Tough Tests Await the ‘Loons’ in November

The penultimate month of the calendar year arrives on Saturday first, bringing with it for the ‘Loons’ six fixtures in three different competitions, only two on home ‘soil’, the others involving trips to four different corners of the country.

Certainly it is on paper a fixture list culminating in a cup tie to relish that will undoubtedly be a testing combination for Jim Weir, his management team and players. However it is also a programme of matches to look forward to with keen anticipation, of that there is no doubt.

It begins with a 360 mile round trip to Stranraer on William Hill League 2 duty on Saturday first, this being followed with a mouth watering visit to the Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park on Saturday week from current league leaders The Spartans. The ‘Loons’ lost by the only goal of the game against Dougie Samuel’s side in the Capital City back in August and in fact did not manage to record a victory in four attempts last term against the Ainslie Park side, so revenge is in the air!

We are then faced with three away games on the bounce, the first of those a short midweek trip for supporters if not to be fair for some of our players up the A90 on Tuesday the 11th of the month to face Cove Rangers as we complete our group stage fixtures in the KDM Evolution Trophy. Victories over the ‘B’ sides of Hibernian, Dundee and Aberdeen have secured a place for the Athies in the next stage of this tournament, but it looks as if a top six finish in the thirty team table and with it a seeding position in the knock-out phase draw may be out of reach.

Jim and his players return to league action with a visit to the Forthbank Stadium on Saturday the 15th for a clash with Stirling Albion, Dumbarton the destination seven days later for the challenge that ninety minutes against Stevie Farrell’s side will provide.

The month comes to an end as far as football is concerned at our level with twenty ties in the third round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup and a home game for the ‘Loons’ that supporters are without doubt already looking forward to against Partick Thistle. Mark Wilson’s side are currently sitting in second spot just in behind leaders St. Johnstone in the William Hill Championship.
The ‘Jags’ last visit to the ‘toonie’ was in December of 2020 for a fixture in the SPFL third tier. The Maryhill side headed back west with all three points that afternoon courtesy of a 2-0 win, sadly witnessed in person by only a handful of club officials and our pandemic team of helpers as covid gripped the country. It should be so different this time round with a four figure crowd anticipated. The game is likely to go ahead on Saturday the 29th, but confirmation along with admission prices etc will be advised as soon as they are available.

That visit from Thistle will bring another hectic and hopefully a successful month to a conclusion.

A reminder of the fixture programme;-

Saturday November 1st – Stranraer - away
Saturday November 8th - The Spartans - home
Tuesday November 11th - Cove Rangers (KDM) - away
Saturday November 15th - Stirling Albion - away
Saturday November 22nd – Dumbarton - away
Saturday November 29th (tbc) - Partick Thistle (SC) - home