Fort's festive cracker
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CATCH ME IF YOU CAN: Wanderers' Kieran Smith on his way to a try last week.
It's a festive cracker at Fort Matilda tomorrow as top of the table Greenock Wanderers go head to head with second placed Glasgow Academicals.
It is yet another match of the day in the Scottish Hydro Electric National League Second Division. The visitors leapfrogged Lasswade last weekend, after the Bonnyrigg side's match was postponed, and now see themselves as legitimate promotion and title challengers.
Both sides are bang in form and, despite Wanderers' comfortable 48-33 early season win at New Anniesland, tomorrow's fixture looks too close to call.
The league table makes good reading for the locals, though, as they are currently 15 points clear of the Glasgow side. Assuming Lasswade secure two win bonus victories in their catch-up games would still be nine points clear of them.
With four home games to come in the concluding seven matches of the season it is very much advantage Wanderers, but there is plenty of hard work ahead.
President Dougie Sloan said: "The Glasgow Accies' match is probably the biggest and most important game we have hosted at Fort Matilda in several seasons.
"A victory would put us in a strong position with the festive break coming up and, as a club, we can take stock then and see what we have to do in the New Year.
"It's the final challenge of 2009 for the players and I know they want to play well, make the Fort Matilda crowd proud of them, and start 2010 on a high."
Indeed, Sloan's demand that the team make Fort Matilda a fortress once more has not fallen on deaf ears. Unbeaten at home this season, Wanderers have saved some of their best performances for the home support and they will be out in numbers tomorrow to cheer their favourites on to what they hope is another important win.
Coaches Dave McVey and Bob Adams were happy with the response from their players after that first defeat of the season a fortnight ago.
A comprehensive 10-try thrashing of lowly Cambuslang was just what the doctor ordered to get the side focused and back on track.
Tomorrow's fixture will be a step up in quality in terms of the opposition but the impartial view around the division is that Wanderers are the best side in the league and they will want to prove that tomorrow.
Adams said: "Accies are a well balanced side with strength up front and in their back division. I expect an expansive game from both teams and a hard battle up front.
"These are the games the players want to play in and be part of and, come 2pm tomorrow, we will be ready."
A late selection will determine the starting line up. Former skipper Chris Clark is available again after missing out last weekend and he will return to a back row that has been exceptionally effective this season.
Pack leader Matt Gray will once more lead from the front and, with the visitors being arguably the biggest side Wanderers have faced this season, the close quarter exchanges will be vital.
The coaches have tinkered with the backs' formation in recent weeks and remain tight-lipped about the starting line-up which suggests a surprise or two in store.
Greenock Wanderers v Glasgow Academicals at Fort Matilda, kick-off 2pm.
Squad: M Lavelle, R Lavelle, A McMichael, J McArthur, D Smith, M Duncan, M Gray, C Clark, A Love, A Abernethy, C Robb, A McDougall, A Devlin, L Tyley, K Smith, G Fletcher, D Watson, S Connolly, J Stewart, D Murray.

This article was posted on 19-Dec-2009, 08:06 by Hugh Barrow.