Post: Weekend Preview – 16th November

Plenty of games this weekend in both league and cup competitions. For most teams, the weekend’s games will be their final matches before the indoor break.

L1s vs. Watsonians 1s – 4.00pm (A)

Clydesdale Western 1st XI head into their second top of the table clash this season when they visit Peffermill to take on Watsonians 1s in the Women’s Premiership from 4.00pm.

‘Dale Western currently hold top spot in the Women’s Premiership after three straight league wins since their previous summit meeting nearly a month ago – which was against Dundee Wanderers 1s, ending in a 2-0 defeat for the L1s. In those three wins, Derek Forsyth’s side have not conceded a single goal and have scored 26 themselves. Wanderers have since slid down the table following a couple of surprise scorelines, which has seen Watsonians take second spot.

The Edinburgh side are only three points behind the Titwood girls going into the final weekend of the season. A win for Forsyth’s squad could see them go six clear at the top, whilst an improbable 10-goal loss is the only way Clydesdale Western could be disposed at the top of the Women’s Premiership, such is their goal difference advantage.

Ali Howie and Bronwyn Shields will make returns following last weekend’s absence in the 4-0 win at home to GHK. Emma McGregor is expected to make her first appearance for the 1st XI this season. An unavoidable absence at the start meant McGregor has had to bide her time, putting in good performances for the 2nd XI in recent weeks.

M1s vs. Uddingston 1s – 4.30pm (A)

Clydesdale Men’s 1s Head Coach Ciaran Crawford will be hopeful his side can complete the first half out of the outdoor season with another positive result away to Uddingston 1s in the Men’s Premiership from 4.30pm.

Consecutive wins against Hillhead, Kelburne and Watsonians – coupled with other favourable results – has seen ‘Dale move into the top four Play-Off spots, one game before the indoor break.

A win could consolidate their position in fourth of the Men’s Premiership, but Crawford will know his players will need to be at their best against Uddingston, who sit sixth and will have their own ambitions of a top four spot. The home side are currently five points behind Clydesdale and Edinburgh University.

Team wise, Aidan Black makes a return to the M1s squad, whilst Ian King is also expected to feature having been unavailable last weekend. The two sides have already met once this season in the Men’s Scottish Cup, playing out a thrilling 3-3 draw before the Titwood boys prevailed on penalty flicks.

M2s vs. Inverleith 2s – 4.00pm (H); M3s vs. Kelburne 3s – 4.30pm (A); M4s vs. Uddingston 4s – 11.30am (H); M5s vs. Giffnock 3s – 1.00pm (H)

L2s vs. George Heriots FP 1s – 2.30pm (H); L3s vs. Hillhead 2s – 3.30pm (A); L4s vs. Loch Lomond 1s – 1.00pm (A); L5s vs. Kelburne 3s – 4.00pm (A); L6s vs. Uddingston 3s – 3.00pm (A)

All nine remaining Clydesdale & Clydesdale Western teams are in action in the league, with four taking place at Titwood.

At Titwood from 11.30am, the M4s – having picked up their first win of the season last weekend – host Uddingston 4s in Men’s West District Division Two. Afterwards, the M5s will hope to bounce back from a heavy defeat to Giffnock 2s from 1.00pm. They host Giffnock 3s in Men’s West District Division Three South.

2.30pm and 4.00pm sees pushbacks for the Ladies and Men’s 2nd XI’s respectively. The L2s, who had their game called off last weekend, are at home to George Heriots FP 1s in Women’s Championship Division One. The M2s will feature later from 4.00pm at home to Inverleith 2s in Men’s Regional Division One. Stuart Banford’s side took a crucial point last weekend in a 1-1 draw away to Hillhead 2s.

The first away game for ‘Dale & ‘Dale Western is from 1.00pm in Women’s West District Division One. The L4s will hope to stay top of the table when they visit Hermitage Academy to play Loch Lomond 1s. The L6s will play before the M1s away to Uddingston 3s from 3.00pm in Women’s West District Division Three.

Another Women’s Championship Division One fixture takes place at 3.30pm, as the L3s play Hillhead 2s at Upper Windyedge. The L5s and M3s take on Kelburne Ladies and Men’s 3s with starting times half an hour apart. The L5s are at Linwood from 4.00pm, before the M3s get underway at Glasgow Green from 4.30pm.

Photo credit: Mark Pugh