Highland ITFC

Another of those games for Colts, of which they've had a good number this season, where they dominate possession & create chances, but struggle to convert them. Game should have been out of sight in the first half, then Gala got back into it with a pen, & Colts eventually managed to find a late-ish winner, although many a ref would have given a foul against Colts in the build up to the goal. Impressed with Gala, especially the way that they play out from the back into midfield, but just looked like they were a bit lightweight up top to really get much reward from their possession & build-up play. Ultimately a very good season for Colts, as the majority seemed to have them down as a bottom half side when the pre-season predictions were doing the rounds. Keeping the squad together to build on the form of the second half of last season was key. The loss of Billy Mortimer to injury mid-season was a big blow, & was maybe the key factor in them not finishing a place or two higher. Rumour is that a fair number of players won't be re-signing for next season, for a variety of reasons, so will be interesting to see how a squad for next season pans out, & accordingly whether they can sustain similar form next term.

Buckie now in the box seat after last night's result put them ahead of Brechin on GD ahead of both teams' final game on Saturday. Another final day finish for the HL in terms of their champion being determined.

Big win from KRR yesterday, capitalising on another disappointing showing from Colts as their season fizzles out. Colts started well & looked like they'd stroll the game after having all the play for the first 15 & then scoring an excellent opener. They then didn't take an excellent chance to double their lead, which one suspects may have then made the game a procession, & instead an unforced error gave away a corner, & a decent delivery to the back stick was nodded home. KRR's belief that they were in the game visibly grew, & minutes later one of their big CBs struck a once-in-a-career worldy from 35 yards or so, & all of a sudden the game was a different affair. Whilst Colts continued to have more possession & territory, they struggled to create much with it & the visiting 'keeper had little of note to do, & when KRR had the ball, they acquitted themselves well against their higher level opponents, & killed the game with a late third. Cue justified delight from players, staff & the excellent support at their achievement of reaching the final. Would be nice to see them go one better in that & turn over EK.

I wouldn't agree that it's a huge jump, as from watching SPFL2, HL & LL over the last few years, I'd reckon that there's a fair degree of overlap between the two tiers in terms of the quality of both teams & individual players. I certainly couldn't see that if all these teams played in one big division, that the SPFL2 teams would all end up above all the HL & LL teams. The way that HL / LL sides that have been promoted into SPFL2 have performed, & not just come straight back down would also seem to support this. A lot of players seem to move between the two tiers aswell, stepping up aswell as stepping down. A couple of recent examples are Lyall Booth & Michael Dangana following manager Allan Hale from HL Huntly to SPFL2 Elgin, & both doing well at their new club / level. There's of course a number of factors that affect whether a player does well when stepping up, with individual talent of course being one, but also importantly needing to have a manager that gives them confidence & support & plays them, & playing in a team / formation / style that suits them & enables them to perform at their best. Maybe in the example of Daramola, something was missing from the mix at Kelty? As a talented young goalscorer, if he's genuinely good enough & has the attitude & desire to play higher, then further opportunities will come, be this with EK or a.n.other side.

Ditto Cumbernauld, & therefore David Proctor & his team.

Have been impressed with Digaba on the couple of occasions that I've seen him, but from an objective perspective there are six sides with less GA than Bo'ness, so would think that one of those 'keepers would take precedence. Fully appreciate that clean sheets aren't just down to 'keepers, but it's certainly high in the key criteria.

Would think that Keelan Adams of Cumbernauld Colts would have to be in there, bearing in mind that his level of performance this season has got him the move to full-time football at Falkirk for next season. And likewise Joe Bevan from Albion Rovers, even if he did only play half the season before heading down to Burnley. Billy Mortimer from Colts also worth a shout, based on his two-thirds of the season form & goal return prior to his injury.

I'll be there this Saturday aswell. Yes, decent refreshments available. Big game for Colts if they're not to see their season fizzle out, having sat second for so much of the league campaign but now down to fifth off the back of two points from the last nine available; & this being the second of two semis after already being knocked out at that stage of the LL Cup. It really will be a big disappointment for them if they aren't able to come out on top vs KRR, so would definitely fancy them to make the final to face either EK or Tranent, their LL Cup semi conquerors.

Suspect it will take them a fair while before they get down to SPFL2, HL / LL & below.

Yup, spot on EB, but there will be plenty of clubs out there that aren't complying.

