BLANTYRE VICTORIA (Castle Park)

WEST CENTRAL LEAGUE CUP QUARTER FINAL, BLANTYRE VICTORIA 2-0 CARLUKE ROVERS, ATTENDANCE: 148 (h/c)

I once again headed north for the third Saturday in succession. 

After watching Blantyre Victoria's sensational comeback at Wishaw in the last round, where they won 5-3 after being 3-0 down, it was only right and proper that I payed them a visit as they took on Carluke Rovers in the League Cup Quarter Final.

Blantyre was the birthplace of the 19th-century explorer and missionary David Livingstone and there is a visitor centre in the town, located in the house in which he was born. Fortunately there was no getting lost on the way to the ground!

Castle Park is a ramshackle ground and it's crumbling terracing behind the goal would certainly be a health and safety issue south of the border!

On first glance, it looks like the is a large stand on one side of the pitch, but on closer inspection it is actually three bits of cover next to each other. Another Scottish gem!


The club were founded in 1890 and Celtic legends Jock Stein and Billy McNeill both played for Blantyre Vics early in their respective careers. The club are currently in the midst of a purple patch which has seen them win back to back promotions. 


They were Central District League Second Division Champions in 2014 and were confirmed as First Division Champions last weekend. The club will compete in the Super League First Division next season.



Today's game was a feisty affair which threatened to spill over on occasions, but fortunately some football did break out in between all the niggles. 

Both teams created, and wasted, numerous chances but with about 20 minutes remaining the homesters broke the deadlock through Brian Caldwell before David Galt quickly added a second.

Blantyre will now travel to Yoker Athletic in the semi-final next Thursday.

WISHAW JUNIORS (Beltane Park)

WEST CENTRAL LEAGUE CUP 3rd ROUND, WISHAW 3-5 BLANTYRE VICTORIA, ATTENDANCE: 126 (h/c)

Sometimes the groundhopping Gods smile upon you and tonight was certainly one of those occasions.

It was destination Scotland once more but the original plan was to take in the League Cup game between Vale of Clyde and Benburb, unfortunately this was called off as the Bens could not raise a side.

The only option therefore was to divert to Wishaw where they were home, again in the League Cup, to Blantyre Victoria. The game turned out to be an absolute cracker.

Wishaw took the lead after 10 minutes, from the penalty spot, thanks to KB Grant (below left). Nicky Moore (40) added a second just before half time and when Grant (48) scored his second and Wishaw's third goal to put the home side on easy street, it seemed the contest was over.

There was no indication of the drama that was to unfold!

After 56 minutes Blantyre got a goal back courtesy of an own goal, which somebody referred to as "a Sandy" which is one for all you Everton and Liverpool supporters out there!

The Vics made it 3-2 through Craig Smith after 71 minutes before Smith scored his second and levelled the tie at 3-3. 

At this point you could see the Wishaw players legs had gone. It was no surprise when David Green put Blantyre ahead with 9 minutes remaining and Smith made the comeback complete after 85 minutes when he bagged his hat-trick.

Wishaw are back in the town after a nomadic existence. In 2010 a pitch in Beltane Park was fenced off and portacabins erected for dressing rooms. There is a small bit cover to help protect spectators from the elements. Despite it's limitations, the ground looked resplendent in the evening sunshine. A perfect way to spend a bank holiday.

LESMAHAGOW JUNIORS (Craighead Park)

WEST OF SCOTLAND REGION CENTRAL DISTRICT DIVISION ONE , LESMAHAGOW JUNIORS 4-1 DUNIPACE JUNIORS, ATTENDANCE: 284



Nae Paper!

Another weekend, another trip North!

I was part of a travelling party of four Groundhoppers heading to Scotland. Before we set off we took a vote as to our destination, the options being either Larkhall Thistle or Lesmahagow Juniors. The vote on the latter was carried unanimously.

Both games were a straight shoot out for the runners-up spot, behind Greenock Juniors, and the promotion to the West Superleague First Division that went with it.

Lesmahagow held the upper hand in the sense that if they did the business then it would not matter what Larkhall did. If the 'Gow drew or lost then it was up to Thistle to take advantage.

After a "pit stop" in the Wetherspoons in Lanark, we made it to the ground in good time despite the postcode that was given on most channels being wrong (the ground is actually about a mile down the road).

Craighead Park is simply one of best grounds I have been to this season. From the main road you walk down into this glorious amphitheatre....

The covered stand was full of local youths adding to the atmosphere with a large flag and a loudspeaker, not unlike what you get in the Bundesliga.

Dunipace started the brightest and probably shaded the opening period. A Craig Reade penalty (pictured left) gave the visitors the lead after 28 minutes, which they held onto until the break.

News filtered through that Larkhall were winning, which meant as it stood it would be them who were promoted. That must have made Robert Irving's half time team talk pretty straight forward.

Whatever was said did the trick. John Logan (47) and Kris Jarvie (57) put the homesters in front and after that the result was never in doubt. Jarvie bagged his second with five minutes remaining to get the party started before a Colin Boylan penalty (87, pictured right) sparked wild celebrations.

There was a pitch invasion at the climax of the game as fans and players celebrated as one. Someone even let off a smoke bomb, which seem to be de rigueur at games these days.

Another top day in Scotland and I managed to maintain my reputation for "eating all the pies" as I bagged the last pie at Half Time!!!



The Lesmahagow players celebrate their promotion