Game 8: Whitburn Juniors 2-3 Armadale Thistle

Thursday 21 July @ Central Park, Whitburn

From one Central Park to another for Game 8, an intriguing looking West Lothian derby pre-season friendly match.

I nearly didn’t make this one. Somehow I had it in my head that Armadale Thistle were hosting the game at Volunteer Park, only to discover on getting there that it was on a few miles up the road in Whitburn.

A thorough rain soaking and five-minute taxi ride later, I got into Central Park, Whitburn-style just a couple of moments after the 7.15pm kick off time.

Game 7: Cowdenbeath 3-1 St Mirren

Tuesday 19 July @ Central Park, Cowdenbeath

I wasn’t short of match options for this Tuesday evening but decided to accompany my good friend Steven Dow, proprietor of Edinburgh football retailer Football Nation to Cowdenbeath.

Our Under 19 side had a game arranged in Edinburgh with Craigroyston, but with no cover on offer at St Mark’s Park and the rain showing no sign of abating, Central Park seemed like the better option.

Game 6: Heart of Midlothian 1-0 Royal Antwerp

Sunday, July 17 @ Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh

It was inevitable that I’d see a stinker of a friendly eventually, and this was it.

I suppose that it goes with the territory; after all, pre-season friendlies are all about preparing for the competitive challenges ahead and giving players a chance to get ‘match fit’.

Scottish Pre-Season Fixtures & Results 2011

I’ve moved all the pre-season results and fixtures to a new page: http://davesfootballtravels.wordpress.com/scottish-pre-season-2011/

Updates still being made!

Game 5: Livingston 1-0 Heart of Midlothian

Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ Braidwood Motor Company Stadium, Livingston

It’s fair to say that I didn’t expect that four tough looking pre-season friendlies against SPL clubs to come and go without a Livi home defeat.

After his defeat of a composite Hearts team, that’s the reality though, and it’s certainly a confidence booster for the start of the competitive action against Airdrie on Saturday.

Game 4: Broxburn Athletic 4-1 Stoneyburn

Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ Albyn Park, Broxburn

A midday kick off at Albyn Park in this one meant I was able to put together a pre-season ‘double’, this being the first game of the day.

Albyn Park has recently undergone a transformation and as well as a substantial pavilion building, a seven-figure investment from Broxburn United Sports Club, West Lothian Council and Sportscotland has seen a floodlit 3G artificial pitch installed.

Game 3: Livingston 1-1 Inverness Caley Thistle

Saturday, July 9, 2011 @ Braidwood Motor Company Stadium, Livingston

Another friendly against so-called superior opposition and another good showing from our lads.

Inverness brought a full strength side to Livingston but going by their performance, Terry Butcher has quite a bit of business to do before the SPL campaign.

In fairness, Caley are halfway through a rebuilding job while our side is settled, and that undoubtedly contributed to the fact that we were the better side on the day.

Aruba postscript

Just as a follow-up to the ‘One Night in Aruba’ post, it seems that the Aruban national side contrived to blow their 4-2 first leg lead against St Lucia in the World Cup qualifiers.

Going into the second game with what looked like a decent cushion, they fell to a 4-2 defeat at Mindoo Philips Park in Castries on Tuesday night before losing the penalty shoot-out.

So, with nearly three years still to go until the big event in Brazil, Aruba’s hopes of progress in the 2014 World Cup are over.

That first leg victory might still see them jump a couple of places in the FIFA World Rankings though – the next update is due on July 27.

Game 2: Livingston 2-1 Hibernian

Tuesday, July 5, 2011 @ Braidwood Motor Company Stadium, Livingston

I know, I know. Results in pre-season don’t really matter.

Nevertheless I thoroughly enjoyed this one, as my team put together a great team performance to earn a good result against SPL side Hibernian.

Kenny Deuchar got the evening off to the best possible start with a goal inside a minute and from there on in, we rarely looked like surrendering the lead.

One night in Aruba

The qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil is already underway in earnest with some of CONCACAF’s minnows involved in playing preliminary games.

Amongst the big ties at this elementary stage is Aruba v St Lucia with the first leg resulting in a slightly surprising 4-2 victory for Arubans last night.

The match was played at the grandly named Complejo Deportivo Guillermo Prospero Trinidad which is situated on the outskirts of the island’s main town Oranjestad.

I was fortunate enough to visit the Caribbean island of Aruba on honeymoon last month and thanks to a very understanding new wife managed to squeeze in a game at the Trinidad Stadium while I was there.