Gordie back into it. Neil Gibb is still a bit away from playing games. Mark Dougal is just back from holiday and raring to go, Simon Shields has come in and looked really good but Neil MacDonald is still up in Orkney tying up some business there although I'm hoping he will be back for the game. We are playing it by ear with Martin Sanderson at the moment as his wife is due to give birth so he might play or he might not play." |
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