It’s another hectic week and the big matches just keep coming, as we head to a supporter’s favourite away day in Benburb for our 22nd GreenVersity WOSFL Premier Division match of the season.
β½οΈ Benburb versus Troon F.C. β½οΈ
Saturday 22nd March 2025
GreenVersity WOSFL Premier Division
New Tinto Park, Govan
Kick-off 2pm
A hectic month with 7 matches in 4 weeks is drawing to a close with Benburb and Largs next Saturday to come, and after many ups & downs we are still sitting joint second behind Champions-elect Clydebank. Clydebank are far & away the best side in the league this season, and it was great to watch us go toe-to-toe with them on Tuesday & only miss out by the finest of margins, so that should give the players & coaching staff real confidence coming into the home run of the league campaign.
Benburb have had a season of transition following the departure of long-serving Manager Paul Lovering last season, and with the appointment of David & Robbie Winters as Co-Managers they are showing the appetite they need. The Bens are in a 6 way battle to avoid the bottom three in the division, with them currently sitting with their head just above water in 4th bottom. But with the possibility of maybe even 4 teams going down (depending on promotion & relegation at the top of the WOSFL and the bottom of the Lowland League) they have a real hunger for points we have to be aware of.
Hereβs everything you need to know ahead of Saturdayβs matchβ¦
Nathan Baird had to be helped from the pitch on Tuesday with a calf injury, so he’ll miss this weekend while we await a diagnosis & a timescale on that. He adds to a growing injury list, which isn’t unusual at this stage of the season.
Sam Jamieson got his stitches out on Monday after a horrible looking injury against Shotts which tore off half his ear, he’s fully focussed on returning to the squad very soon although this weekend might come a bit too soon for him. Callan Veitch’s ankle injury sustained at Beith would appear to be a little more serious than first thought & he is likely to be missing for a little longer than anticipated. Jack Sherrie is awaiting news on surgery for a hernia issue, which is a real blow.
In transfer news, Grant Brennan has joined Thorniewood on loan for the rest of the season & Aldin El-Zubaidi has departed this week. Two good lads & we wish them all the very best.
Of our long-term absentees, Scott McLean underwent knee reconstruction surgery last Friday following his ACL injury, and it was great to see him at the game on Saturday so soon after! The prognosis is better than feared, so all our best wishes go out to Scotty as he embarks on his rehabilitation programme. Ewan McLevy has received good news that he does not require surgery on his knee injury, and he is now into his rehab which will see him eventually return to the side.
Fantastic experience that on Tuesday night, a really good game between the top two sides in the division in front of nearly 800 fans at Holm Park. Really proud moment to see us in a position like that on merit, and for us to lose out in the finest of margins was very frustrating. We had probably the better of the chances in the first half at 0-0 and defended well to limit Clydebank to few chances, so it was frustrating coming away with no points. But with a bit of perspective after the event, we should be proud to see our team competing at that level & giving a good account of ourselves. It shows we’re not far away from where we want to be, which is winning things & that gives us real cause for optimism.
It’ll be interesting to see Benburb now that the Winters brothers have been in situ for a period of a few months now, when we faced them in September they were barely in the door & trying to put their stamp on the side. You could absolutely see what they were trying to do then, so they’ll be an even tougher proposition now I’m expecting. Two really good guys & excellent football people, sure they’ll take Benburb where they want to go. A challenge we need to overcome, that’s for sure.
Jimmy Kirkwood (Manager)
| Full Name | Benburb Football Club |
| Nickname(s) | The Bens or The Chooky Hens |
| Founded | 1885 |
| Ground | New Tinto Park, Govan |
| Capacity | 1,000 |
| Club President | Frank Lovering |
| Co-Managers | David Winters & Robbie Winters |
| Captain | Ryan McCrone |
| 2023-24 | WOSFL Premier Division, 11th from 16 |
β½οΈοΈ DECLAN McDONALD β½οΈ
An old-fashioned centre-forward, Declan certainly needs no introduction to the Troon defence after his two-goals stole the show in our encounter last February.
The 23 year old left New Tinto to join Darvel upon the expiry of his contract in the summer, but he quickly re-joined the Bens in late August. The new management team will be hoping he is crucial to their rebuild.
β½οΈοΈ ALAN LITHGOW β½οΈ
A strong & experienced defender of some reputation, Lithgow is a very recent signing for the Bens after leaving St. Cadoc’s.
Began his career with Hearts before a stellar career in the SPFL with Clyde, Dumbarton, Ayr, Airdrieonians, Livingston & Greenock Morton. Has shown his class against us last season, and the Winters’ will hope he can guide them to safety this season.
Β© Thanks to our club photographer Graeme McKenzie for his photos
Benburb
| LOST | DREW | LOST | LOST | LOST |
| 1-4 | 1-1 | 0-5 | 4-1 | 3-0 |
| Drumchapel (H) | Glenafton (A) | Auchinleck Talbot (H) | Largs Thistle (A) | Drumchapel (A) |
| Wed 19th March | Sat 15th March | Sat 8th March | Sat 1st March | Sat 15th February |
| WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | Scottish Junior Cup QF |
Troon F.C.
| LOST | LOST | WON | DREW | WON |
| 1-0 | 0-3 | 0-5 | 0-0 | 2-1 |
| Clydebank (A) | Drumchapel (H) | Beith (A) | Shotts (H) | Hurlford (H) |
| Tue 18th March | Sat 15th March | Sat 8th March | Wed 5th March | Sat 1st March |
| WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier | WOSFL Premier |
If you can’t make it along to the game , you can keep up to date with all the latest info via the club’s social media channels:
Live updates from the BRAND NEW official Troon F.C. Twitter feed (I’m not calling it X yet)
- Team news pre-match
- Goal alerts
- News flashes
- Real time alerts
Make sure you follow our NEW feed!
Match news via the official Troon F.C. Facebook page
- Team news pre-match
- Half-time score & update
- Full time results
All news on the club FIRST via the official Troon F.C. WhatsApp Supporter’s Group chat
- Vote for your Man of the Match
- Info on functions & events
- Book your seat on away buses
- Discuss the match with fellow Troon fans!
It was 6 points out of 6 for the Chooky Hens in our league matches with Benburb last season, something the Seasiders will be looking to put right this season.
AWAY MATCH
| Saturday 9th September 2023 | Match Centre |
| BENBURB |