The Perthshire Advertiser, etc. from Perth, Tayside, Scotland • 52

MUTCH G. MUTCH SHORE ROAD PERTHSHIRE SHORE ROAD. PERTHPERTH 24 Hr Breafrdowr l's 30291 'a ADVERTISER Recovery Dery TZ 30291 'a DAY OR NIGHT Celtic Wakens Fulton RIDING along on the crest of a considerable Wave, St Johnstone players are not being allowed the luxury of a blank Saturday in the middle of a hectic season. The first round of the Scottish Cup is due tomorrow and Saints, with a bye, have no intention of resting on their laurels. Manager lan Gibson has fixed up an attractive friendly game against a Celtic XI.

And just to show that the men from Parkhead FRIDAY, December 5, 1986 PRICE 22p squad at Muirton tomorrow are treating the Perth trip seriously, tomorrow's kick-off will be at 2 p.m. The reason? Celtic are due to fly off to the Persian Gulf in the evening and some of the Perth-bound squad have to be back in Glasgow for that trip. This suggests that Davie Hay is sending some of the men on the fringe of first team duty which should be a boost for the Muirton spectators. Celtic have been invited to the Middle East to play in Dubai in a challenge match against Liverpool. "It should be a good test for our players," said lan Gibson yesterday.

"Hopefully, we will learn something, especially from some of the opposi- tion who have had mier League experience." The Muirton boss made clear that the last thing he wanted was his players to be off watching some other game or, at worst, doing the Christmas shopping! He feels it is important to keep the impetus going for a squad that has grown away from the bitter taste of defeat. "I would hope that most of our squad will be involved at some stage or other of this game," he continued. Certainly, I will be changing the defence from last week with Willie Watson suspended for our next league game at Berwick." This will certainly mean that Gerry Crawley will return to the midfield after his four-game suspension. Dougie Barron, who has been taking his place, will move into the back four alongside Gordon Winter in central defence. It merely underlines the importance of having a strong pool nd more suspensions are on the way with Willie Brown up to maximum points for bookings as is the boss himself.

But there should be cover with Watson only facing a one-game suspension and Derek McKay waiting to get into the side if Willie Brown is ruled out. Joe Ward also breathing down necks for a regular first team place. Team skipper Andy Millen, too, is lurking in the wings after making full recovery from bad burns sustained at work. Meanwhile, all these players could figure at some stage of tomorrow's game and the Muirton management are hopeful that there will be a decent turnout despite the friendly tag. Note again the 2 p.m.

start and Saints say that all the usual turnstiles will be in operation and the prices will be as for a Second Division game. This means a 1.50 charge for the ground with pensioners and youngsters at El and 2.50 for the stand. Gerry Crawley is set to make his comeback tomorrow against Celtic after a four-game suspension. The former Ousen's Park, Dumbarton and Brechin player has only made three St Johnstone appearances since being fixed up by lan Gibson on October 10. He now lives and works In Perth.

Favourites at leanfleld Park JUNIOR fixtures tomorrow are Scottish Junior Cup (2nd round) Perth Celtic Pollock, Blairgowrie Ardeer Thistle, Petershill Jeanfield Swifts, Lanark United Salbeggie. Preston Athletic Bankfoot, Cum. bernauld Luncarty. Drybettugh Cup fiasl) Carnoustie Kinnoull. Division Two Coupar Angus Scone Thistle.

Six Perthshire clubs are involved in the Scottish Cup second round ties, tomorrow, but only two have the luxury of home ties. Celtic entertain last year's runners-up, the crack Cen. tral Region side Pollock. This year's favourites will prove an extremely difficult task for Celts, but the Cup's history is strewn with fallen favourites and Celtic certainly don't think it's beyond their capabilities to end Pol. lock's hopes for this season.

Celtic are expecting to be at full strength. Key defenceman Dave Dalt, unavailable last week, is expected to resume. quietly confident they can do it this time. Petershill are having a comparatively poor season, while Swifts, after stuttering and spluttering since the start of the season, now seem to have settled down and are on a winning streak. They have further enhanced their chances by strengthening their pool with two new players.

Goalkeeper Bert Main, who was with Kilmarnock at one time, has moved to Perth to take up a position with the G.A. The other player joining up at Simpson Park is Balbeggie's Ray Miller, who has been swopped for Swifts' defenceman Brian Pearson. Both Main and Miller are in Swifts' pool for tomorrow's tie. Full back Andy Hall, from the Jeanfield under 18s, also put pen to paper in weeek. Andy, a promising youngster, will remain with the under 18s at present.

Balbeggie will have their new man Brian Pearson in their line-up against Lanark United at Lanark. Once again, this is a tough one as Lanark are current leaders of the Central League. However, Balbeggie are a good cup side and have provided a few shocks in the past. Luncarty are still without a win this season, so what better than to break their duck in the Scottish? They visit Cumbernauld, the team that reared Kenny Dalglish. They are not the side they once were, but with home advantage must start as favourites tomorrow.

Luncarty will have a new signing in their pool ex- Saint Paul Hannigan, who joined up at Muirton from the crack Dundee under 18 team Menzieshill. Alan Sinclair, who has been out of action for a couple of months, is now fully fit and is also included in the pool of 16. Bankfoot travel to meet Preston Athletic without fullback Russel Cosgrove, who has been out with a thigh muscle injury. He returned to play in Rankles' midweek friendly against Arbroath, but suffered a recurrence of this injury. There are also doubts about Sandy Smith and Eddie O'Conner.

