Perthshire junior football round-up

Aug 17 2010 Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

KINNOULL had a 3–0 win over Bankfoot on Saturday in a game they had to win to make sure of finishing as the winners in section two of the ACA Sports League Cup.

Had they drawn or lost this game then Bankies – who had a game in hand – could have pipped them for this prize and its reward of moving forward to the semi-finals.

Kinnoull have been blessed with a home draw in this semi-final, which will be played on Wednesday, August 25.

They will meet the winners of section one and it’s very much on the cards that their opponents will be Super League side Hill o' Beath who are joint leaders of their section at present but are ahead of their rivals Rosyth in the goal difference stakes and they have a game in hand which will be played tomorrow night.

Bankfoot came very close to taking the lead after two minutes against Kinnoull when a ball was crossed to the far post and Barry Ward looked set to head it into the back of the net but just as he was about to give it the nod the Kinnoull goalie Matt Curtis plucked it off the strikers head.

This proved to be a most fortuitous save as with just four more minutes on the clock Kinnoull took the lead. A ball was played out to Gavin Tinley on the Kinnoull right wing, he moved forward a few yards before crossing the ball into the heart of the Bankies penalty box and Billy Carle who had slipped his marker rose to connect and his flashing header came off the inside post and landed in the back of the net for what was a well taken goal.

The play was fast and furious for the rest of the half and there were chances at either end but they found no takers and when the interval arrived it was that early goal that separated the teams.

Five minutes into the second half Bankies centre half Gary Campbell came up to meet with a free kick just inside the Kinnoull penalty box. His header was on target but was well saved by Matt Curtis. As in the first half Kinnoull retaliated to this near set back immediately and a couple of minutes later they passed up a great chance to increase their lead when a cross into the Bankies penalty box found David Carr in a good position but he blasted the ball over the bar when he really should have done better.

Bankies were struck a real blow in 62 minutes when their defender "Bally" Whytock was ordered off after picking up a second caution and this didn't help the Bankies cause.

Five minutes later they found themselves 2–0 behind when Kinnoull were awarded a free kick which was taken by Jim Scott who fired it across the face of the Bankies goal and it was met by Darren Smith at the far post and his header beat keeper Mike Whyte.

Kinnoull certainly made sure of the points when they went three goals ahead in 75 minutes. Charlie Bradshaw made a good run down the right wing and hit a cross into Gavin Tinley who shot into the back of the net from close range.

A couple of minutes later Bankies came close to reducing the leeway when Allan Stewart who had come on as a sub ran on to a through ball but his shot to the corner of the net was pushed round the post for a corner by Matt Curtis which brought the Bankies no joy.

Kinnoull had a couple of good chances after this but failed to put them away however they finished comfortable winners.

Kinnoull boss Gavin Price said about the game: "While we were deserved winners the Bankies made us work hard we are delighted that we have made it to the semi finals".

The other game in this section saw Jeanfield Swifts at home to Scone Thistle and they went on to thrash the Thistle 7–1.

Swifts broke the deadlock in 18 minutes when a ball from Jamie Reilly into the Thistle penalty box was met by John Anderson and the striker poked it home from six yards.

Ten minutes later good work by Neil McCallum down the left saw him cross a ball into Jamie Reilly who cracked it past the keeper from inside the penalty box to make it 2–0.

Swifts continued on the attack and in 35 minutes a corner kick from Tony Holt was cleared by a defender but was met by Mike Waring near the edge of the penalty box from where he blasted the ball into the corner of the net to make it 3–0 and that's how the score stood at the interval.

Swifts increased their lead to 4–0 ten minutes into the second half when John Anderson evaded his marker and met with a cross from Gordon Finlay and headed the ball over the keeper.

Jamie Reilly made it 5–0 when he ran onto a through ball from Kevin Fowler to beat the keeper from about 15 yards. Swifts scoring spree continued when John Anderson completed his hat trick with goal number six.

In eighty two minutes Callum McKinlay, who had come on as a sub, was brought down in the penalty box and John Mitchell who had also come on as a sub took the resulting spot kick which was saved by the keeper. The ball rebounded to Mitchell who also saw his second attempt saved once more but again the ball broke away from him to Mitchell who made no mistake this time and it brought Swifts goal tally to seven.

All credit to Thistle who despite being under the cosh for most of the game never gave up trying and in the final minute they got a consolation goal which was scored by Ally Vannett.

Coupar Angus were away to Kirrie Thistle and they found themselves a goal behind at the end of the first half which had been fairly even steven, Stewart Farquharson was the Kirrie scorer.

The second half however was a different story as Coupar were pretty much on the back foot and eventually went down 5–0. Stewart Farquarson took his personal tally of the game to four goals with a second half hat trick, Derek Paterson was the other Kirrie scorer.

Blairgowrie had a friendly against the Dundee United U19s at Davie Park and they went down to a smart young United side 7–2. Mark Brash and a trialist were the Blair scorers.

The final games in the league cup sections take place tomorrow night (Wednesday).

Team News: Luncarty who lost their friendly with Fair City Amateurs 4–2 expect to have a stronger squad for their home game against Jeanfield Swifts although they will be without Collin Wilcox and Craig McPhail. Manager Mark Potter expects to have a squad of 16.

Jeanfield Swifts will be without Jamie Reilly and Aaron Whitehead, both unavailable. Swifts boss Scott Brown expects to have a squad of 15 or 16.

Scone Thistle play hosts to Bankfoot and so far manager Allan Cameron hasn’t named a squad while Bankies boss Ian Duff may have Craig Whyte back for this game. Craig has a foot injury which has shown signs of improvement and he may have a late fitness test. Steven Moon and Jamie McAinsh are unavailable and one or two players are nursing knocks from Saturday’s game, but the Bankies boss doesn’t think there is anything serious. It will be a late selection from Ian Duff.

Coupar Angus and Blairgowrie meet at Foxhall Park and while there is nothing at stake in this derby clash, except the honour of winning the points, both teams will however be going all out to do just that.

Blairgowrie will be without Paul Ireland and Craig Ferguson, both unavailable and Callum Rollo who has a knee injury. Manager Ross Graham expects to have a squad of 15 or 16.

Coupar manager Barry Britton hasn’t named a squad.

SATURDAY’S Results: ACA Sports League Cup Section Two – Kinnoull 3, Bankfoot 0; Jeanfield Swifts 7, Scone Thistle 1.

DJ Laing League Cup Section Two – Kirrie Thistle 5, Coupar Angus 0.

Midweek League Cup Fixtures:

Tomorrow (Wednesday) – Luncarty v Jeanfield Swifts; Scone Thistle v Bankfoot; Coupar Angus v Blairgowrie.

All kick off’s – 6.45pm.