Why the 2019/20 Lowland League is shaping up to be a real cracker

Six titles, three different teams - but a new champion this year?

Since the Lowland League's inception in 2013, three teams have won the title twice each: Edinburgh City - who went on to reach the holy grail of SPFL football - East Kilbride, and Spartans.

This year, however, there will almost certainly be a new champion. The Kelty Hearts juggernaut shows little sign of slowing down but Bonnyrigg Rose, having fought so hard to actually ensure they would be playing Lowland League football this term, aren't prepared to let go of the Fifers' coat-tails just yet.

The New Dundas Park side have two games in hand on the league leaders, while both teams have one draw and one loss so far - and just six points separate the two.

Kelty aren't sweeping opponents aside with the same gusto they were in the early part of the season but they are still grinding out results, and Rose have developed a knack for scoring vital last-minute goals at home and away to keep pace with Barry Ferguson's team.

Don't bet against the title race going down to the wire - the 29 February meeting between the top two at New Central Park could be one heck of a game.

Unpredictability

There's a feeling in Scotland's fifth tier that any team is capable of beating another, regardless of current standings or form.

Spartans, so often there or thereabouts in the upper reaches, have found themselves scrabbling about just outside the top four and are regularly trading places with near neighbours Civil Service Strollers in fifth and sixth place.

Strollers themselves, meanwhile, are continuing to progress under Gary Jardine's leadership - both sides won at the weekend; a Craig Newall strike giving Strollers the points at home to Gretna 2008 while Spartans ran out 5-2 winners against ten-man Edinburgh University, while the teams have one win apiece from the two North Edinburgh Derby matches this term.

Could the north Edinburgh pendulum be swinging away from Ainslie Park and towards Marine Drive?

Meanwhile East Kilbride, reigning champions, have only managed back-to-back home wins on two occasions this term, with three of the four victories coming against teams currently in the bottom four. They've hit a decent run of form with four wins on the trot but they're still 23 points behind the league leaders - and were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Gala Fairydean Rovers on Saturday.

A special mention, also, to East Stirlingshire and BSC Glasgow who currently share third place on 47 points and could be ones to watch in next year's title race - or even this year, if one or both of Kelty and Bonnyrigg suffer a collapse of epic proportions.

It's rarely dull

There have been three goalless draws in the Lowland League this season. Three. Just three. Out of 172 games!

In addition to that, there have been a number of high-scoring games. In late July, Bonnyrigg Rose won 5-3 away to Berwick Rangers. Barely a week later, the University of Stirling drew four-all with Cumbernauld Colts. In October, Caledonian Braves drew 5-5 with Dalbeattie Star at Alliance Park.

So far this term there have been ten 4-1 wins, five 5-1 victories and two 6-1 scorelines. East Stirlingshire trounced Gretna 2008 9-1 back in August, East Kilbride put seven past Cumbernauld Colts without reply last month and the Colts scored seven themselves in this weekend's 7-1 win over basement boys Vale of Leithen. The Shire also put six past Dalbeattie Star and Spartans emerged 5-2 winners at East Peffermill from their clash with Edinburgh University in the last round of fixtures.

Kelty Hearts have posted some impressive scorelines in their maiden season in the division, putting 11 past Vale of Leithen in mid-December; beating Edinburgh University 7-1 a month earlier and consigning poor Gretna 2008 to another heavy defeat - this time a 10-0 reversal - in late August.

If there's one thing you can count on in the Lowland League it's entertainment - and goals.

The relegation battle

Three points is all that currently separates four teams at the bottom end of the table. Gretna 2008 and Dalbeattie Star are in 13th and 14th place respectively on 11 points each with just three goals keeping them apart.

Edinburgh University are a point worse off in 15th (with a game in hand on the other three clubs) while Vale of Leithen are anchored at the bottom on eight points.

League newcomers Berwick Rangers, who were relegated to the division after losing to Cove Rangers in the League Two play-off final in May, aren't completely out of the woods yet either, despite sitting nine points clear of Gretna and Dalbeattie on 20 points.

If one team embarks on a positive run, it could get very interesting at the business end of the season, and with several fixtures involving the struggling teams, there are a few six-pointers on the horizon.

Cheap thrills

The Lowland League prides itself on offering "affordable football". Most clubs charge adults between £5 and £7 for entry while concessions can cost around £3 / £4 for single-game tickets.

Some clubs also let children in for free with parents paying a reduced entry fee while sample season ticket prices include £25 (BSC Glasgow), £70 (Spartans) and £75 / £85 (Dalbeattie Star and East Kilbride).

At a time when followers of top-tier clubs fume at ever-increasing ticket prices, the Lowland League's pricing structure makes it a viable option for football fans who don't want to shell out close to three figures for a matchday experience.

Next season's newcomers?

Promotion to the Lowland League is determined through a play-off between the East of Scotland Premier Division winners and their South of Scotland League counterparts.

As things stand, that match will be contested by Bo'ness United, who currently enjoy an 11-point lead at the top of the Premier Division and Threave Rovers, who have a ten-point lead and three games in hand on their nearest rivals Mid-Annandale.

Bo'ness are still in the process of obtaining an SFA Licence, having had a visit from the Association and "positive talks" but whichever team makes the step up to the Lowland League, they won't be there just to make up the numbers - as Bonnyrigg and Kelty have shown this term.