The 10 best Scottish lower league players this week

January 11, 2017

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1. Dylan Nguene Bikey (Stirling Albion)

The Binos may have spent a large chunk of the season kicking about the arse end of League Two, but it’s hard not to be jealous of them, due to the fact they’ve signed a player with such an incredible name. Dylan Nguene Bikey signed for the Albion on amateur terms in November after leaving Dieppe, but he may not be in Stirling too long judging by his appearances to date. His two goals in the 3-0 canter against Clyde made it seven goals in seven appearances for Dave McKay’s men, and his overall performance in this one will have done nothing to dissuade the loftier suitors who are starting to circle. For Clyde, this was another disastrous day for Barry Ferguson and his team, and his after-match comments were certainly illuminating, claiming he wasn’t to blame once the players crossed the line. Perhaps Barry should stick to starring in videos of him and his brother sitting in the living room rather than this management malarkey.

2. Marvin Bartley (Hibernian)

It was difficult to know what was more impressive from a Hibernian perspective on Friday evening, either their scoreline, or their performance, in an utterly dominant 3-0 win over second placed Dundee United. All of this was apparently played out in front of a full-house, at least that’s what Hibs social media kept banging on about, despite the fact there were 1100 fewer in attendance than the Ramsdens Cup final between Rangers and Raith Rovers at the same venue. Either Easter Road has gotten smaller recently, or Hibs are the first team to achieve a partially full sell-out. What a club. On the park, it was a toss up between two candidates for the game’s outstanding individual, with Marvin Bartley just edging it from Chris Humphrey against a United team who were unsurprisingly guff, considering their outfield consisted of a left-back, three centre-halves and six central-midfielders. Hibs won’t be in the Championship next season. Dundee United could very well be.

3. Craig Sibbald (Falkirk)

With 47 minutes on the clock of Raith Rovers versus Falkirk, just a few seconds after Craig Sibbald had scored Falkirk’s fourth goal of the afternoon, a blind Rovers fan grabbed the handle of his black labrador’s harness, and stormed down the stairs and out of the stadium in a huff. When even a blind man has seen enough, you know the game’s a bogey. The old fable is that Rovers generally go through a winter slump, but considering they’ve won just three games in 16 (SIXTEEN!) they’ve clearly been rank rotten for longer than just the coldest, darkest period of the year. Returning centre-half Peter Grant had a solid match for the Bairns, but with two goals Craig Sibbald took the man-of-the-match honours as Falkirk moved further ahead of the Kirkcaldy comedy club in the play-off chase.

4. Dom Thomas (Queen of the South)

For the last 18 months or so, a number of Terrace regulars have suggested that St Mirren would eventually turn a corner. They thought it last season when they languished in mid-table, and they pondered it this season when they cobbled together a few wins a month or so ago. However, a cursory glance at the highlights of their 3-0 loss to Queen of the South on Saturday would seem to confirm that they’re absolutely snookered. New signing Dom Thomas was a key man in Queen’s routine win, and in the process, ruined an admittedly bad joke that involved changing Gary Naysmith’s second name to Naywins. At full-time, St. Mirren boss Jack Ross bravely clambered into the home stand to discuss matters with a particularly nonplussed Buddies fan. It’s a good job he didn’t decide to chew the cud with every disgruntled punter, as he’d have been there till Thursday.

5. Ross Forbes (Morton)

Can anything derail the Jim Duffy’s dreadnoughts? Jai Quitongo appears to be out long term after surgery, while madcap central-defender Gavin Gunning has flown the coop to England, but they still had too much for Dumbarton at the weekend, defeating Steve Aitken’s remodelled Dumbarton 2-1. Admittedly that owed much to a slice of luck, with referee John Beaton deciding that Aidan Nesbitt falling over while in five yards of space definitely warranted a penalty to the ‘Ton. Ross Forbes has been one of Morton’s best performers this term, and whilst he was short of his best on Saturday, he was still arguably the best in show as the Cappielow club retained their third place, putting six points between themselves and fifth placed Raith Rovers.

6. Shane Sutherland (Elgin City)

Stuart Petrie’s Montrose side returned to earth with something of a thud on Saturday, losing 3-0 to Elgin City following a run of four games without loss. The defeat meant that the Mo’ slipped back down to ninth, but with five teams all within two points of one another at the foot of League Two, they’re not exactly short of company down there. For Elgin, the match winner was again Shane Sutherland, who’s brace of goals means he’s now provided 19 of Elgin’s 65 competitive goals this term. With 12 points to make up between themselves and Forfar, a title tilt seems slightly far fetched, but they look set to battle Arbroath to decide the best of the rest in the basement tier.

7. Kallum Higinbotham (Dunfermline Athletic)

They’ve been the butt of a few jokes recently, but the Pars appear to have found their groove in the Championship. Saturday’s 2-0 win over Ayr United was about as comprehensive as a two goal win can be, and for Kallum Higinbotham it was something of a redemption after the winger missed two penalties in a minute the last time the two teams met at East End Park. The former Killie player didn’t etch his name on the scoresheet, but he controlled the tempo of the match and was instrumental in Dunfermline’s killer second goal, whipping in the cross from which Andy Geggan made it two. Allan Johnston’s men may still currently be closer to the relegation playoffs rather than the promotional variant, but after seven games unbeaten their fans can look up the table rather than down.

8. Scott Pittman (Livingston)

A reasonably sedate first half of Peterhead versus Livingston was no precursor of what was to occur in a ring-a-ding-ding second period, with five goals and a frankly bizarre refereeing decision from referee David Lowe and his assistant. With the scores tied at two apiece, Peterhead midfielder Simon Ferry was woefully short with a pass-back to his goalkeeper Graeme Smith, allowing Liam Buchanan to nip in and round the stricken Smith, before slotting into the empty net. Unbelievably, the effort was disallowed for offside, although since the team on the receiving end of the decision was Livi, everyone just laughed. Undeterred though, the Amber Machine, spurred on by midfield impresario Scott Pittman, grabbed a late winner in the 3-2 win to take advantage of Brechin and Airdrie’s slip-ups, extending their lead at the top of League One to nine points.

9. James Penrice (East Fife)

The biggest fear for some East Fife fans when Gary Naysmith left the club recently for pastures new wasnt’t that he’d taken away his managerial and tactical acumen from the club, but that he was also their first-choice left-back. However, Barry Smith’s first signing may just have allayed those fears, with the on-loan acquisition of James Penrice from Partick Thistle. The 18-year-old put in a fine debut performance against Livingston the previous weekend, but he lifted that up a notch against a Stenhousemuir side who must have been left wondering how they managed to lose this one by a goal to nil. There’s also a sense of wonder about East Fife’s form right now, with this their sixth straight win in succession, lifting them from the relegation play-off spot to just three points from fourth.

10. Anton Brady (Queen’s Park)

If you follow The Terrace on Twitter, then you’ve probably seen Anton Brady recently, due to him being involved in Queen’s Park’s opening goal in their 2-1 win over Airdrieonians. The viral nature of the well worked goal probably makes it the second most popular short clip in Scotland, just behind those group of boys telling their pal Ally to fuck off right after the poor sap gets bodied by a double-decker bus. That wasn’t Brady’s only involvement on the day though, with the former St. Mirren midfielder at the forefront of a dominant win for Gus McPherson’s men. After a surprising setback against Stranraer last weekend, the win takes them to within three points of second place, and with Brechin and Airdrie starting to stammer and stumble, the amateurs look a great bet for the play-offs.

 

Written by Shaughan McGuigan


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