Scottish Junior Cup - Wanderers Given a Bye

Forth Wanderers were given a bye in today's Scottish Junior Cup 1st round draw.

The full draw is as follows :

Ardrossan v Lochgelly
Arthurlie v Tranent
Banks o Dee v Ashfield
Benburb v Cambuslang
Bo'ness v Linlithgow
Buckhaven v Dalkeith
Colony Park v Neilston
Cruden Bay v Armadale
Deveronside v Whitletts
Dundee NE v Hall Russell
Dyce v Kirkintilloch Rob Roy
Edinburgh United v Auchinleck
Ellon v Forres Thistle
Forfar Albion v Nairn St Ninians
Greenock v Fochabers
Hurlford v Broxburn
Islavale v Annbank
Jeanfield v Aberdeen East End
Kello v Lossiemouth
Kirriemuir v Kelty Hearts
Largs v St Anthonys
Lochee Harp v Ardeer
Lochee Utd v Luncarty
Maybole v Brechin Vics
Newtongrange v Longside
Oakley v Rutherglen
Penicuik v Glenrothes
Petershill v Maryhill
Port Glasgow v Harthill
Rosyth v Dundonald Bluebell
Saltcoats v East Kilbride
Sauchie v Steelend
Shettleston v Dunbar Utd
Stoneyburn v Larkhall
Wishaw v Dunipace
Yoker v Craigmark

Ties to be played on Saturday 1st October.

Carluke Game Moved to Kingshill

The game against Carluke Rovers on Saturday September 10th has been switched to Kingshill Park as the Carluke ground is apparently unavailable.

Stonehouse Violet 0 Forth Wanderers 9

Forth got their season up and running today with a tremendous nine goal victory in Stonehouse. Goals and the rub of the green had been hard to come by in the first two league matches but this was a completely different story.



Despite missing three first team regulars the Wanderers went for the jugular from the off and were rewarded within 5 minutes when Kenny Wright cooly despatched a through ball past the keeper. Stonehouse fought their way back into the game and it took a couple of fine saves from Forth keeper Chic Clark to maintain the advantage. Gordon Murphy looked to have made it two on the half hour with a spectacular 25 yard shot but it was inexplicably ruled out by the referee. Forth were not to be denied however and a Felvus chance was turned into his own net by a Violet defender whilst trying to clear. Just before the interval, Kenny Wright burst through on goal, slid the ball past the keeper and was brought down. Red card and penalty to the Forth. Wright made no mistake from the spot. Tony Traynor sealed an excellent first half performance from Forth with a goal just prior to the break.  HT 4-0.

The talk at half time was whether Forth would take their foot off the gas in the second half but those thoughts were dispelled early on when a neat move left Tony Traynor with a tap in for the fifth. Kenny Wright then secured his hat trick with a sixth before a shot cannoned off the post and back off the keepers head and into the net for the seventh on 65. There was no let up from the Wanderers as they attacked relentlessly and it was no surprise when substitute Kris Jarvie notched the eighth on 70 minutes. The scoring was completed on 75 minutes when Bryan Felvus got his name on the scoresheet to cap a promising debut. Despite numerous other chances double figures were to elude the Wanderers but at the end no-one was complaining.



Fair play to a well beaten Violet side who never resorted to rough house tactics as the score mounted. Overall a cracking display which gives us the best goal difference in the league and augurs well for what should be a cracker against Blantyre Vics next week.

Jamie and the lads - that was superb, you've set the standard now let's maintain it !

'Mon the Forth.

Forth team : Clark,McClean,McGroarty(McKay),Napier,L.McKinlay,Stevenson(B.McGinlay),Canning,    Traynor,Felvus,Wright(Jarvie),Murphy


Stonehouse Violet Preview

Forth travel to face Stonehouse Violet tomorrow at Tileworks Park, hoping to avenge the two midweek defeats inflicted on them at the tail end of last season.

