7.30pm 28 July 2021
South of Scotland League
Lochmaben 1 Nithsdale Wanderers 2 (att 82)
Lochmaben is a small town not far from Lockerbie, making it the nearest of the grounds I had left in the newly-established Scottish football pyramid.
A 7.30 kick off, combined with continued Covid-related working from home, also put it in range for a midweek visit.
The South of Scotland League is part of the sixth level of Scottish football, one below the Lowland League. The reality is that it lacks the strength in depth of the other Lowland feeders, the West and East of Scotland Leagues.
Neither Lochmaben nor Sanquhar-based Nithsdale are likely to be challenging for promotion, not this season at least, and I expect the single division South of Scotland League will continue as a fairly self-contained entity.
That said, many of its clubs have a more professional off-field feel than in years gone by, and Lochmaben have developed a decent ground at their Whitehills Park base.
The pitch is barriered on both touchlines, with dugouts in front of a grass bank on the far side and a pavilion on the near side. The club name is picked out in the tiles of the pavilion roof, and as well as changing rooms the attractive building also provides some cover for spectators and a serving hatch for a snack bar.
The game was a slow burner. Goalless for the first hour or so it then came to life when Nithsdale went in front. Lochmaben delighted their fans but hitting back with a well-taken equaliser.
A draw looked likely until the visitors snatched the points with a winner in the final seconds of stoppage time. A draw would have been fair outcome, although the home keeper had been the busier of the two all evening.
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