Seven Games In: A Look Back at the Braves’ Flying Start 🚀

The 2026/27 season is well and truly underway, and the Braves have wasted little time making our mark.

From dramatic late winners to nine-goal thrillers, comeback victories, big away performances and plenty of goals, the opening seven fixtures have delivered almost everything you could ask for.

With the Braves currently sitting third in the Lowland League West, level on points with the teams around them and separated only by goal difference, here’s a look back at how the season has unfolded so far...

Gretna 2008 2–3 Caledonian Braves

25 July | Lowland League West

The Braves got their league campaign underway on the road against Gretna 2008, and it was a perfect start.

After a goalless opening spell, James Graham broke the deadlock from an incredibly tight angle after taking it around the goalkeeper to give the Braves a 1–0 lead before half-time.

Dean Watson then doubled the advantage shortly after the restart, putting the Braves firmly in control.

Gretna, however, weren’t finished...

Two goals brought the hosts level and threatened to turn the opening-day fixture on its head. But the Braves showed their character right to the very end.

With just a minute remaining, the decisive goal arrived in the 89th minute, sending the Braves home with all three points after a dramatic 3–2 victory.

A winning start, and an early indication that this Braves side wasn’t going to give up easily.

Final score: Gretna 2008 2–3 Caledonian Braves

Watch the highlights vs Gretna HERE!

Caledonian Braves 6–3 Cumnock Juniors

1 August | Lowland League West

If the opening game showed the Braves’ ability to grind out a result, the first home fixture showed just how dangerous they could be going forward.

Nine goals were scored at Alliance Park as the Braves produced an attacking masterclass against Cumnock Juniors.

The goals came thick and fast in the first half.

Dean Watson opened the scoring in the 22nd minute before Ross McNeil struck twice in four minutes, with goals in the 28th and 32nd minute putting the Braves 3–0 ahead.

The second half brought more of the same.

Reece Mullen made it 4–0 in the 53rd minute, before Cumnock pulled one back four minutes later.

The Braves responded almost immediately, with James Graham restoring the four-goal advantage in the 59th minute.

Two further Cumnock goals in the 72nd and 81st minutes threatened to make things nervy, but the Braves had the final say.

Mullen found the net again in the 88th minute to complete his brace and put the game beyond doubt.

A thrilling 6–3 victory and the Braves’ first three points of the season at Alliance Park.

Final score: Caledonian Braves 6–3 Cumnock Juniors

Watch the highlights vs Cumnock HERE!

Beith Juniors 2–4 Caledonian Braves

8 August | Lowland League West

The Braves’ unbeaten start continued on the road at Beith Juniors – and once again, goals were on the agenda.

It took just eight minutes for Ross McNeil to open the scoring, producing a composed dinked finish to give the Braves the early advantage.

Beith responded almost immediately, equalising in the 11th minute before taking the lead from the penalty spot in the 35th.

But, in a recurring theme from the opening weeks of the season, the Braves refused to go into the break behind.

With one of the final kicks of the first half, Dean Watson restored parity.

The Braves came flying out of the second half, and Struan Thompson put them back in front in the 51st minute with his first goal of the season for the Braves.

The game then took another twist when Beith midfielder Taylor was shown a straight red card, leaving the hosts with ten men.

The Braves made their numerical advantage count, adding a fourth goal in the 64th minute.

There was still time for more drama, however, as the Braves themselves were reduced to ten men following a second yellow card for Stewart.

Despite that, the Braves held firm to secure another impressive away victory.

Final score: Beith Juniors 2–4 Caledonian Braves

Watch the highlights vs Beith HERE!

Albion Rovers 2–0 Caledonian Braves

15 August | Lowland League West

The Braves’ perfect start finally came to an end at Albion Rovers.

It was a closely contested first half, with neither side able to find a breakthrough as the teams went into the interval level at 0–0.

Albion eventually broke the deadlock in the 54th minute before adding a second late on in the 88th minute.

And unfortunately, the Braves just couldn’t find a way back into the game, suffering their first defeat of the campaign.

But despite the result, the opening weeks had already given the Braves plenty of momentum – and there was little time to dwell on the loss.

Final score: Albion Rovers 2–0 Caledonian Braves

Watch the highlights vs Albion HERE!

Caledonian Braves 2–2 Clydebank

18 August | Lowland League West

Just three days later, the Braves were back at Alliance Park for another highly anticipated fixture.

Clydebank arrived with coachloads of supporters behind them, creating a fantastic atmosphere for a game that would ultimately deliver drama at both ends.

The visitors struck first, taking the lead in the 11th minute.

But once again, Dean Watson proved to be the man the Braves could rely on when they needed a goal.

With one of the final kicks of the first half, Watson found the equaliser to send the teams into the break level.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with Clydebank again finding an early goal to move back in front.