The Violet had one win and a draw in their League Cup group, identical to the Wanderers, and are also pointless after their first two league games. After a 4-1 home defeat to Johnstone Burgh, they narrowly lost 4-3 away to league newcomers Rossvale last week.

The Wanderers have Paul Gemmell and David Grant missing due to work commitments while Craig Crawford and Martin Harty are suspended. Kenny Wright is expected to return and manager Jamie McKenzie reports that he may have a new striker in the squad.

'Mon the Forth

Forth Wanderers 0 Maryhill 1

Forth slumped to a second succesive league defeat today at Kingshill Park, losing 1-0 to Maryhill through an early penalty. Once again though, Forth were the better team and it's surely only a matter of time until we're getting the results our play merits.
The game was only 3 minutes old when Maryhill scored from the penalty spot through Russell. Forth were architects of their own downfall however as an attempted passback to the keeper went out for a corner and from the corner Craig Crawford was adjudged to have handled. Russell made no mistake from the spot.
The game became rather ragged and chances were at a premium for both sides, although Maryhill struck the outside of a post and Craig Crawford shot straight at the 'Hill keeper when through one on one. Forth also had a decent shout for a penalty for handball, but where it was given at the other end, this time the referee waved away the strong Forth appeals. On such decisions games are won and lost and so it was to prove.


Forth keeper Chic Clark made a couple of good saves early in the second half before Forth took control of the game and created several chances. Kris Jarvie had a shot well saved and then headed just over before Brian McGinlay connected with a Gemmell cross at the back post only for 'Hill keeper Cannon to make a fantastic block on the line with his foot. A McGroarty free kick was then misjudged by the keeper and rebounded from the post with no-one on hand to follow up and score. Gordon Murphy then went on one of his mazy runs but finished by shooting weakly at the keeper. Tempers were becoming frayed and a spate of bookings followed culminating in Craig Crawford and Maryhill's Temporal being sent off deep into injury time.
Maryhill should have tied up the match when one of their substitutes was clean through but inexplicably he chose to shoot from 30 yards or so rather than advance on the keeper. Despite all the Forth pressure Maryhill held on and were obviously delighted to hear the final whistle.
The referee never seemed totally in control of a feisty match and his performance was summed up by him refusing to allow Forth to bring on substitute Mark McKay as he wasn't apparently on the team sheet. He relented when shown said team sheet and apparently the error was of his own making.


Reflecting on our league performances to date, it's hard to believe we're sitting pointless after the two games but I'm confident better days are just around the corner.

'Mon the Forth.

Forth team : Clark,Newall,Gemmell,Grant,L.McKinlay(Traynor),Stevenson,Canning(B.McKinlay),        McGroarty,Jarvie(McKay),Crawford,Murphy

Maryhill Preview

The Wanderers second league game is against Maryhill at Kingshill Park on Saturday. Maryhill were the bookies favourites for the Second Division before a ball had been kicked this season, having finished last season strongly and added to their squad during the summer. Their initial league game against Rossvale was postponed last weekend and they picked up 4 points in a strong Surridge League Cup group scoring 8 and conceding 9.

Last season the honours were even with Forth triumphing 1-0 at Kingshill thanks to a Gordon Murphy goal and Maryhill winning the return 3-1. Wanderers actually led 1-0 in that game through a Paul Gemmell goal but, despite a heroic performance from Forth keeper Jim Doherty, Maryhill scored three goals in the last 20 minutes to record a deserved victory.
Looking forward to this one as it has the potential to be a cracking game.
'Mon the Forth.

St Roch's 2 Forth Wanderers 1

The Wanderers began their league campaign with a narrow defeat to St Roch's at sunny Provanmill Park yesterday.


