Blairgowrie avoid relegation from premier league

Jun 9 2009 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

Blairgowrie 2, Ballingry 1

BLAIRGOWRIE played their final and crucial Premier League game against Ballingry and they did so in front of Davie Park’s best crowd of the season.

Blair had to win this game as any other result would have doomed them to relegation along with Dundee North End and Fife side Dundonald.

Blair, however, went on to beat Ballingry by 2–1 and the three very valuable points they won in the process means, of course, that they will continue to play in the Premier League next season.

That relegation third spot will now be filled by Oakley who lost out to Blair by the narrowest of margins, one point.

This has been a terrific comeback from Blair who have taken sixteen points from a possible twenty one from their last seven games to avoid the drop that had seemed inevitable.

An interesting statistic is that before Saturday’s win, Blair had never been out of one of the bottom three places in the league table since day one of the season. Now thanks to those three points, they picked up they will move two places above into the fifth spot.

Blair manager Billy McKay said after the game: “Our players once again showed the fighting qualities and the never say die spirit they are renowned for by coming back after going behind to an early goal and to a very competitive Ballingry side that made us fight every inch of the way for those very crucial points”.

Billy MacKay is also due a word of praise as he kept faith in his players’ ability to retain their place in the Premier League and although they have obviously given him a few nail biting moments, they have repaid his faith in them.

The game got off to a start that Blair certainly did not want as they found themselves a goal behind after 45 seconds. Ballingry had kicked the game off and the ball was played through to Steve Brown who moved into the penalty box where he shrugged off the attentions of a Blair defender and he then proceeded to slot the ball past keeper Mark Nugent who had come out of his goalline and into the back of the net.

Blair responded immediately to this setback and they attacked the Fifers goal and their keeper Kevin Smith beat two Blair players to a cross from Darren Neave. Blair kept on the attack and in the tenth minute a cross from Paul Ireland caught the goalkeeper out of his goal and it found Alan Crickshank. The striker was being harassed by a defender; he managed to get his shot in but unfortunately it went past the post.

Blair kept on the attack and midway through the half they got a stunning equaliser. The ball was played back to Darren Neave who was somewhere around thirty to thirty five yards from the Fifers’ goal. Darren let go and his terrific strike simply flew into the top corner of the net with the goalkeeper a helpless onlooker.

Five minutes later, there was more woe for the Fifers when their full back Andy Rollo was red-carded after a hefty tackle on Mark Brash.

Blair keeper Mark Nugent made an excellent save at the foot of the post from the Fifers danger man Steve Brown who, despite the attentions of full back Craig Ferguson, had still managed to get his shot in.

Blair took the lead in forty one minutes and they did so with another long range goal. Blair had won a corner which was hit into the heart of the Fifers’ goal area, where it caused a real stramash before it was eventually cleared and was picked up by Paul Ireland.

Paul was around twenty five yards from the Fifers goal when he met the ball first time and volleyed it onto the back of the net.

This certainly had been a most eventful first half with one of the fastest goals of the season followed by two spectacular goals from Blair and of course, the Fifers had a man sent off.

Blair were first into the attack from the re-start and in the forty ninth minute. They won a free kick about twenty five yards from the Fifers goal. Paul Ireland unfortunately fired it wide.

Two minutes later it was the Fifers’ turn to be awarded a free kick and from about the same distance, it was taken by Lee Dair who, much to Blair’s relief, hit it over the bar. Play surged from end to end and there was a succession of free kicks at both ends. Blair almost increased their lead in 70 minutes when a corner was met by Mark Brash who headed it on to Darren Neave. His close range attempt was brilliantly blocked by the keeper.

Play swung from end to end after this but nothing happened. Then in eighty six minutes came a real set off for Blair. The Fifers were awarded a free kick about twenty two yards from the Blair goal.

Lee Dair crashed the ball goalwards and it looked to be a homer as it headed towards the corner of the net. But to Blair’s great relief it cannoned off the post and was cleared.

A few minutes later referee Kenny Beats blew for time up and it heralded the celebrations both on and off the Park.

At the Jeanfield Swifts awards night held on Saturday, the following awards were presented: Player of the Year, Steven Watt; Players’ Player of the Year, Donald McDonald.

SATURDAYS results (Bukta Teamwear.com): Premier League – Blairgowrie 2, Ballingry 1.

East of Scotland Cup Final – Glenrothes 0, Lochee Utd 3.