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The opening weekend is always difficult to judge.
Some teams arrive with new signings, some have players returning from injury, others are still finding their feet — and then there are the players who simply pick up where they left off.
After going through the nominations from across the opening round of fixtures, we’ve picked our first Team of the Week of the new season.
There were some huge performances to choose from, with hat-tricks, wonder goals, match-winning displays and players stepping into unfamiliar positions to help their teams.
And with one player per club, there was plenty of competition for places.
🧤 GOALKEEPER
The Gladstone captain gets the gloves after producing exactly the kind of performance you want from your goalkeeper on the opening day. Several big saves while the game was still level proved crucial, and his contribution played a major part in Gladstone taking the victory.
🛡️ DEFENCE
This boys potential is limitless if he could play every week and Saturday showed just how good he is defensively.
Aggressive in the duels, willing to get forward and constantly involved in the game. Parfery produced a superb full-back performance and was named Vale of Leven’s Man of the Match.
A commanding display at centre-half. Kelly showed his quality both on and off the ball and gave Lomond a real presence at the heart of their defence.
First game as captain and another typically solid performance at the back. Led by example in an important victory.
⚙️ MIDFIELD
The classy REMO captain pulled the strings in midfield and added two quality goals to his performance. A player who looked completely at home dictating the game.
An absolute engine in the middle of the park. Dodsworth created going forward, broke up play and dominated the midfield battle. His performance earned him the Man of the Match award and a deserved place in our XI.
A hugely important figure in the Ansar midfield and one who saved his best moment for the very last kick of the game. His stunning strike from outside the box into the top corner rescued a point in dramatic fashion.
⚡ ATTACK
What a competitive debut. After showing plenty of promise during pre-season, summer signing Rashid carried that form straight into the league and helped himself to a hat-trick. Exactly the kind of start Red Star would have been hoping
The striker was at his best when he produced two delightful finishes helping his side to an 8-0 victory over JSFA FC
Straight back into goalscoring form. MacDonald fired home four times, including a brilliant long-range effort, to make sure Westhill started the season with a serious statement.
⭐ THE EIGHT SUBSTITUTES
GK – Div McKay – Camby FA
Commanded his box brilliantly from set pieces and produced a strong performance in Camby’s opening game.
DEF – Ben Hopkins – Cumbernauld Pumas
Excellent against the Rosebank attack, carrying the ball out confidently and picking the right pass when given time.
DEF – Evan Berry – Muirend AFC – Berry controlled the back four and gave the opposition very little to work with. He also popped up at the other end with the equaliser to make it 2-2 before Muirend went on to secure all three points.
MID – Jamie Mcleod – Castlemilk CFC Captain Jamie controlled the tempo of the game and showed his class in the middle of the park left Glencairn midfield chasing shadows at times
MID – Adam Spychala – North Kelvin United
At just 19, Spychala showed exactly why Lowland League clubs are keeping an eye on him. An outstanding performance driving North Kelvin forward.
MID – George McConnell – Rhu Colts
Two goals, an assist and a never-say-die attitude. McConnell also picked up Rhu’s Player of the Day award.
STR – Ben McAllister – River Nevis
Three goals. Hat-trick. Enough said.
STR – Connor Moore – Oban Saints Connor took his two goals well and worked hard for the full 90 minutes.
🏆 OUR 4-3-3
GK: Irwin Gray – Gladstone Athletic
DEF: Cailean Anderson -Pollok United
DEF: Mark Parfery – Vale of Leven
DEF: Dylan Kelly – Lomond FC
DEF: Gavin Innes – QPSFC
MID: Mitchell Clocherty – Remo FC
MID: Jamie Dodsworth – Tollcross AFC
MID: Zu Malik – Glasgow Ansar
FW: Rizwan Rashid – Clydebank Red Star
FW: Ryan Hughes – DTI AFC
FW: Kyle MacDonald – Westhill United
SUBSTITUTES
Div McKay – Camby FA
Ben Hopkins – Cumbernauld Pumas
Jamie Mcleod – Castlemilk CFC
Evan Berry – Muirend AFC
Adam Spychala – North Kelvin United
George McConnell – Rhu Colts
Luke Merrill – Westerlands
Connor Moore – Oban Saints
Ben McAllister – River Nevis
THE FINAL WORD
There were plenty of unlucky players left out.
Hat-tricks from McAllister and Aqib Ahmed, two goals from Scott Muirr, Luke Merrill’s two goals and assist, Ryan Cunningham’s incredible overhead kick and some outstanding defensive displays all made the selection particularly difficult.
But that’s exactly what you want from the opening weekend.
If this is the standard we’re getting already, the battle for a place in next week’s XI is going to be some going.
The season has only just started.
