Knowledge equals power, and power equals respect. Get a healthy does of all three with Shaughan McGuigan’s lower league recap.
10. Graeme Smith (Brechin City)
Okay, it might not have been one of the more positive performances of the weekend, but it was a performance nonetheless. Trailing 2-1 to Ayr United in injury-time, the Glebe Park goalkeeper elected to join in the attack as the away side forced a corner, and rightly so, there’s been some memorable, magical moments involving such a move. Smith’s involvement did indeed leave a mark, but it was to Ayr defender Peter Murphy’s face, after the custodian elected to blooter him with his elbow. Quite why remains a bit of a mystery, and whilst violence should never be applauded or encouraged, unless you’re clobbering Joe Pasquale of course, there’s no denying that Smith’s People’s Elbow is, well, brilliant.
9. Smarticus Osadalor ( Annan Athletic)
The media have lapped up Dundee’s new central defender Julen Etxabeguren Leanizbarrutia, apparently fascinated as much by his tongue-twisting name as his career path. Frankly, however, when it comes to the finest name in Scottish football, Julen has to play second-fiddle to Smarticus Osadolor. The Nigerian started his senior career with Partick Thitle, but after drifting around the Juniors and spending a year in the US, he was snapped up by Annan boss, Jim Chapman. Smart was on the scoresheet for the second time this season, with a goal that came right from kick-off in the second half, and while the run from Smarticus was audacious, it owed more to some top-notch guffery from the Stirling Albion players. Goal aside, Osadolor looked quite at home on the right of midfield, and if not for some profligate finishing, could well have added an assist or two to his amusing looking goal. Expect some, “I Am Smarticus” merchandise to be appearing outside Galabank soon.
8. Bryan Hodge (Forfar Athletic)
There was something of a family feel to this League One clash over the weekend. As ever, Forfar featured three Campbells, with the twins Dick and Ian running the show, while son Iain was deployed at left-back. The Wee Rovers began matters with the Dunlop brothers in the centre of defence, and there was a Young apiece, with Forfar player Derek coming up against his sibling Darren, the Albion Rovers player-boss. It would be the Derek and the Campbells (a fine name for a band, incidentally) who emerged the happier, after the Loons eventually pulled away in the latter stages to record a 4-0 win. Youngster Kerr Hay caught the eye, coming off the bench to snap up two late goals, but it was Bryan Hodge particularly impressed as a defensive midfielder, adding an extra layer of protection to a back-line that once again looks like it’ll be difficult to break down. Just how difficult will be seen in midweek, when Forfar take on a rampant Dunfermline side in the Challenge Cup.
7. Gary Fraser (Montrose)
The off-season summer months can have a restorative effect on some teams, as it allows managers to right the wrongs and root out the dead wood, with early divisional pace-setters Rangers, Dunfermline and Elgin City all fine examples of teams who look to have put last season’s travails behind them. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Arbroath, who have started this season in a manner that’s every bit as keich as how they ended the last. Gary Fraser was the main beneficiary of the Red Licthties wretchedness, with a man-of-the-match performance that featured two goals and an assist, as Montrose trampled over their opponents in a one-sided Angus affair by three goals to nil. His first saw him rifle home a knock-down from Ross Campbell, and his second was almost a carbon copy, but with Ross McCord the provider. Unlike Todd Lumsden’s Arbroath, Paul Hegarty appears to have made Montrose a far tougher proposition this time round.
6. Joe Cardle (Dunfermline Athletic)
Joe Cardle has had a tendency to be something of an enigma during his career. Under-appreciated at Raith Rovers and under-utilised at Ross County, Cardle can, on occasion, look too good for Scotland’s second-tier, but when given the opportunity, he’s struggled to adapt to life in the rarified air of the Premiership. He’s like Scottish football’s answer to Robert Earnshaw, only unlike the Weshman, Cardle actually listened to his dentist. Whatever Cardle’s natural level is, it’s clear that it isn’t League One, as for the second time this season he tormented a Cowdenbeath team that had no answers for him during the Pars 7-1 canter. Cardle wasn’t slow in filling his boots, wading in with the final goal in both halves to take his tally for the season to five, as Johnston’s side ran amok. Neither Joe Cardle, nor Dunfermline, will be at this level too much longer.
