Junior football: Weather wipes out fixture list again

Jan 19 2010

THE fixtures suffered a further set back when Saturday’s games were all called off which means it was the fifth consecutive week the teams have been idle except for the odd friendly.

Blairgowrie played one of those friendlies on Saturday when they met Breadalbane Amateurs at the McDiarmid Park all weather pitch and they went on to win by 6-2.

Although their opponents were in the game more than the score suggests.

Blair opened the scoring after 10 minutes when a great through ball from Alan Cruickshank put Gary Axworthy into a one to one situation with the keeper.

The youngster kept his cool and hit the ball into the net.

Ten minutes later Alan Cruickshank made it 2–0 with a well taken goal  and he struck again in 35 minutes when Blair were awarded a penalty for hand ball the striker made no mistake with the resultant spot kick to make it 3–0 and that’s how the score stood at the interval.

The second half had only gone around 10 minutes when Breadalbane reduced the leeway with an excellent strike from their player manager Gavin Price who hit a cracking drive from all of 20-yards into the back of the Blair net.

Blair made it 4–1 in 68 minutes when Paul Ireland crashed the ball home from at least 25 yards five minutes later Paul scored again but unfortunately it was with an own goal he was back defending and an attempted clearance from him was sliced into the back of his own net to make it 4–2.

It didn’t take Blair long to restore their three goal lead with goal number five from Alan Cruickshanks and with not many minutes remaining Alan was on the mark again with goal number six which brought his personal tally for the game to four goals.

Blairgowrie boss Ross Graham was very pleased with the 6–2 result in favour of his team he described this as a very laudable performance considering they hadn’t been in action for some weeks and that Breadalbane had three junior scalps to their credit.

Breadalbane are considering moving into junior football and have already made a tentative enquiry to the SJFA who have said they will be delighted to pay them a visit to view their ground and facilities.

Breadalbane manager Gavin Price said: "We have been contemplating a move into junior football and have been working hard for some time now to make it possible to do so and we now feel that everything required for such a move is now in place and we have excellent facilities and a first class pitch we also have feeder teams that could supply us with a steady stream of players."

Should Breadalbane decide to go ahead with their application and it seems very much on the cards it would be considered by the SJFA at their agm in June and one would think it would be looked on favourably.

Jeanfield Swifts are to play a friendly against East Fife at Bayview tonight (Tuesday), kick off 7.30pm.

Swifts’ manager, Murray McDowell, intends to have trialists in his squad.

THIS week’s fixtures:

East of Scotland Cup first round – Kinnoull v Camelon.

Premier League – Carnoustie Panmure v Blairgowrie.

Central  League – Bankfoot Athletic v Newburgh; Luncarty v Kirkcaldy YM; Crossgates Primrose v Jeanfield Swifts; Dundonald Bluebell v Scone Thistle.

North League – Arbroath Vics v Coupar Angus.