Match Preview: Tollcross vs. Ratho Athletic
- rathoathleticafc
- Feb 14
- 2 min read
Match Preview: Tollcross vs. Ratho Athletic
LEAFA Premiership | Saturday, 15th February | KO: 1 PM | Meadowbank Sports Centre
Ratho Athletic return to action this Saturday with a tough away fixture against reigning LEAFA Premiership champions, Tollcross, at Meadowbank Sports Centre. Fresh off a dramatic 4-3 victory over Edinburgh Strollers, Ratho will be looking to build momentum and secure another three points.
Last weekend’s win was a tale of two halves, with a below-par first 45 minutes followed by an explosive second-half spell that saw us net four goals in just 20 minutes. The focus now is on carrying that intensity from the start against a Tollcross side desperate to turn their form around.
Current Form & League Standings
Both teams sit in the middle of the table, with Ratho just ahead of Tollcross and holding a game in hand.
• Ratho Athletic (6th place) – P9 W3 D4 L2 (Last 5: W3 D1 L1)
• Tollcross (7th place) – P10 W4 D1 L5 (Last 5: W1 L4)
Tollcross haven’t had it all their own way this season and come into this match on a difficult run of form, losing four on the bounce. However, as defending champions, they remain a dangerous side and will be determined to bounce back.
Meanwhile, Ratho Athletic have shown resilience in recent weeks, picking up 10 points from the last five league games and steadily climbing the table. The team has found a good balance between defensive solidity and attacking threat, but last week’s slow start against Edinburgh Strollers was a reminder that consistency over 90 minutes is key. A win here would not only extend the gap from the bottom half but also show that Ratho are serious about pushing further up the table.
The Stakes: A Crucial ‘Six-Pointer’
With both teams fighting to move away from the bottom half of the table, this fixture is a classic ‘six-pointer.’ A Ratho victory would create a valuable gap, while Tollcross will see this as a must-win to halt their slide.
Player & Management Thoughts
Ryan Neilson (Defender):
“We are looking to build on our recent form. Last week we didn’t start off well and personally was well below the levels I’ve set for myself and the team has set, but we showed the character to get the win. Tollcross is always a tough game and a match we are fully focused on winning. The boys trained well, and we are right up for it and determined to get the three points.”
David Whelan (Manager):
“Looking to build on three points last week and an opportunity to climb the table, taking the quality and intensity from training into the game from the start and turning our 30 minutes of great football into a full performance this week.”
Bradley Crane (Manager):
“A very tough game this weekend against Tollcross. A big improvement is needed across the 90 from last week—we won’t get away with starting slow. Looking forward to it.”
Follow the Action
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