'Smithy' has a groin strain while O'Conner has been down with flu. Banktoot striker Jimmy Fenton who has been knocking in the goals regularly is again in the senior eye and "the team concerned are very interested" said manger George Brown. Kinnoull are engaged in a domestic tie, meeting Harp at Beechwood in the quarter final of the Drybrough. Ray Pollock is out of the Kinnoull pool for this game as he is attending a wedding. Mark Taylor is doubtful with an injured knee and is likely to have a late fitness test.

Gordon Scott, out with flu last week, returns. Coupar Angus and Scone meet at FoxhaU in a Division Two match. Coupar are likely to be without the injured lan Bannerman and Andy Lawson. JUNIORS Secretary Hugh Taylor hopes that the Perth public will turn out to support his team. Pollock have probably the biggest support in the Scottish Junior game and could possibly bring up to 2000 fans with them! Pollock come to Perth with an experienced pool containing three ex-seniors stated in the past week.

This brings the total of es senior men on their staff to eight. Blairgowrie have Ayrshire side Ardeer Thistle at Davie Park. Ardeer compete in the tough Ayrshire Region and that is enough to suggest they will be difficult to beat. An excellent encounter is in prospect and Davie Park is likely to house one of its biggest crowds of the season. Jeanfield visit Petershill.

the Central Region side once nicknamed the Wee Ranger's. Swifts have lost to the Glasgow side three times in the Scottish, but Swifts are 151 off All Stock (EXCLUDING SPECIAL OFFERS) SPORT LEISURE. 7 CONY PUCE PERTH. 31039 Perthsn.re Ao.erbaer. 36 'Tay Street.

Perth. TtslephOns Perth 26211 leditonal and adverhsingi Prweect and published every Tuesday and Fnday by Sunpnnt for Scomsh and Universal Newspapers 36 Tay Street. Perth Registered at the General IVO OP as a alawspaper Cheque for weightlifters weekend. For, they took a car with them, carrying It round the 1 1 2 mile circuit. Completing the exercise in 45 minutes, the sponsored lift round the North Inch was in aid of Perth Rotarians At a special presentation this week, Dickson's managing director.

Norman Dickson (right) handed over a cheque for £l5O to club secretary Ashley Sinclair with club chairman Pete Crawford looking on. Top prize for Perth Masters PERTH'S major curling event for men starts today. The Cream of the Barley Perth Masters has attracted all the top teams in Scotland plus a team from Denmark, who will compete for the biggest prize money in the British Isles. The first prize is £lOOO plus goods to the value of £232. The total prize money amounts to 2360.

The Danish team of Hans Gufler finished 6th in the Masters in 1984 but, since then, they have represented Denmark in the European and the Glasgow Silver Broom in 1985. They have gained a lot of experience but will he severely tested in the first round when they meet Bill Whiteford and his Kirkcaldy team who finished 4th last year. Unfortunately, Lindsay Scotland had to turn down his invitation when he won the play-offs to represent Scotland in Denmark at the European Championship next week. David Smith, Perth, the current Scottish champion, will be out to prove he is still the best in Scotland and he meets Keith Letton, Glasgow, in the first round. Alistair Scott, who skips one of the best young teams in Scotland, has a tough opening game with Gordon Muirhead, Kinross.

Peter Wilson, Stranraer, will be out to complete a hat-trick having won the Weatherseal in Edinburgh last weekend and the Ayr International three weeks ago. He meets Stewart Cobb. Gogar Park in the first round. Cobb, who has come in as a late replacement for South, of Aviemore, is no mean curler having won the playdowns in Gogar Park year and will be no ease task for Wilson. Another top game will be Billy Howat, Ayr, the 1985 Scottish champion who meets Gordon Russell and his Bank of Scotland team.

Other Scottish teams in action this weekend are David Aitken, Gogar Park, the current Junior World Champion, Andrew McQuistin, Stranraer, past Junior World Champion, Cohn Hamilton, Murrayfield, past Scottish champion, Graeme Adam, Lockerbie, past Scottish champion, plus our own top teams from Perth. It's all set for a great weekend's curling. IN the domestic. cUitiag scene, the Forteviot League, sponsored by the Perth Property Centre, has reached the half way stage and in section Abernethy lead with 15 points from eight games but Dunning CURLING are hard on their heels with 14 points from eight games. In section the Clydesdale Bank are top with a maximum of 16 points with Perth Medicals also on 16 points, but from nine games.

In Division 2 of the Ross Seed Super League, Alan Glen looks set on the trail with a total of if points from six games, three points clear of his nearest rivals Neil Fleming and Frank Garvie. On Wednesday night, the Upper Strathearn Province played for the Presidents Cup which was won by Comrie Ladies with Auchterarder Ladies runners up. Just to complete the fair sex "take over" the cup was presented by Nancy McLaren, who, for many years, was one of the top curlers in the Strathearn League. 4. 4 IP I 1 ta i 4 ese MI 6 1.

0. 4 't tiii: ''s I 41 4104 1,10 0101 4 MEMBERS of the Inch Powerlifting and Polio-Plus Campaign and club funds. Bodybuilding Club took part In a spon- The car, a Mini-Metro, was provided by sored walk with a difference last Dickson's of Perth..