Morton Castle, Dumfriesshire.
Okay, I'm proposing an annual derby between Greenock Morton and Queen of the South. The prize: Morton Castle. It's near Dumfries, but it's named Morton. Given that Greenock Morton travel to Dumfries today for a league match against Queen of the South FC, now would be the perfect time to begin this tradition. Winner of today's game gets the castle for a year.
The last time Morton visited Palmerston Park the Doonhamers trounced them 4 - 1. That game, and a Friday night mugging by Partick Thistle, are the reasons why Morton's goal difference is in negative numbers.
How do the First Division clubs stack up according to length of current residency? 1 year: Hamilton, Livingston, Ayr. 2 years: Falkirk. 3 years: Raith Rovers. 4 years: Ross County. 5 years: Morton. 6 years: Partick. 7 years: Dundee. 10 years: Queen of the South. Hamilton, Falkirk and Dundee were relegated from the Premier League. The other seven came up from the Second Division. For staying in the First Division, Queen of the South are best, but their tenure could end this spring if they don't get some points together.
Last weekend while Morton and Ross County were watching Victoria Park float away, the other eight First Division clubs all played to a draw, allowing Hamilton and Livingston slip ahead of Morton thanks to the Ton's minus 5 goal difference mentioned above. Note to copy editors: leave out the hyphen when you mention a goal difference. Plus-5 makes no sense.
You can read an appreciation of Queen of the South's Palmerston Park at Pie and Mushy Peas.
This weekend they're playing the semifinals of the Scottish League Cup, aka Scottish Communities League Cup, the one financed by drug money. Both matches are at Hampden Park: Ayr versus Kilmarnock today, and Falkirk versus Celtic tomorrow. (Celtic play a lot of their games on Sunday, have you noticed?) Kilmarnock and Celtic are the overwhelming favourites, so an Ayr v Falkirk final would be of surpassing awesomeness. Celtic have won the League Cup 14 times; the other three clubs combine for a total of zero wins. Who eliminated Rangers? Falkirk, in the third round. The last time a club from outside the top level reached the final was ten years ago (Ayr). The last time a non-top-level club won the cup was 1995 (Raith). The last time two non-top-level clubs met in the final was ... never. [Kilmarnock 1, Ayr 0, after extra time.] [Celtic 3, Falkirk 1.]
Here's a Glasgow Herald piece on Falkirk's Farid El Agagui.
The Greenock Telegraph has erected a pay wall, so I'll be linking there much less often in future.
Last weekend was round four of the Scottish Junior Cup. Auchinleck Talbot advanced. Largs Thistle's match was rained out and will be played today. [And it will, despite the cold weather. Hamilton v Raith, however, is postponed.]
[Ugh. Queen of the South win the castle, 2 - 1. Morton goal by Campbell. Largs and Arniston played to a 1 - 1 tie and will meet again February 4th.]
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