"Added incentive" of local bragging rights as Jeanfield Swifts and Kinnoull meet in Perthshire derby

The eyes of the local footballing scene will turn to the Riverside on Saturday afternoon.

That is where the Perthshire derby between Jeanfield Swifts and Kinnoull will take place in what is both teams’ final fixture of the year.

Swifts, on home soil, will head into the East of Scotland League Premier Division battle as clear favourites on paper after an impressive season to date.

Robbie Holden’s men sit second in the standings and are well within striking distance of current leaders Broxburn Athletic.

Kinnoull, on the other hand, are positioned bottom of the table having tasted victory in just one of their 13 league matches this term.

They are on the hunt for points and quickly in an attempt to reel-in fellow Perthshire outfit Luncarty - who sit second bottom - and others directly above them.

Swifts, looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat to Hutchison Vale, eased to a 5-1 win over Kinnoull in the reverse tussle at Tulloch Park earlier in the campaign.

But boss Holden has played in enough local fixtures himself to know that the form-book often goes out the window on derby day.

And he has certainly not been taking the league standings into account when preparing his players for this weekend’s match.

“I think with every derby the league placing doesn’t matter,” Holden explained to the PA.

“Everyone has the added incentive of the local bragging rights.

“We have played twice already this year so the two teams know each other well.

“We are expecting a tough game. Kinnoull have been improving a lot.

“They have brought a lot of players in from the start of the season so it takes time to gel, but they are going to be a challenge for us.”

Holden is determined to finish the year on a high having enjoyed a memorable