Troon face the second clash in a run of three crucial away matches with a trip to the KG Stadium to face Blantyre Victoria, as the Seasiders embark on the second half of a campaign they hope will secure their place in the Premier Division for next season.
⚽️ Blantyre Victoria versus Troon F.C. ⚽️
Saturday 15th January 2022
PDM Buildbase WOSFL Premier Division
Portland Park, Troon
Kick-off 1.30pm
After a successful first half of the season in 2021, Jimmy Kirkwood’s men have made a strong start to 2022.
Last Saturday’s confidence boosting win over Kirkintilloch Rob Roy will have the Portland Parkers on a high which, following on from a 5-3 victory over Bonnyton Thistle, was the perfect start to 2022 for the Seasiders. But a challenging run on the road of Blantyre & then Sauchie in the South Challenge Cup next week will test our team to the full.
Anyone who watched that defeat at home to Blantyre in August will be shocked to see our visitors that day have only collected one more win since then, after a free-flowing display at Portland Park. Something has gone wrong somewhere, but we must beware of that display coming into this Saturday’s match & be hungry to make amends.
Blantyre currently sit in 19th place in the Premier Division table, 26 points behind us sitting in 8th.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s match…
We’re now starting to see our squad return to full health, after the festive break came at a good time for us to rest some battle-weary players.
Josh Black has sat out the last couple of games with a knock, but he is targeting the Sauchie game for a return to action. Mark Morrison & Chris Murchie have returned to the pitch in the last couple of weeks after undergoing surgery, which has been a massive boost for the squad, and we are hoping to get both back up to 100% in the coming weeks.
Ben Black is suspended for today’s game, after his controversial red card in last week’s win at Kirkintilloch Rob Roy. Jack Sherrie is still out with illness.
Of our long-term absentees, Todd Henderson has returned to training after injury & hopefully we will see him back in a Troon jersey very soon. Ross McCrea (knee) remains out.
Looking forward to Saturday and another tough challenge.
We know how capable Blantyre are, inflicting defeat on us (deservedly) earlier in the season. I’d like to think our players will want to put that right, we certainly do.
It’s an important run of games we are on at the minute, and hopefully we can send the travelling support back to the seaside with 3 points in tow.
Dean Keenan (Assistant Manager)
⚽️ SCOTT GIBSON ⚽️
The former Queens Park Captain joined Blantyre last summer from Cumbernauld Colts & was a fantastic signing for the Vics.
The no-nonsense former Airdrie & Annan centre-back made over 123 league appearances in 7+ years at Hampden before being unceremoniously released by Ray McKinnon, and is an outstanding defender.
⚽️ AARON BLACK ⚽️
21 year old forward Aaron was a promotion hero at Blantyre, after their campaign in 2019/20 ended with the Vics controversially sharing the title with Darvel. He joined the Recreation Park side that summer, but returned to the KG Stadium on loan in October to get more game time.
Quick & tricky, and with the ability to create something out of nothing, he’s certainly one for us to beware of.
Blantyre Victoria
| LOST | v | Fauldhouse United | (A) | 2-1 | Saturday 22nd January 2022 |
| LOST | v | Pollok | (H) | 0-1 | Saturday 15th January 2022 |
| LOST | v | Hurlford United | (A) | 2-1 | Saturday 18th December 2021 |
| DRAW | v | Irvine Meadow XI | (A) | 1-1 | Saturday 4th December 2021 |
| DRAW | v | Broxburn Athletic | (H) | 3-3 | Saturday 20th November 2021 |
Troon F.C.
| WIN | v | Kirkintilloch Rob Roy | (A) | 2-3 | Saturday 22nd January 2022 |
| WIN | v | Bonnyton Thistle | (H) | 5-3 | Saturday 15th January 2022 |
| WIN | v | Saltcoats Victoria | (H) | 4-1 | Tuesday 28th December 2021 |
| LOST | v | Rutherglen Glencairn | (H) | 3-1 | Saturday 18th December 2021 |
| WIN | v | Rossvale | (H) | 2-1 | Saturday 11th December 2021 |
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 official Troon F.C. Twitter feed: @Troon_FC
- Team news pre-match
- Goal alerts
- News flashes
- Real time alerts
Match news via the official Troon F.C. Facebook page
- Team news pre-match
- Half-time score & update
- Full time results
Troon and Blantyre didn’t face each other during the 2020-21 season, which was eventually declared null & void due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
In season 2019-20, Troon survived relegation in the SJFA West Premiership while Blantyre Victoria romped to the Super First Division title, and promotion, after a season long battle at the top with Darvel.
📆 PDM BUILDBASE WOSFL PREMIER FIXTURES – SATURDAY 29th JANUARY 2022 📆
(after last weekend’s matches)
Referee: Chris Gentles
Assistant Referee One: James McCluskey
Assistant Referee Two: Daniel Taylor
Referee Observer: To be appointed
For travelling supporters, follow the Google Map below for directions to the KG Stadium.
🚌 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗕𝗨𝗦 🚌
We’re hoping to run a bus to the Blantyre Victoria match on Saturday, and are gauging interest from supporters with Covid restrictions lifting.
⏱ 11.15am – Departs Troon
⏱ 11.25am – Pick-up at Barassie road end
⏱ 11.30am – Pick-up at Dundonald Bus Stop
⏱ 11.45am – Pick-up at Kilmarnock Athletics Stadium
⏱ 12.20pm – Arrive at KG Stadium, Blantyre
⏱ 12.30pm – Blantyre Victoria Social Club opens!
⏱ 1.30pm – Kick-off!!
⏱ 4.30pm – Departs Blantyre
💵 £10 per seat
To confirm the bus, you 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗧 reserve your seat. Please contact Richard, Billy or John Redmond 👇🏻💺
Tickets are available at the turnstiles at the KG Stadium:
| Adult: | £7.00 |
| Concession: | £4.00 |
A detailed match report will be posted in the match centre after the game, with the team line-ups, scorers, bookings & some match photos, on the specific match page for the fixture.
To visit the match centre, CLICK HERE.
⚽️ Troon Development Team versus Irvine Meadow XI U20s ⚽️
Friday 28th January 2022
Sense Over Sectarianism Lowland Development League (Conference F)
QMA, Ayr
Kick-off 8pm
⚽️ Sauchie versus Troon F.C. ⚽️
Saturday 5th February 2022
The South Challenge Cup (3rd Round)
Beechwood Park, Sauchie
Kick-off 2.30pm