Forth will be disappointed not to have taken something from a game they should really have won. However, a combination of poor finishing and defensive lapses meant the points stayed in Glasgow.
Chris Newall was drafted into the team in place of Craig Napier at right back, in order to combat the height of the Roch's lineup and Paul Gemmell returned at left back.
Forth started brightly and took the game to their hosts although the home keeper was rarely troubled. When he was beaten by a vicious strike from Chris McGroarty his right hand post came to his rescue. The 'Candy Rock' forced their way back into the game as the half progressed and their tall number 9 scored the opener in the 37th minute.
Forth continued to press in the second half and got their rewards when a shot come cross by Gordon Murphy was fumbled by the Roch's keeper and ended in the back of the net on 75 minutes. Rather than go on and win the game, the Wanderers lost the winner in the 83rd minute when a Roch's substitute scored. Despite pushing everyone forward the equaliser just wouldn't come.
A disappointment then although it was a good day out with Provanmill Park being a friendly sort of place.

Forth team : Clark,Newall,Gemmell(Canning),Grant,McKinlay(Napier),Stevenson,Crawford(McKay),     McGroarty,Jarvie,Wright,Murphy

Shotts Bon Accord 4 Forth Wanderers 1

Forth were well beaten by Shotts tonight at an extremely wet Hannah Park.
Shotts, apparently without several first team regulars, were the better team throughout although the Wanderers had some decent periods of play especially in the first half.


From the start Shotts made good use of the expanse of Hannah Park and Forth had trouble throughout the game dealing with the pace down both wings. Although Forth had some decent possession they were unable to create any clear cut chances within the final third in the early part of the first half.
After some sustained pressure, including several corner kicks, Shotts finally made the breakthrough when their number 9, who was a threat throughout the match, stroked home from a cross 10 minutes from the interval. Two minutes later however, Forth were level after Kris Jarvie turned in an excellent left wing cross from Gordon Murphy. This goal was somewhat contrversial as the stand side linesman initially raised his flag for offside before putting it down and allowing the attack to continue.
Just as it looked as if the Wanderers would go in level at half time, Shotts were awarded a penalty when Lewis McKinlay handled after appearing to slip as a result of the wet underfoot conditions. The Shotts number 7 made no mistake from the spot.
Shotts continued to dominate in the second half and increased their lead after goalkeeper Clark blocked a free kick from the edge of the box only for the Shotts number 9 to follow up and score.The scoring was completed by Shotts substitute number 16.
On a sour note, one Shotts player was carried off on a stretcher after a seemingly innocuous foul and an ambulance was waiting at the end of the game. Here's hoping he makes a full recovery.
Forth team : Clark,Napier,Murphy,Grant,McKinlay,Stevenson(Canning),Crawford,McGroarty,Wright(Newall),Jarvie(Mathers),Harty

Next up the 'Candy Rock' away in the first match of the league campaign.

'Mon the Forth.

Forth Wanderers 3 Carluke Rovers 2 - The Wright Stuff !

Forth fought back from two goals down to defeat Carluke at Kingshill Park this afternoon with goals from Alan Cameron and a double from second half debutant Kenny Wright.


Carluke had raced into a two goal lead in the first half but Forth didn't let the heads go down and kept at them. They were rewarded when Alan Cameron tapped in just prior to the interval.  The introduction of Kenny Wright at half time seemed to rejuvenate Forth and they wasted no time in going for the jugular. It was mainly one way traffic toward the Carluke goal and Rovers seemed to have no answer to Wright's pace and movement. It therefore came as no surprise when Wright notched the equaliser and then hit what proved to be the winner with around 15 minutes remaining. Once fully fit, he should score goals for fun at this level  and certainly gives a different option in attack. Both teams also hit the woodwork in the second half but overall Forth merited the victory.
Next match is away at Shotts on Wednesday and it'll be interesting to see how the Wanderers fare against a team two divisions above them.
Forth team : Weir,Gemmell,Napier,Grant,McKinlay,Stevenson,Crawford,McGroarty(Canning),Jarvie,     Cameron,Grant (Wright)