Scottish Junior "Double Header"

With it being Scottish Final Saturday, many clubs/players wanted to see Rangers take on Hibernian at Hampden Park, so a fair few fixtures were moved, mostly to Friday night, but some to an earlier kick off time. This therefore presented the opportunity of a Scottish double header which, under normal circumstances, is a very rare thing...

12pm, SJFA West Central Division One
Robertson Park
Rossvale Juniors 1-1 Thorniewood United
Attendance: 68 (h/c)

Rossvale groundshare with Petershill but the 3G pitch at Petershill Park was booked for a youth cup final this morning so, when both teams wanted an early kick off in order to watch the festivities at Hampden Park, they mutually agreed to switch the game to Thorniewood's Robertson Park. The away team playing at home? This would make some groundhoppers splutter all over their notebooks!

There was nothing riding on today’s game, so it ended up being typical end of season fayre. Having said that, the opening exchanges were quite bright with both teams creating good chances. Rossvale took the lead after 20 minutes when a long punt from their goalkeeper was missed by everyone apart from Erald Krasniqi who latched onto the clearance to slot home. Thorniewood were level 3 minutes later when a fantastic defence splitting pass was collected by Chris Lennon who calmly passed the ball into the corner of the net.

The second half was a non-event, not helped by Thorniewood playing most of the half with 10 men after using all of their substitutes. They actually finished with 9 men when another player was stretchered off in stoppage time.

Robertson Park is hidden away behind the houses on Old Edinburgh Road and is fully enclosed. There is a terrace behind one goal and a stand on one side. We received a warm welcome from Thorniewood’s secretary and president, who came over for a chat, and we were all invited into the boardroom portacabin for a drink and nibbles at half time.

From Viewpark it was a 20 miles trip along the M8 to....

2.30pm, SJFA East Premier Division
Creamery Park
Bathgate Thistle 4-4 Thornton Hibs
Attendance: 91 (h/c)

We arrived at the ground about 10 minutes before kick off, allowing time to partake in a fabulous Scotch Pie (they were so good I had to try another at half time). Formed in 1937, Bathgate Thistle became a community club in 2013 when the town's youth and amateur sides all united under the Thistle name.

The ground is another fine example of a junior ground. The modern covered enclosure was opened in 2013 after the original structure was damaged beyond repair in winter storms in 2011. The rest of the ground is grass banked and made for ideal viewing in the afternoon sunshine, before a sudden rain shower sent many, including me, running for cover!

Former Dr Who David Tennant was born in Bathgate, but the timelord himself may struggle to understand how Thistle managed to grab a draw from from the jaws of victory. They were in complete control as they found themselves leading 4-1 midway through the second half, courtesy of goals from Stephen Easton (11) Jaconelli (34 & 50) and Hassan Nyang (68).

Thornton Hibs missed a penalty, when Chris Ireland's effort was saved, which would have made it 1-1 but a second half hat-trick from Jack Wilson, with a goal from Ireland sandwiched between, grabbed an unlikely point for Hibs. The draw keeps alive Hibs' bid to avoid an immediate return to the East Region North Division.