Football: Perthshire Juniors round-up

Apr 13 2010

KINNOULL were away to Blairgowrie in the Premier League and they went on to win by 2–1.

However, they lost their full back as Stuart Nicol sustained a serious leg injury in sixty five minutes.

He had to be carried off and an ambulance was called.

Blair had the better of the opening exchanges but it was Kinnoull in their first attack who came very near to taking the lead when they won a corner which was met by Chris Webster.

His crack at goal, however, rebounded off the face of the bar and was cleared.

Play was pretty much dominated by Kinnoull and they made a number of chances which they failed to put away.

Blair, in one of their sporadic raids, took the lead when a free kick was fired into the heart of the Kinnoull penalty box and was met by Darren Nieve who drilled a well struck shot past keeper Duncan Bruce.

Blair’s joy was, however, short lived as Kinnoull retaliated and within three minutes, they were back on level terms. A long ball from Mark Gordon over the top of the Blair defence was picked up by Steve

McManus just inside the penalty box from where he beat keeper Mark Nugent with a well struck shot to make it 1–1 and that’s how the half ended.

Kinnoull almost took the lead early in the second half when a pass from Chris Webster found Jon Kelly who turned his marker and shot for goal but his effort was kicked off the goal line by Gordon Pirie.

The game was held up five minutes before full time when the ambulance arrived and encroached on the pitch.

Blair had a great chance to take the lead and almost certainly clinch the three points when Jamie Duncan was left with only keeper Duncan Bruce to beat but he failed to do the business.

Blair were certainly made to rue this miss as three minutes later Mark Gordon headed in what proved to be the winner for Kinnoull.

The game was in stoppage time when an incident between keeper Nugent and Kinnoull sub Jamie McKenzie saw the keeper getting his marching orders.

Kinnoull were awarded a penalty which was taken by Chris Anton; he sent sub keeper Gordon O’Brian the wrong way but his well struck spot kick hit the post and was cleared. Kinnoull left home with three valuable points.

Steve Nicol was allowed home after his injury. We wish him well.

Jeanfield Swifts retained their position as the Central League leaders after a three one win in their derby encounter with Luncarty who are at the end of the table.

The Bleachers had their new manager Mark Potter in charge for the first time and although they lost to their high profile hosts, Mark must have been pleased by the effort and commitments his players showed in this game.

Swifts started off at a hurricane pace and came close to taking the lead after six minutes.

It was only a terrific save from keeper Scott Christie that denied them the lead.

A cross into their goalmouth from Tony Holt took a deflection off a defender and looked to be heading into the back of the net.

Somehow Scott managed to get to the ball and smother it on the goal line.

Five minutes later he produced another stunning save from a John Anderson header.

The striker had another chance a few minutes later but he headed over the bar from the edge of the six yard box.

Luncarty came more into the game and in twenty two minutes they and a great chance to take the lead when a through ball caught out Swifts’ defence and Luncarty striker Scott

Peletier was left in a one to one situation with keeper Mark Mitchell. He hit the ball past the keeper from a few yards but unfortunately for the Bleachers also past the post.

Swifts went ahead in twenty seven minutes. A free kick from Tony Holt into the Luncarty goalmouth was met by Chris Dodd.

His shot from close range deceived the Luncarty defence who thought it was going past the post, but instead it crept into the back of the net.

Ten minutes later in another Swifts’ attack John Anderson headed the ball down to Daren Thomson.

His shot from eight yards again brought out a brilliant save from keeper Scott Christie.

Luncarty had a great chance to square the game in forty minutes when once again a through ball caught the Swifts’ defence and Scott Peletier was left to beat the keeper form close range but Mark Mitchell managed to block the attempt.

A couple of minutes later another chance came Luncarty’s way when a cross from Mike Hampton to Scott Peletier saw the striker’s header safely held by Mark Mitchell.

Swifts retaliated immediately and a cross from Fraser McKinlay was met by John Anderson who headed past the post when he really should have done better.

Swifts increased their lead in fifty six minutes when a cross from Darren Thomson went across the Luncarty goalmouth and John Anderson managed to connect and slip the ball in to the corner of the net from close range.

Luncarty shrugged off this setback and retaliated almost immediately. Mike Hampton was left with a chance from an acute angle.

He shot into the side netting. Both sides missed chances after this and in seventy nine minutes Luncarty reduced the leeway when keeper Mark Mitchell brought down Jason Brown who had come on as a sub.

The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot and Jason took the spot kick himself and made no mistake.

Swifts made it three one in eighty minutes with what was the goal of the game.

They had been awarded a free kick twenty yards out which Tony Hold smacked into the corner of the net and that is how the game ended.

All credit to Luncarty for their stuffy performance.

Bankfoot hit back and won a free kick which was taken by Gavin Mackie and went just inches over the bar.

One minute into the second half Ross Mitchell had to go off with an ankle injury and his place was taken by Jamie McAinsh and it was Jamie in eighty four minutes in eighty four minutes who met with a cross at the far post and headed past the keeper from close range for the equaliser.

A rampant Bankies kept up the pressure and with two minutes remaining Barry Ward, after a solo run that saw him leave two defenders in his wake, finished off when he slotted it past the keeper from a few yards out to score what proved to be the winner.

Scone Thistle took the lead in their away game against Lochgelly Albert when Andy Smith put them ahead after ten minutes with a curling shot form the edge of the penalty box. Midway through the half, Thistle conceded a penalty and Andy Barrett netted the spot kick to square the game.

A couple of minutes later Colin Jeffrey put Lochgelly ahead when he scored from a tight angle.

Early in the second half, Steve Brown increased the Lochgelly lead when he scored with a free kick to make it three one.

Shortly after this, Thistles reduced the leeway from the penalty spot. Gerrard Kelly made no mistake with the spot kick.

Steve Brown made it four two for Lochgelly but Thistle shrugged off this further setback and in one of their attacks they reduced the leeway when Andy Barrett turned the ball into his own net.

Any thoughts of a Thistle revival were, however, blown away when Steve Brown completed his hat trick to make it five three. Andy Barrett atoned for his own goal mishap when he made it six three to complete the scoring.

Coupar Angus were away to Downfield and they lost to the Spiders by three one. Robbie Black was the Coupar scorer.