Perthshire Junior football news

Nov 10 2009 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

Perthshire Juniors

KINNOULL, Blairgowrie and Jeanfield Swifts had excellent results in their respective league games.

Kinnoull accounted for Ballingry and toppled them from their second from the top spot in the table, which the Perth side now occupy.

Blairgowrie improved their Premier League position with an away win at Tayport while Swifts did likewise in the Central League with an away win against Thornton Hibs who were second from the top in the table.

Kinnoull sailed into the attack from the kick off against Ballingry and they had them on the back foot and after only 12 minutes they took the lead with a goal that caused a few blushes in the Fifers defence.

A clearance from their goalkeeper to his full back was played on to the centre half who for some inexplicable reason decided to pass it back to his keeper who obviously noted that Gary Sweeney was lurking just outside the penalty box unmarked and the striker gathered the ball and took a few paces forward before hitting a left foot shot past the keeper.

Kinnoull kept up the momentum and with only five more minutes on the clock they doubled their lead with a second goal from Gary Sweeney.

This time the striker met with a cross from Neil Gardiner and powered a header past the keeper.

Ballingry strived hard to get back into the game but were frustrated by timely interventions from a resolute defence and a couple of top drawer saves from keeper Duncan Bruce.

The Fifers strived hard to get back into the game in the second half but again their attacks were repulsed by good defensive play and it left two of the regions most feared strikers Craig Smart and James Adam looking rather frustrated as their side remained goalless.

Kinnoull continued to have their fair share of the attacking play and in 70 minutes they virtually made sure of the points when Mark Duigan crossed to Jon Kelly and he nodded it down to Garry Sweeney who swept the ball past the keeper from 10 yards to complete a perfect strikers hat trick, one with the left foot, a header and one with the right foot.

The game had a rather disappointing finish as three Ballingry players were sent off in the last five minutes, one it appeared for a foul on an opponent, while the others getting second yellow cards for disputing the referees decision.

Kinnoull boss Scott Brown was delighted with his teams performance and a deserved win.

Blairgowrie were given a boost before their game against Tayport at the Canniepairt Ground when two of their key players Barry McLean and Allan Cruickshank, who were nursing injuries, were given the all clear from late fitness tests.

This turned out to be a rather dour struggle with much of the play confined to the midfield.

The Blair defence was solid and they dealt with the Tayport assaults on their goal and in their raids on their opponents goal always looked dangerous and it was in one of those that Blair scored the winner.

The two Blair players who passed fitness tests had a big hand in this goal. Barry McLean picked up a through ball, shrugged off a tackle and then swept out a great pass to Allan Cruickshank out on the right wing. He in turn made tracks for goal and Allan crossed a great ball into his striker Gary Axworthy who was on the edge of the penalty box. The youngster turned his marker, took a few steps forward and fired a well struck shot into the corner of the net for a well taken winner.

Jeanfield Swifts came close to scoring twice in the early stages of the game when a Kevin Fowler volley from 18 yards came rattling back off the post. Then a shot from Mike Waring was turned round the post for a corner by the keeper which was fired into the goalmouth where it was met by Jamie Reilly who was left with an easy chance but he headed the ball past the post.

The Hibs came more into the game and in 28 minutes they opened the scoring when a break down their left by John Halley saw him cut in and square the ball back to Stuart McDonald who promptly slammed it past keeper Mark Mitchell.

Ten minutes later McDonald and Swifts David Hannah had a confrontation and the referee considered it serious enough to send them to the pavilion.

The second half had only been in operation four minutes and two goals had been scored. The first of which saw the Hibs stretch their lead to 2–0, Adam Drummond was the scorer.

Swifts retaliated immediately and a mazy solo run down by Jamie Reilly saw him cross the ball into the heart of the goalmouth and Hibs defender John Dickson in trying to clear the ball knocked the ball into the back of his own net and it was 2–1.

A few more minutes the now rampant Swifts were back on level terms. A great pass from Craig Milne to John Anderson who cracked the ball into the back of the net from 15 yards and it was 2–2.

Swifts were in command now and by the 71st minute they had swept into a 4–2 lead.

David Thornton got the first of those goals and this was followed by a penalty strike from John Anderson with his second goal of the game. A minute later it was Hibs turn to be awarded a penalty after a tackle on an opponent by Nial Cassidy. This award seemed a rather harsh decision but whatever the rights and wrongs of the decision Adam Drummond scored to make it 4–3 with his second goal of the game and that’s how the game ended and Swifts came home with three points that keeps them within touching distance of the league leaders.

Scone Thistle the big counties sole survivors in the Scottish Cup were dismissed from the cup when they lost at home to Arbroath Vics in their second round clash by 3–0.

Ryan Low gave the Vics the lead after six minutes. He was on the six yard box and unmarked and had no difficulty in steering the ball into the back of the net. After this goal little was seen of them as an attacking force. After this early setback Thistle attacked almost incessantly but they scorned a host of chances that could have given them a comfortable interval lead and the Vics went in ahead for their half time cuppa.

The opening two minutes of the second half proved to be a disaster for Scone as the Vics added two further goals to their tally and Craig Watson was the scorer of both goals.

Thistle were now three goals adrift and they went about the business of trying to get back in the game as they mounted attack after attack but like the first half they just couldn't put chances they created away and so ended there Scottish cup hopes.

Coupar Angus were away to Arbroath SC in the North league and they lost to their hosts by 4–3 after being two goals in the lead.

Coupar opened the scoring with a cracking 25 yard strike from Steven Leahy. SC got back on level terms with a penalty goal from Ross Sievwright in 44 minutes.

Ten minutes into the second half Andy Murray restored Coupar’s lead with a goal from close range. Coupar extended their lead when Steven Leahy scored from the penalty spot to make it 3–1.

SC’s Ross Sievwright reduced the leeway for SC when he made it 3–2 and Dave Williams brought them back on level terms in 82 minutes with a headed goal. In the final minute of the game SC were awarded a second penalty and Ross Sievwright completed his hat trick with a goal from the spot to make it 4–3 for the Arbroath side.

Luncarty were away to Broughty Athletic in the GA Cup and unfortunately the Bleachers interest in this competition was virtually at an end by the interval as they trailed their opponents 5–0. Josh Perera had scored all five goals.

The Bleachers improved in the second half and had one or two chances but their score sheet remained blank and Bobby Brown put the icing on the cake for Broughty when he made it 6–0 with the only goal of the half.

Luncarty are holding a quiz night tonight (Tuesday), commencing at 7.30pm, in their social club.

RESULTS (November 7): Emirates Scottish Cup second round – Scone Thistle 0, Arbroath Vics 3.

Bukta Teamwear.com Leagues: Premier League – Kinnoull 3, Ballingry 0; Tayport 0, Blairgowrie 1.

Central League – Thornton Hibs 3, Jeanfield Swifts 4.

North League – Arbroath SC 4, Coupar Angus 3.

GA Cup first round – Broughty Athletic 6, Luncarty 0.

Match Off – Lochgelly A v Bankfoot Athletic.