Preview 28/29 June 2008
One of the closest Grade 1 title races for some years enters its second half at the weekend with just 22 points covering the top 4 clubs.
Aided by Kintore’s defeat of Bon Accord, Cults are once again back at the top of the table, and will fancy their chances against Mannofield in the first of the County Club’s home games to be played at Countesswells. Second-placed Kintore meanwhile will hope that home advantage means that they will be able to put up a better performance against Stonehaven than when the two clubs met on the opening Saturday of the season; while Bon Accord should returning to winning form against 2nd Cults. At the foot, Caledonian will want to repeat their opening weekend win over Ellon; but not a lot has gone right for them since then, while 2nd Cults’ win last weekend, and a recent run of form from Inverurie, has opened a 10 percentage point gap over the bottom-placed side.
In Grade 2 St Ronald remain on maximum points at the half-way point, though only just squeezing home against Academy last weekend; while FPs and Gordonians continue to fight it out for second spot, with the two clubs facing tricky away games at Crathie and Methlick respectively. At the foot, Artisans really need to take significant points off Academy if they are not going to be sucked into relegation problems along with Kemnay.
2nd Banchory and 2nd Kintore continue to battle it out for the Grade 3 title with the Burnett Park side meantime in pole position; but both facing tricky away games against Dunecht and Turriff respectively. 2nd FPs meanwhile look destined for an early return to Grade 4, while Stoneywood-Dyce’s recent lack of form has seen them slip closer to ninth placed 2nd Ellon. 2nd Stonehaven and Portcullis meantime continue to be the form sides in Grade 4, as well as having won their way to the Cup Final.
Last weekend’s wet weather means that there will be a bumper number of games on Sunday, the two outstanding Bon Accord Cup quarter-finals joining a full set of Quarters in the Aberdeenshirre Cup, with Cults taking on Mannofield in reversal of Saturday’s league game, while Bon Accord get an early opportunity to gain revenge for their league defeat by Kintore
» 261 reads