5. Mark Kerr (Falkirk)
Mark Kerr’s potted history points to him being a divisive figure, both in the stands and the dressing room. His ignominious exit from Queen of the South with John Baird last season came under a cloud, as both decamped to the Falkirk Stadium with reputations as rapacious rabble-rousers. The truth in such a tale is difficult to ascertain, but the Bairns fans haven’t been slow to grumble about Kerr’s performances in the embryonic stage of the campaign, completely sullying their recently won tabloid accolade of the fans with the sunniest disposition in Scotland’s second-tier. During Saturday’s 1-0 win over Raith Rovers however, there’s no doubt that Kerr was the difference between a win, and a drab, hum-drum draw. For 80 minutes he’d barely misplaced a pass, as he routinely found teammates, with neither Ryan McCord or Ross Callachan knowing quite how to deal with the metronomic midfielder. Perhaps despairing of his colleagues wastefulness, he went himself with ten minutes remaining, pinging a 25-yard effort past Kevin Cuthbert for the win. Kerr may never win any popularity contests, but he certainly can win football matches.
4. Garry Fleming (Dumbarton)
It was reasonably predictable when this season’s fixtures were produced that Rangers would be leading the way at the top of the Championship table after a couple of matches. That Dumbarton would be up there with them, proudly displaying a similar 100 per record, well, that was less calculable. A fiendishly tricky looking couple of games against two of the three perceived favourites for the title led most onlookers to conclude that Steve Aitken’s new charges would initially, at least, toil to get points on the board. Saturday’s 2-1 win over St Mirren, however, would suggest that the victory over Hibernian the week previously was no fluke. Whilst the opening day success over the capital club was all about Willie Gibson’s nous and trickery, this was more to do with Garry Fleming’s guile and derring-do. Taking up a deeper position behind fellow striker, Steven Craig, he didn’t give the precocious, naïve looking Saints rearguard a moments peace, as Ian Murray’s men struggled to get to grips with his industrial performance. His penalty winner was a fitting post-script to a fine, match-winning show, as the Sons rise continues.
3. Kyle Wilkie (East Fife)
One of the many, many unwritten rules about football is that former players will always come back to deliver a crushing blow at one stage or another. It’s a maxim that is perhaps more prevalent in the lower-reaches of the Scottish game, with so many well kent faces sloshing around the leagues. Kyle Wilkie only spent a short period on-loan at Berwick Rangers last season, but considering his performance on Saturday, perhaps Colin Cameron should have done more to convince the left-winger to return. Not only did he score a couple of goals, the first a sumptuous, bending effort which made it 3-0, he demonstrated awareness and skill to provide an assist for Kevin Smith to make it 2-0, as the Fifers overpowered the Wee Gers in a 5-0 romp. It was the perfect response from East Fife after a disappointing and lacklustre defeat to East Stirling on the opening day.
2. James Tavernier (Rangers)
Much has been made of Nathan Oduwa’s ham-fisted attempt at trickery in this lopsided Alloa v Rangers contest on Sunday afternoon, which is a shame, as a highlight from the commentary box has been sadly overlooked. Within it, Derek Rae was at his informative, erudite best, telling all-and-sundry that Tavernier was in-fact pronounced, Taver-near, rather than the French sounding enunciation that most had presumed. Despite the fact that co-commentator Stuart McCall was sat right next to Rae during his fine piece of upskilling, he persisted in pronouncing the name incorrectly for the duration of the match, presumably with Derek shaking his head every time whilst wishing Gary McAllister was back alongside him. Whatever his name, Tavernier was instrumental in the majority of the good things within the Rangers performance, immediately pinning back Alloa’s right-hand side and lashing in a goal in the opening minutes. The 5-1 rout also included a couple of Tavernier assists, and if the Englishman keeps up this kind of form, McCall might even learn how to say his name properly.
1. Faissal El Bakhtaoui (Dunfermline Athletic)
Four, five, six, seven. No, I’m not misquoting Steps songs, and how could I? H and the rest of the crew dropped some of the hottest albums of all time, featuring both infectious melodies and unforgettable lyrics. No, it’s of course a reference to Dunfermline’s upward curve in regards to goals scored from their first four games. El Bakhtaoui was mentioned last week, but thoroughly deserves to be included again after scoring a brace for the fourth match in succession, as Dunfermline swatted aside their Kingdom opponents Cowdenbeath in a 7-1 win. Four of his eight have come in the first ten minutes of matches, perhaps making you wonder what on earth he’s doing for the other 80-or-so. Having surpassed last season’s total of seven, it’s clear that he, and Dunfermline are in for a bumper season.
Written by Shaughan McGuigan @ShaughanM
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