Important points up for grabs as Luncarty and Kinnoull face off in Perthshire derby

The East of Scotland League’s Premier Division kicks-off 2024 with a tasty-looking Perthshire derby at Brownlands Park.

Luncarty host Kinnoull for the first competitive action of the new year and it is a fixture where both teams are very much requiring three points.

The Bleachers sit second-from-bottom of the standings on six points from 14 matches while their Perth visitors occupy the foot of the table with just four points.

That adds an extra bit of spice to the tussle aside from, of course, all the usual bragging rights that come with victory.

Luncarty defender Gregor Donald is a former St Johnstone youth player who actually played for Saturday's opponents Kinnoull last term.

“The boys know it’s a big game this weekend,” Donald told the PA. “We know Kinnoull are better than the table suggests so we are expecting a tough game against them.

“There is always going to be a bit of bite in a derby game. Obviously playing there last year, I know Kinnoull will be right up for the game but so are we so it should make for a good one.”

Luncarty have picked up two league wins this season but did piece together a special Scottish Cup run which was eventually ended by Bo’ness United.

Donald believes the Bleachers have the ability and attributes to climb out of the relegation places by the end of the campaign.

The immediate aim is to reel-in third-from-bottom Glenrothes and then set sights on the likes of Crossgates, Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts and Hill of Beath Hawthorn.

“We know this is a tough league with a lot of good teams in it,” Donald went on to add.

“We still believe that we have the quality in the changing room to climb the table and pick up points.”

Luncarty’s last league game was back on December 23 - a hard-fought