Busy weekend ahead for junior football fans

Only three out of Midlothian’s six junior clubs managed a competitive game last Saturday with Penicuik Athletic held 1-1 at home by Broughty Athletic, Dalkeith Thistle losing 1-0 away to Haddington Athletic while a fine victory in the South Division saw Easthouses Lily win 4-1 away to Craigroyston.

Newtongrange’s visit to Camelonwas washed out so the Nitten men quickly arranged a friendly with Dunbar United where honours were even in a 1-1 draw.

This coming Saturday ,weather permitting , it’s a huge Super League match forStevie McLeish’s men away to fourth top Penicuik Athletic.

Newtongrange will later be hosting Musselburgh Athletic soon in the third round of the East of Scotland Cup following the Burgh’s home 5-1 second round win at Olivebank last Saturday over Premier League StAndrews United thanks to Musselburgh goals from Jed Davie (2) ex-Star’s Mathu King (2) and ex-Dalkeith’s Connor Spowart as the Saints trailing 2-1 at the interval had been reduced to 10 men just prior to the break leaving them with an uphill task in the second half as Burgh strolled into the next round.

Penicuik too still have a home tie in the third round of the East of Scotland Cup against fellow Super League Jeanfield Swifts.

The Fife and Lothians Cup holders Penicuik also have a home third round tie in this season’s Fife and Lothians Cup against current top of the South League Blackburn United to play.

Bonnyrigg Rose, who are just one game away from their Scottish Junior Cup quarter final tie against Kirkintilloch Rob Roy on March 18 have a home Super League match against Lochee United at New Dundas Park this Saturday.

Bonnyrigg won 3-0 away at Lochee in August and so this Saturday head for a league double and an ideal boost for next weekend’s massive Scottish Cup test.

In the Premier League, Dalkeith Thistle face East Lothian opposition for the third consecutive Saturday following defeats to Tranent and Haddington with Tranent returning on league business to King’s Park where they won a 4-3 penalty shoot out over hosts Thistle a fortnight ago in the third round of the Fife and Lothians Cup.

Arniston Rangers with only one competitive game played in February (1-1 draw at Armadale ) saw their frustrating sixth postponement of 2017 last Saturday with Newbyres Park waterlogged for last Saturday’s by Forfar West End ,also postponed in November.

Arniston instead arranged an away friendly match to Kelty Hearts, losing 2-0.

This Saturday Arniston are away to top of the Premier League Kennoway Star at Trenton Park w

Fourth top of the South Division’s Easthouses Lily get set for their 21st league match with a home game at the Newbattle Complex against Crossgates Primrose Three times now postponed the Scottish Junior Cup fifth round tie at Maryhill where they were due face Linlithgow Rose will now move for a fourth attempt this weekend to be played at McKenna Park home of St Anthony’s with the winners going into next week’s home quarter final tie against Gartcairn.

Junior Football fixtures for Saturday, March 11, ko 2.30pm: Scottish Junior Cup 5th round - Maryhill v Linlithgow Rose; East Super League - Bonnyrigg Rose v Lochee United, Camelon v Boness United, Fauldhouse United v Dundonald Bluebell, Hill o’ Beath v Jeanfield Swifts, Kelty Hearts v Broxburn Athletic, Penicuik Athletic v Newtongrange Star.

East Premier League - Armadale Thistle v Haddington Athletic, Dalkeith Thistle v Tranent Juniors, Dundee Downfield v Bathgate Thistle, Kennoway Star Hearts v Arniston Rangers, Sauchie v St.Andrews United, Whitburn Juniors v Forfar West End.

South Division - Dunbar United v Pumpherston Juniors, Easthouses Lily v Crossgates Primrose, Edinburgh United v Livingston United, Lochgelly Albert v Rosyth, Oakley United v Blackburn United, Stoneyburn v Kirkcaldy, West Calder United v Craigroyston.