That's pretty standard in football. Given the time commitment for training twice a week, & at least one game (including travel time to away games that should also be paid), if you take an average of say 12 hours a week committed by a player to their club, any player being paid at less than c.£140 a week - of which there will be plenty across this league & other semi-pro leagues - is below the minimum wage.

Advantage BU now in the race for the 2nd spot, assuming that EK don't suffer a remarkable implosion, although having said that it does look that BU have a tougher run-in than Cumbernauld, with Tranent's also being tough. Heard that the Albion-Cumbernauld game was largely in the latter's favour in terms of possession & chances, but that they couldn't make that pay, & one moment of quality from a freekick won it for the home side.

Top 5 looking very competitive for the next month or so's final run-in. Great work from Bo'ness to keep things alive & interesting. EK couldn't throw it away, could they? Cumbernauld will be ruing all their draws, as only one defeat worse off than EK. Another one yesterday, although after midweek & the 5-1 loss earlier in the season, they'll likely see it as a point gained. Anybody at the game & able to offer a report?

Huge game for Cumbernauld who are so far 9-1 down on aggregate vs Tranent this season. following the 4-0 cup loss on Tuesday & 5-1 league defeat earlier in the campaign. Given that Tranent also trounced EK a while back, & have games in hand over all teams currently above them, they are very much pushing to show that they're the second best team in the league. Colts will need at least a point if they're to give themselves the best chance of claiming that second spot themselves come season-end.

Took in this one yesterday. Cumbernauld with what must have been 70%+ possession & similar amount of the game played in the Civil half, but lots of huffing & puffing & no real idea how to get past the Civil bus that was parked across the goal. Visitors looked like they came for a point & were highly successful in sitting deep, 5-4-1, & watching Colts mostly pass the ball side to side most of the game. Subs made by Colts were all like-for-like, with the introductions of Graeme Holmes & Zak Mckay adding a little zip to proceedings, but no change in tactics / approach to see if they could disrupt the well organised & hardworking Civil rearguard. The lack of the injured Billy Mortimer certainly looking to be an issue for Colts on this showing. Civil actually had the best opportunities of the game, hitting a post & forcing a fine save from Ryan Adamson as the result of good quality inswinging corners.

More impressive work from Colts, which sees them consolidate second place, helped by Hearts loss. Every time it looks like their race may be run, they seem to come back & stick in there. Impressive work from David Proctor & his largely unfancied side, a goes to show that it's not all about a big budget!

The League social media guy seems to have overlooked / forgotten the Colts game in all their posts this week.

How was the game overall glensmad?

Would add that he's an excellent one-to-one defender, with it being pretty rare that a wide man gets the better of him. And when running with the ball, he's a little unusual for a fullback in that he almost always goes inside & very direct towards the box, which has helped him not just help create Colts' goals, but has also 4 or 5 himself this season, usually shots from around the edge of the box.

Just catching up on this thread, & being somebody that watches most of their football in the HL, (along with a few LL games each season), I just wanted to pick up on this perspective, as not sure that it would be correct. There is certainly some pretty large financial disparity between the haves & have-nots within the HL, & accordingly there's definitely a few clubs that are well placed commercially, such as Brechin, Buckie, Fraserburgh, Banks O'Dee & Formartine, & the likes of Brora & Inverurie Locos have also been in that category, although perhaps not quite so strong of late. Bear in mind also that Buckie are going to bank c.£250k from their trip to Parkhead this weekend. There's perhaps actually one or two more 'well-resourced' clubs in the HL than there are in the LL, & I'd suspect that whoever ends up top of the HL pile will be very competitive opponents for EK. One thing is for sure, that if Buckie don't end up getting to L2 this season, then they'll certainly have no excuse next!

Intrigued as to why this is the case, as the corresponding HL constitution permits for a league of up to 20 teams?

It was certainly a big thing in the Highland League last season when Brechin visited Buckie needing a win for the title, & ended up getting a very late winner. Biggest crowd that I've seen at an HL game in the years that I've been watching, a couple of pitch invasions from Brechin fans, & a great atmosphere!

Got to win them though, & still six points back if they do. Just can't see it getting interesting. Hope I'm proved wrong though.

That looks like the title pretty much settled then, as Colts really needed to beat EK yesterday in order to keep things interesting. EK looking llike they're over their recent wobble in turning over one of their closest challengers. Can't really see a way that any other team can catch up with them, unless they somehow self destruct. Bit of a shame that it doesn't look like it's going to be kept interesting until the final few weeks.

Huge game next week when EK visit Cumbernauld. A win for the latter gets them within 4 points.