So far we have three home friendlies arranged for our Senior team against SFL opposition. The games are:

- Sunday 15th July vs Falkirk FC
- Saturday 21st July vs Annan Athletic FC
- Tuesday 24th July vs Cowdenbeath FC

The SFL starts on 28th July so the games will be a great test of fitness for us.

“I spent one of the most enjoyable afternoons in years watching the two Manchester teams fighting it out for the Premiership title in my local last Sunday. Everyone who has any interst in football knew from the start of the season the date the action would happen and everyone hoped the outcome would be as tight. The SPL isn’t quite as exciting but the final day is set in stone and the chance of such an exciting Sunday afternoon is possible.

We in East of Scotland football have our equivalent tomorrow. Stirling University and ourselves fight it out for our Premier division title as we head for Rosewell while the students travel down to Innerleithen.

There the similarities end. We were meant to play Whitehill in the league last Wednesday but the fixture was changed to a King Cup semi. Suddenly at two weeks notice on the Friday night of a Bank Holiday weekend with both Edinburgh teams contesting the Scottish Cup Final we are told we have our last and deciding league game.

When the fixture was changed Sam and I immediately raised the alarm. Our captain and 20 odd of his friends including some of our players (and a few from The Vale I hear) were heading to Bournemouth that weekend for his stag. Stirling were a few games and points behind us but we were told that if they caught us and the last two games were meaningful the date may be able to be changed.

By Monday afternoon we knew this wasn’t going to happen. The EOS secretary says the games could only be changed if all four teams agreed. I could ask him that when fixtures are changed to give teams games on the Friday night of a holiday weekend at two weeks notice maybe all four teams should be asked if they agreed to that change. How many Friday night games have there been at our level of football this season?

As it is we are missing five players who have started 95% of our league games this season, three of them ever present up until now. Don’t get me wrong Sam and I are happy with the side we will put out. We had four U19′s on the bench at Stirling last Saturday and tomorrow we will also pull in four of our Junior side as trialists.

The strength of our side is not as important as the fact that five of our regulars are denied the chance to play in such an important game. Players at our level play for the love of the game and despite the trials and tribulations they have had to put up with this season our lot have put themselves within a step of retaining their title. To play in that game has been taken away from them without any consideration whatsoever. It’s been raining today and I’ll happily do a rain dance tomorrow morning.

Finally the reason for the fixture change in the first place was because the original King Cup fixture between ourselves and Whitehill was cancelled three Saturday’s ago. Spartans match secretary Jimmy Murray and myself were asked out to Rosewell at 10.00 on the morning of the proposed game as the pitch was heavy. Jimmy, myself, the Whitehill management team and their representative on the EOS executive committee agreed although heavy, there was no surface water, it wasn’t raining and with no rain forecast we should go ahead with the game.

For some reason unknown to us all and just when I arrived home half an hour later I heard the game had been put off (having gone through the proper channels of course). To their credit I met Grant and Kevin at the Leith v Stirling game later in the day and they were as annoyed and dissappointed the game was off as I was.

I look forward to seeing them tomorrow and congratulating them on their excellent cup win on Wednesday. Whitehill should always be in around the silverware and I’m glad the current management team appear to have the Rosewell club back on the right track.”

Mike

Hibs end – Daniel Shields, John Grant, Mike Carney and Paul Sutherland

Hearts end – Adam Perry, Mike Lawson, Cameron Hobbs, Andy Enwood

Well done!

“We can have no complaints as the better side won yesterday. Stirling retained and passed the ball better than us especially in the first half and although we did get up a head of steam after the break neither keeper had that much to do over the 90 minutes.

No two games are the same but like last Wednesday we started on the back foot. The difference was whereas at Whitehill we eventually got our passing game going and created chances yesterday it was more sheer effort and bluster which took us near the Stirling goal in the final half hour.

We had 4 of our under 19 players on the bench yesterday due to injury and unavailability but we can have no excuses as Stirling have had a hard run of games and were also missing a couple of players. The only saving grace is the fact that we know we can do better and the players will be wanting to prove that against Whitehill.

It would be disrespectful to both The Vale and the Rosewell side to debate who has the better chance of picking up the league trophy so all we can do is to look forward to our trip to Ferguson Park. Hopefully Keith McLeod and John Grant will be available for Rosewell as Donal will unfortunately miss out. More on that game later in the week.

Mike

Donal Henretty, Chris Anderson and Sean Wringe returned to the starting line up while midweek goal scorer Keith McLeod was unavailable for the game while Jordan Finnie and Jack Beesley dropped to the bench.

Omar Kader had the first shot at goal after just five minutes however it was easily saved. Stirling striker Sludden pulled a shot just wide as the Uni side started to control the flow of the game. It was no surprise when they opened the scoring in the 26th minute. A corner being headed home by Creag Robertson.

The goal seemed to kick some life into us and Danny O’Donnell shot wide, Robbie Manson hit the post from range and Chris Anderson headed over as we went looking for an equaliser before half time.

The second half was a nervy encounter with limited goal chances for either side. As the game went on an equaliser was looking less likely before Donal Henretty was shown his 2nd yellow card of the day in the 85 minute and we finished the game with 10 men. The red card means Donal will also miss the tough trip to Rosewell on Friday night.

The result means the University side pulled level on points with just a single goal difference keeping us on top. It means that to retain the East of Scotland Premier Division we need to match whatever result Stirling get in Innerleithen against Vale of Leithen as well as winning by at least the same margin as they do.

Malt & Hops Man of the Match: Robbie Manson for a hard working performance in midfield

Team: Flockhart, O’Donnell, Hoskins, Sivewright, MacKinnon, Malin (Beesley), Kader, Manson, Wringe (Finnie), Anderson, Henretty Unused: Donnelly, Hawkins, McTurk