Kinnoull pipped by Penicuik's late strike

May 12 2009 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

KINNOULL were at home to Penicuik in the Premier League and it was a game they were desperate to win to move them into the third top place in the league table.

However, another disappointing Tulloch Park result saw them lose 1-0 to their Lothian visitors.

The first of the Kinnoull chances came after only six minutes when Robbie Holden after a terrific run down the right wing crossed a great ball into Jon Kelly who was only a few yards from the Penicuik goal line but his header went straight to keeper David Livvie who had no difficulty in making a save.

Pennicuik had a chance midway through the half when a cross into the Kinnoull penalty box wasn’t cleared and fortunately for Kinnoull he headed past the post.

Those were virtually the only goalmouth incidents of the half.

The second half was a different story as far as Kinnoull were concerned as they were much more aggressive although they came close to losing a goal in 55 minutes.

A through ball from the Penicuik defence to their striker Graeme Cole had the Kinnoull defence appealing for an offside decision which they didn’t get.

Fortunately the strikers shot hit the post and was cleared by Steve McAllister.

A few minutes later Neil Gardiner hit a cross from the left wing into the Penicuik penalty box it was met by Jon Kelly but again his header was saved by keeper Livvie.

Kinnoull continued to pressurise Penicuik and in 75 minutes they missed another great chance to take the lead.

A cross from Steve McManus into the penalty box was met by Neil Gardiner and it looked to be bound for the back of the net but was saved by keeper Livvie.

The ball broke back to Neil Gardiner who had the goal at his mercy but he managed to crack the ball over the bar.

Another great chance came Kinnoull’s way in 82 minutes.

A cracking drive from Steve McManus was right on target but was brilliantly saved by keeper Livvie.

The ball ran loose and fell into the path of Gary Sweeney but his shot from close range was blocked by the keeper.

This double save from their keeper proved to be most fortuitous for Penicuik as two minutes later in one of their sporadic raids on the Kinnoull goal they broke the deadlock.

A cross in from their left wing was met at the near post by their striker Graeme Cole.

His header was brilliantly saved by Duncan Bruce but the ball broke away from Duncan and was met by Keith Barr who was following up and he promptly dispatched it into the back of the net for what proved to be the winner.

Jeanfield Swifts, Luncarty and Bankfoot were engaged in Central League games.

Jeanfield were hosts to Thornton Hibs and this Riverside Stadium encounter like the rest of the games played out its duration in continuous heavy rain.

The pitch was in excellent condition with no sign of any water lying about. Compliments to the Swifts’ ground staff.

The surface was obviously slippy and this made life difficult for the players in trying to control and pass the ball and no doubt it had its effect and caused this to be a rather lack lustre encounter.

The first chance of the game fell to the Hibs when a long through ball found their forward Andy Adam on the edge of Swifts’ penalty box.

Unmarked, he looked to be well offside but the referee didn’t see it that way. Fortunately for Swifts he made a hash of the chance as he hit the ball into the side net.

Swifts retaliated immediately and a cross into the Hibs goalmouth was met by John Anderson but the strikers header went past the post. There was a further 15 minutes on the clock before there was any further goalmouth activity.

Swifts’ Mike Waring hit an inviting cross into the Hibs penalty box and the ball was virtually snatched off John Anderson’s head by the keeper.

On the half hour mark a free kick was taken quickly by Hibs and it was touched to Ryan Sturrock but his first time effort from 25 yards was kicked off the goal line by Mark Durnan.

Hibs came close again with two minutes of the half remaining when their striker John Halley was put through.

His shot from inside the penalty box was saved by Andy Mackie who touched the ball round the post for a corner which brought Hibs no joy.

In stoppage time Swifts’ Kevin Fowler produced what was undoubtedly the highlight of the game, so far, with a brilliant goal to give Swifts the lead.

Kevin picked the ball up at around the half way mark and he proceeded to make his way past a number of opponents to about the edge of the Hibs penalty box.

He then pulled the trigger to fire a bullet of a shot past the keeper into the back of the net.

Swifts went further ahead on the hour mark with another excellent goal.

Nial Cassidy started the move with a crossfield pass to Chris Dodd who cut in on goal and let go from inside the penalty box.

His shot rebounded off the post to Tony Holt who had the easy task of heading the ball into the back of the net from close range to make it 2–0 and that’s how the game ended.

Bankfoot were guests of Lochgelly Albert and it was touch and go as to whether or not the game would go ahead due to a very wet pitch however it got the go ahead.

The opening 15 minutes in the game proved to be a real nightmare for the Bankies as they found themselves trailing by 3–0 in that short space of time.

Colin Jeffrey got the first of those goals, Nicky Mitchell made it 2–0 and goal number three came from the penalty spot with Craig McReady the scorer.

Bankies reduced the leeway in 20 minutes when John Mitchell out on the right flank beat two opponents and his cross into the penalty box was headed down by Neil McDougal into the back of the net from close range.

Bankies came right back into the game when they pulled another goal back in 28 minutes and again Barry Ward was the scorer.

He connected with a corner taken by John Mitchell and his powerful header made it 3–2 and that’s how the score stood at the interval.

Ten minutes into the second half Colin Jeffrey with his second goal of the game made it 4–2 for the Fifers.

The Bankies shook off this disappointment and they had the Fifers on the defensive.

They forced five corners and hit the woodwork twice and they eventually reduced the leeway to 4–3 with a goal that saw Barry Ward complete his hat trick in 71 minutes.

Bankies went chasing the equaliser but as often happens in those situations its the other team who scored and Lochgelly did that in 82 minutes.

Nicky Mitchell with his second goal of the game was the scorer which made it 5–3 to clinch the points for this team.

In the final minute of the game Barry Ward had a great chance to increase his personal tally to four goals when Bankies were awarded a penalty which Barry took but it was saved by the keeper.

Luncarty were at home to Newburgh and they lost by 1–0. This goal was scored in the 40th minute by Greg Simpson.

The Bleachers at least deserved to take a point from this game but as in many other games this season they failed to take any chances they created and paid the penalty.

Coupar Angus in what was their final game of the season were away to Kirrie Thistle and lost by 4–2.

The heavy rainfall throughout most of Saturday caused a number of games to be called off due pitches becoming waterlogged.

The Fouldhouse–Blairgowrie premier league game was one of the casualties.

Unfortunately the decision to call the game off came too late to stop Blairgowrie travelling.

Blair manager Billy Mackay said: “This was another very expensive cancellation for us.

arlier in the season we were en route to play Newtongrange when we were stopped at Stirling and now the cost of getting those games played will be double what it should be and it’s a sizeable sum.”

Tomorrow night Blair are away to Dundonald in the premier league. The Fifers are fellow travellers with Blair in the relegation zone and the points from this game are vital to both teams in their efforts to beat the drop.

Bankfoot are also in action tomorrow night they have Lochore Welfare as their guests at Coronation Park and the Bankies will be looking to take the three points from this game to enhance their chances of moving into the top half of the league table.