Jeanfield stroll to derby day win

Jan 13 2009 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

SATURDAY’S fixture list was decimated by the awful weather and the games involving Bankfoot, Blairgowrie and Coupar Angus were al called off due to pitches being unplayable.

The Scone Thistle v Jeanfield Swifts derby did go ahead, along with and Kinnoull and Luncarty’s matches, and were played in atrocious conditions.

The Scone-Jeanfield Central League derby clash nearly didn’t take place at all.

In the process of erecting their goal posts, Thistle unfortunately damaged a crossbar and it couldn’t be repaired immediately.

It looked as if the game may have to be called off but Swifts came to the rescue and brought a crossbar from their own ground and the game kicked off just a few minutes late.

Thistle president Scott Farquarson said: “We are indebted to the Jeanfield committee for their terrific co-operation and prompt action which got us out of a predicament and allowed the game to go ahead.”

The first half of the game ended goalless although Swifts undoubtedly had the lion’s share of the attacking play and won seven corners.

But a combination of good Thistle defending and poor finishing by Swifts the game remained at a stalemate.

Thistle’s attacks were sporadic in the first half, but they came close to finding the opener on a couple of occasions.

Swifts swept into the attack at the start of the second half and in 55 minutes took the lead when striker John Anderson connected with a corner from Mike Waring and he powered a header into the corner of the net.

Four minutes later Callum McKinlay almost equalised for Thistle.

He latched on to an excellent through ball, beat his marker and as he entered the penalty box and Swifts’ keeper David Rice came racing out, he shot past him and it looked bound for the corner of the net but took a bit of a bobble and trundled past the post.

This was a bit of cruel luck for Thistle but it proved to be a fortuitous let-off for Swifts as with little more than a minute more played they went 2-0 ahead. John Anderson was again the scorer.

Thistle to their credit showed plenty of spirit despite this further setback and in 69 minutes it was only a timely intervention on the edge of his penalty box by Swifts defender Steven Watt that stopped Callum McKinlay when he was in full flight making for goal.

Swifts were now in total control and it was really no surprise when John Anderson made it 3-0 to complete his hat-trick.

David Thornton was played his final game for Swifts – as he returning to his senior club East Stirling – and bid farewell with a well taken goal to make it 4-0 and that’s how the game ended.

Swifts did have the ball in the net for a fifth time – a goal which would have been credited to their goalkeeper David Rice – but the referee reversed his decision and disallowed it.

Kinnoull were away to Dundonald Bluebell in the Premier League and despite the horrendous conditions both teams to their credit turned in excellent performances.

Dundonald with the strong wind at their backs were soon buzzing round the Kinnoull goal and in 15 minutes they took the lead.

A ball was played into the Kinnoull penalty box and the visiting centre-half connected but his rather poor clearance was picked up by Gary Cassells and the Bluebell’s striker, from around 25 yards from the Kinnoull goal, let fly with a well-struck shot that was helped on its way into the top corner of the net by a very strong wind.

Kinnoull keeper Duncan Bruce made a valiant attempt to get to the ball but it was to no avail.

A couple of minutes later a further piece of shoddy defending left Cassells with another chance but this time Duncan Bruce came out on top when he brilliantly blocked the striker’s goal attempt with his legs.

Kinnoull gradually came more into the game and on the half-hour mark had two chances to get back on level terms.

A piece of good play from Steve McManus saw him push the ball through to Chris Anton who was in the Fifers penalty box. He took the ball in his stride but a last ditch tackle by a defender saw the ball diverted for a corner.

Steve McManus fired the corner into the heart of the goalmouth where it was met by Neil Gardiner who unfortunately mistimed his header and the ball went straight into keeper Ryan Connor’s hands.

The interval wasn’t far away when the Fifers almost increased their lead.

Dangerman Gary Cassells evaded his marker and from just inside the penalty box he his vicious looked to be heading for the back of the net but it hit the bar and flew over which was a real let-off for Kinnoull.

Kinnoull boss Scott Brown would probably have been happy with the 1-0 scoreline in favour of Dundonald at the break considering his team had battled against the elements which he obviously would be hoping to harness to his team’s advantage in the second half.

Kinnoull sailed into the wind-assisted attack from the restart and in its first 10 minutes they came close to equalising twice.

The first of those came when a free-kick from Steve McManus found Jon Kelly at the near post but he hooked his shot wide of the far post.

Steve came close himself with the second of those chances in 55 minutes.

He cracked a shot goalward from 22 yards but it was caught by the wind and whistled over the bar.

After being on the defensive for a long spell Dundonald suddenly went on the attack and their forward Martyn Thomson set off on a mazy run that took him to the edge of the Kinnoull penalty box where he fortunately was brought to a halt by the combined efforts of Ross Gunnion and Iain Wilkie – he did, however, manage to get a shot in but it went well wide of the target.

Kinnoull returned to the attack but they couldn’t find that elusive goal and as the minutes ticked away they were becoming anxious.

In 81 minutes a top class piece of play from Jon Kelly saw him elude his marker and play the ball into the path of Neil McCallum who was left with only the keeper to beat. But his side-footed effort from 10 yards was brilliantly saved by Dundonald keeper Ryan Connor.

Kinnoull shrugged off this disappointment and continued to attack the Dundonald goal and with only two more minutes on the clock they got the equaliser they deserved.

A piece of good combination play between Ross Gunnion and Martin Maher culminated in Martin Maher lofting the ball into a packed goalmouth and Sandy Ross rose above everyone to head the ball into the back of the net.

Kinnoull piled on the pressure in those closing minutes but they couldn’t get the winner. A draw however was a pretty fair result.

Luncarty agreed to play Steelend Vics in the Central League at Steelend after their Brownlands Park pitch was ruled unplayable.

The Bleachers had early chances against the Vics but they failed to find the back of the net.

Steelend went ahead after 18 minutes when a long clearance from their defence went over the heads of the ‘home’ defenders and was picked up by Vics striker Darren Seath who cut in from the left wing and fired the ball past the Bleachers keeper from about 16 yards.

Luncarty strived hard to square the game but an equaliser failed to materialise and in 32 minutes they went 2-0 behind when a cross into their goalmouth caused a stramash and Mark Sherry managed to get a foot to the ball and knock it over the goal line.

Luncarty shook of the disappointment of this further set back and they set about the task of getting back into the game and were rewarded when Ross Laing reduced the leeway with a stunning strike from outside the penalty box to make it 2-1 and that’s how the score stood at the interval.

Luncarty then dominated the second half but it took them until the 81st minute to get the equaliser.

They won a corner on the right which was hit long to the Fifers far post where it was picked up by Scott Wightman – playing his first game for the club – and he made it a scoring debut as he slid the ball past the keeper into the corner of the net to earn the Bleachers a very valuable point.