November is the last scheduled month for local associations to conclude their SSFA National Trophy Group Section games and a number of games were scheduled to meet the deadline this week.
Torrential rain put paid to the game arranged between Aberdeenshire and North of Scotland at Ellon on Wednesday. There are two games outstanding in this three team section, Aberdeen City having beaten Aberdeenshire in the only game played. North of Scotland will host Aberdeen City next Wednesday in Inverness in a game for which details have still to be confirmed.
Fife SFA travelled to Montrose on Wednesday to play Angus SFA and they secured a big win. In a tight section which sees three teams strongly contest the two qualifying places there are two big games scheduled for next week. Lothians SFA will hope to secure three points in their game against Angus to win a qualification spot and this game is arranged for Spartans FC on Tuesday 19th at 1.30. The Fife v Dundee game taking place on Monday 18th November at East Fife FC at 1.30pm will decide who else qualifies.
Lanarkshire SFA meet Forth Valley SFA on Tuesday 19th November at Hamilton Palace. Forth Valley has six points from their opening two games and avoiding a heavy defeat should see them qualify. The games between Lanarkshire and SISFA has still to be re – arranged and the final game between SISFA and West Lothian has also yet to be arranged.
In the last section it was a crucial Thursday 14th November. Both Dumfries and Galloway and Paisley District would secure a qualification with a win in their final game. D&G hosted Ayrshire SFA and came back from behind to secure a 2 -2 draw. Meanwhile P&D did the same in their game against Glasgow. Glasgow led 2- 0 with goals from Gregor Nicol ( Jordanhill School) and Mathew Collins (St Peter the Apostle) but Euan Ross ( Williamwood HS) led a good P&D comeback with a double in the second half.
The outcome is that Glasgow qualifies with 7 points and D&G take the second place for the quarter finals.
