2pm 30 March 2019
SJFA West Region, League One
Gartcairn Juniors 1 Royal Albert Athletic 1 (att 68)
Gartcairn Juniors are a relatively new team at this level, and news that they're planning to relocate their home pitch for next season put a visit to their MTC Park home high on my groundhopping agenda.
Not that it's much of a move though, they intend to move from one caged 3G pitch at Airdrie Leisure Centre to another caged 3G pitch at Airdrie Leisure Centre, albeit one that can be developed into a better ground.
The current venue is typical of its type. The artificial pitch is enclosed by a high fence, and there's a barriered area for spectators running the length of one side. It's just about adequate for this level of football, but it's a long way from the traditional junior grounds that made long journeys north so worthwhile.
They've got a good side though, and victory today would have sealed promotion. In the end it was a bit of an anti-climax, but it's surely a case of celebrations being delayed rather than cancelled.
Gartciarn took a first half lead, just a few minutes after having a player sent off for a late and dangerous tackle on the visitors' goalkeeper. The 10 men looked like holding out, but eventually Royal Albert managed a second half equaliser.
Having lost only once in the league it seems inevitable that Gartcairn will win promotion by the time the season ends, and they deserve praise for scrapping an admission charge for this game, with spectators instead asked to make a donation to a local hospice.
SJFA West Region, League One
Gartcairn Juniors 1 Royal Albert Athletic 1 (att 68)
Gartcairn Juniors are a relatively new team at this level, and news that they're planning to relocate their home pitch for next season put a visit to their MTC Park home high on my groundhopping agenda.
Not that it's much of a move though, they intend to move from one caged 3G pitch at Airdrie Leisure Centre to another caged 3G pitch at Airdrie Leisure Centre, albeit one that can be developed into a better ground.
The current venue is typical of its type. The artificial pitch is enclosed by a high fence, and there's a barriered area for spectators running the length of one side. It's just about adequate for this level of football, but it's a long way from the traditional junior grounds that made long journeys north so worthwhile.
They've got a good side though, and victory today would have sealed promotion. In the end it was a bit of an anti-climax, but it's surely a case of celebrations being delayed rather than cancelled.
Gartciarn took a first half lead, just a few minutes after having a player sent off for a late and dangerous tackle on the visitors' goalkeeper. The 10 men looked like holding out, but eventually Royal Albert managed a second half equaliser.
Having lost only once in the league it seems inevitable that Gartcairn will win promotion by the time the season ends, and they deserve praise for scrapping an admission charge for this game, with spectators instead asked to make a donation to a local hospice.
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