Bankfoot won’t be beaten in league

Apr 7 2009 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

BANKFOOT extended their unbeaten run in the Central League to six games when they defeated Thornton Hibs 2–1 at Coronation Park.

Hibs came off the starting blocks with all guns blazing. They had the Bankies on the backfoot but they failed to make any clear cut chances.

In the 31st minute, Bankies had what looked to be a strong penalty claim turned down when the Thornton keeper brought down John Mitchell in the penalty box.

The Bankies forward beat him to a short pass back which he hit past both him and the post.

The referee, however, did not see it as a penalty much to the annoyance of the Bankies camp.

The Hibs finally broke the deadlock in forty one minute when a cross into the Bankies penalty box found Hibs Alan McAllister and his strong header landed in the corner of the net to give the Hibs an interval head.

The second half had only been in operation for 10 minutes but the game had been completely turned around by the Bankies who had surged into a 2-1 lead.

The first of those goals came in 51 minutes when a deft head flick from Barry Ward deceived the Hibs defence.

It landed with John Mitchell who was just outside the Hibs penalty box. John took the ball in his stride and rifled it into the top right hand corner of the net. Four minutes later John Mitchell played a ball out to Jamie McAinsh who was out on the right wing.

Jamie steadied himself before firing the ball into the heart of the Hibs goalmouth where it was met by Barry Ward at the near post.

The striker with another deft touch sent the ball past the keeper for what was a really well taken goal.

Those two excellent goals won the game for the Bankies.

The Hibs did not give up the points easily, however, as they went chasing the equaliser, but their attacks were rebuffed by a resolute Bankies defence who certainly played their part in the winning of this game.

Kinnoull were at home to Carnoustie in the Premier League and they lost to the Gowfers by 4-0.

This was a disappointing result for Kinnoull and it certainly put a damper on their hopes of winning promotion to the Super League.

Three of those goals were scored in a thirteen minute burst in the first half, two of them were from penalties.

Kinnoull started off brightly and the first chance of the game came their way after just six minutes.

Jon Kelly crossed a ball into the Gowfers’ goal mouth and Robbie Holden met it on the edge of the six yard box. Unfortunately he misdirected his header and it flew past the post. The Gowfers scored the first of their goals seven minutes later. They were on the attack and the referee adjudged that Jamie McKenzie pushed the Gowfers’ striker Jon Voight when he was going for the ball in the penalty box.

Andy Reilly took the resultant spot kick and cracked it past keeper Duncan Bruce to put his side ahead.

Ten minutes later, a through ball from the Gowfers midfield saw Jon Voight and Kinnoull centre half go for the ball. Wilkie lost out his claims that he had been fouled by the striker.

Jon Voight went on to lob the ball over Duncan Bruce, who had come off his line, into the back of the net from the edge of the penalty box and it was 2-0.

Ten minutes later came the second penalty of the game. It was awarded against Iain Wilkie for a foul on Jon Voight. The striker took the sport kick himself. He made no mistake to put his side 3-0 ahead.

There were chances at either end after this but when the interval arrived, there had been no further scoring. Kinnoull boss Scott Brown brought mark Gordon off the bench to start the second half but eight minutes later Mark was back in the pavilion after a clash with an opponent which earned him a red card. This was a further blow. The Gowfers increased their lead when Sean Mushin scored goal number four for them on the hour mark.

To add to the Kinnoull woes, they went on to finish the game with nine men after Jon Kelly picked up a second yellow card and was sent off in 77 minutes.

Blairgowrie also suffered a setback in their away league game against Ballingry. Blair who are involved in the relegation zone of the table took a further step towards the dreaded drop when they lost this Ore Park encounter 4-2.

Blairs prospects of coming home with the three very valuable points had looked so bright at the interval as they had a 2-1 lead and were looking comfortable. Ballingry had opened the scoring after just two minutes. Blair shook off this setback and got back on level terms with a goal from Mark Brash midway through the half. Five minutes later Ballingry’s Lee Mair was red carded after a rash tackle on Paul Ireland.

Blair took the lead in 35 minutes when Ryan Menzies hit a free kick into the Fifers penalty box where it was met by Darren Neave and his well placed header beat the keeper to make it 2-1.

The game was in its fifty ninth minute when Ballingry was awarded a free kick which rebounded off the post and Craig Smart was on the spot to knock it over the goal line for the equaliser.

Four minutes later a cross into the Blair goalmouth was saved by their keeper and then spilled by him. and once again the Fifers striker Craig Smart was on the spot to put his side 3-2 ahead.

Any hopes of Blair getting back on level terms were ended when the Fifers clinched the point with goal number four from James Adam in the eighty first minute.

Jeanfield Swifts were away to Rosyth in the Central League and they went on to win by 4-2.

This was a bitter blow for Rosyth who were the main challenger to St Andrews who are leading the race for the championship.

The point from this game see Swifts leapfrog over their hosts to take over the second top spot in the league table.

Swifts took the lead after fifteen minutes. A cross from Mike Waring to John Anderson at the back post was laid off by him to Gerrard Kelly who smashed the ball into the back of the Rosyth net from eight yards.

Ten minutes later Swifts increased their lead.

Mark Caldow picked up a loose ball around thirty yards from the Rosyth goal. Mark took a couple of steps forward and hit a volley into the corner of the net for what was a quire spectacular goal.

There was only a minute of the first half remaining when Swifts went 3-0 ahead. A defender handed the ball in his penalty box. John Anderson cracked the resultant spot kick into the back of the net.

Swifts were awarded a second penalty in fifty minutes when a solo run by Gordon Norrie was brought to an abrupt end when he was downed in the penalty box. Tony Holt took the spot kick this time and made it 4-0.

Rosyth went on to reduce the leeway to 4-2 but it was too little too late for them and Swifts left for home with three well earned points.

Luncarty suffered another home defeat when they lost to their guests Lochore Welfare by 4-0.

Luncarty’s cause was not helped when they had Craig Zaczek sent off midway through the first half.

Coupar Angus were at home to Forfar Albion in the North League and they went on to win by 2-1.

Coupar after having most of the play finally broke the deadlock in 36 minutes.

A clearance from the Coupar Midfield was picked up by their striker Stuart Sheen.

His shot from ten yards beat the keeper for what was a well taken goal.

The Albion showed Coupar shocked Coupar with an equaliser five minutes into the second half. Donald Smith was the scorer with a close range effort.

Coupar strived to regain their lead and in eighty two minutes they were successful.

Derek Duncan beat the keeper when he connected with a cross and cracked it into the back of the net from 15 yards.

SATURDAY results: Bukta Teamwear.com Leagues: Premier league – Kinnoull 0 Carnoustie 4; Ballingry R 4, Blairgowrie 2.

Central League – Bankfoot Athletics 2, Thornton Hibs 4; Luncarty 0, Lochore W 4; Rosyth 2, Jeanfield S 4.

North League – Coupar Angus 2, Forfar Albion 1