As the clock ticked towards full-time, the Braves looked destined to suffer another narrow defeat...

Then came the moment.

In the dying moments, Braves centre-back Erik Šuľa stepped up with a rare but hugely important goal, finding the equaliser and sending Alliance Park into celebration.

Clydebank had been reduced to ten men in the 81st minute, and the Braves took advantage of the extra man to get the equaliser and push for a winner, but ultimately the points were shared.

Final score: Caledonian Braves 2–2 Clydebank

Watch the highlights vs Clydebank HERE!

Renfrew 1–3 Caledonian Braves

22 August | Lowland League West

Four days later, the Braves were back on the road – and produced one of their most convincing performances of the season so far.

Against Renfrew, the Braves were dominant from the outset and eventually turned that pressure into a devastating spell of three goals in just ten minutes.

Ross McNeil opened the scoring in the 23rd minute before Struan Thompson doubled the advantage from about 25 yards just four minutes later.

Then, in the 33rd minute, Connor McLaren added a third from a freekick curled into the bottom right-hand corner to put the Braves firmly in control.

Renfrew managed to pull one back in the 77th minute and were handed an opportunity to make things even more interesting when they were awarded a penalty shortly afterwards.

But there was to be no comeback.

Ross Connolly produced a superb save from the spot to preserve the Braves’ two-goal advantage and ensure a comfortable 3–1 away victory.

Three points, three goals and another statement performance on the road.

Final score: Renfrew 1–3 Caledonian Braves

Watch the highlights vs Renfrew HERE!

Caledonian Braves 5–2 Kilwinning Rangers

29 August | Lowland League West

The Braves’ latest league outing brought an in-form Kilwinning Rangers side to Alliance Park, with the visitors sitting just ahead of the Braves in second place before kick-off.

It didn’t take long for Kilwinning to show why they had been near the top of the table, taking the lead in the 17th minute.

But if there was any concern around Alliance Park, it didn’t last long.

Just two minutes later, Struan Thompson levelled the game.

Then came another burst of Braves attacking brilliance.

Dean Watson put the Braves ahead in the 23rd minute, before Aiden Malcolm scored his first goal of the season in the 31st. And what a finish it was – cutting onto his left foot at a tight angle and finding the top-left corner.

And he wasn’t finished.

Just two minutes later, Malcolm doubled his tally from the right hand side with another screamer of a finish to give the Braves a commanding 4–1 lead before half-time.

Kilwinning were awarded a penalty early in the second half and, despite Connolly going the right way, the spot-kick was expertly placed into the bottom-left corner.

Once again, though, the Braves responded immediately.

In the 52nd minute, Ross McNeil carried the ball into the opposition's area and produced a trademark curled finish to restore the three-goal advantage.

The Braves saw out the remainder of the game to record a hugely impressive 5–2 victory against one of the league’s leading sides.

It was another nine-goal thriller at Alliance Park – and another three points for the Braves.

Final score: Caledonian Braves 5–2 Kilwinning Rangers

Watch the highlights vs Kilwinning HERE!

Seven Games. 23 Goals Scored. Plenty More To Come.

Seven matches into the campaign, the Braves have already established themselves among the early pace-setters.

With five wins, one draw and one defeat, the Braves currently sit third in the Lowland League West, level on points with the teams immediately around them.

And it’s incredibly tight at the top.

Auchinleck Talbot, Pollok, Caledonian Braves and Largs Thistle are separated only by goal difference, meaning every point – and potentially every goal – could prove crucial as the season progresses.

The numbers make for encouraging reading too.

23 goals scored across seven league games underlines just how much attacking threat the Braves have shown in the opening weeks, while players such as Dean Watson, Ross McNeil, Struan Thompson, Reece Mullen, James Graham and Aiden Malcolm have all made their mark on the scoresheet.

But the focus now turns to September...

What’s Coming Up?

The Braves face a busy month, with league action joined by the start of our cup campaigns...

Kilwinning Rangers – Away

5 September | Scottish Challenge Cup

Just a week after their 5–2 league victory over Kilwinning, the Braves make the trip to face them again – this time, with a place in the second round of the Scottish Challenge Cup at stake.

Auchinleck Talbot – Away

12 September | Lowland League West

A huge test awaits as the Braves travel to face current league leaders Auchinleck Talbot in what promises to be one of the biggest fixtures of the month.

Clydebank – Away

15 September | Lowland League West

Just three days later, the Braves are back in league action against Clydebank, looking to build on the dramatic 2–2 draw between the sides at Alliance Park.

Newton Stuart – Home

26 September | Lowland League West

The month rounds off at Alliance Park as the Braves welcome Newton Stuart, having been away from home for nearly an entire month.

Seven games down, but this is only the beginning...

The Braves have already shown attacking firepower, resilience and an ability to find results when games look to be slipping away.

Now, the challenge is to keep the momentum going.

September awaits.