JUNIOR FOOTBALL – PA TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 27

Sep 27 2011 Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

SATURDAY’S results in the Central League were most disappointing.

Of the four Perthshire teams involved against Fife opponents, only Kinnoull finished on the winning side and retained their undefeated league run.

Jeanfield suffered their first league defeat and Bankfoot and Luncarty also lost out.

Kinnoull found themselves on the back foot in the first early minutes against Steelend but they shocked their hosts by taking the lead with their first attack in eight minutes.

A well measured pass from Sean Fleming to Gary Fraser got the ball under control and the striker shot it past the keeper from a few yards inside the penalty box for what was a well worked and taken goal.

Gary was injured in scoring and while he was having treatment on the sidelines Steelend equalised.

A long ball from their midfield went over the heads of the Kinnoull defence and was picked up by their striker Darren Seath. His first time shot from 15 yards went under Kinnoull keeper Duncan Bruce as he dived to try and save it.

Ten minutes later Kinnoull restored their lead after winning a corner on the right.

David Carr’s delivery into the goalmouth saw keeper Mark Sherry go to clear the ball, but he failed to connect and Chris Webster, who was standing a few yards from the goal-line, was left with the none to difficult task of making it 2–1 for his side.

Kinnoull further increased their lead on 32 minutes.

Keith Dewar won the ball in the midfield with a terrific challenge.

He then played a great ball forward to Chris Webster who hit a rasper of a shot that was right on target but was parried by keeper Sherry and the ball broke to Gary Fraser, who for the second time in the game did the business to give Kinnoull a 3–1 interval lead.

The second half had only been in operation seven minutes when Steelend pulled a goal back.

They won a corner which was hit into the goalmouth and Steven Watt rose above a bevy of defenders to head the ball past Duncan Bruce and it was 3–2.

The game was going into its final 10 minutes when Gavin Tinley had a chance to seal the points for Kinnoull. He was left in a one to one situation with the keeper but his shot, which was pretty straight was saved.

Three minutes from time there was a similar situation at the other end when Steelend striker Darren Seath was clean through and inside the penalty box.

He hit a well struck shot that Duncan Bruce got a hand to but couldn’t stop and was trundling towards the goal line when Mark Duigan arrived in the nick of time to clear the danger.

In the remaining minutes Kinnoull came near to increasing their lead.

A free kick from Chris Webster was pushed round the post by the keeper and with what was virtually the last attack of the game David Carr hit the post with a cross cum shot.

Kinnoull have now taken 10 points from four games played.

Jeanfield Swifts were away to Dundonald Bluebells, both are among the favoured few who are being tipped as likely League Champions, but on this showing Dundonald looked the better prospect especially in the first half which they virtually dominated and that was against a strong wind.

Had their ability to take chances been on par with their outfield play they could have had the points sown up by the interval.

Swifts keeper Mark Mitchell must take some of the credit for keeping the score board at zero by the interval with a couple of top class saves.

Swifts came out in the second half on the offensive but after 10 minutes they went a goal behind when their opponents broke up the park and Steve Forbes met with a cross into the edge of the Swifts penalty box.

His right foot volley simply flew into the top corner of the net leaving Mark Mitchell without a chance of stopping it.

There was more grief to follow for Swifts as 10 minutes later they lost a second goal when another quick move up the park saw Stewart Cargill hit a cross into the Swifts penalty box.

This was met by Sean O’Neil who toe poked the ball into the back of the net from close range. Swifts were just getting over this setback when they were reduced to 10 men five minutes later when Jamie McKenzie got his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card.

Swifts, despite their reduced manpower, kept battling away and created a few chances but the game was in its final two minutes before they managed to reduce the leeway.

Kevin Fowler after a run down the right wing hit a cross to the far post and John Anderson bundled it over the goal line but unfortunately it was to little to late.

Scott Brown was making no excuses and said after the game: “We didn’t play well and we lost to the better team on the day.”

Bankfoot went ahead after six minutes in their game with Lochgelly Albert when Steven Moon played a great through ball to Sean Fergus who was in the Fifers penalty box and as he attempted to go past his marker he was brought down and a penalty was awarded.

Sean took the spot kick himself and made no mistake.

The Fifers got back on level terms in 17 minutes when Andy Barrett took a free kick from about the centre circle and the ball was very much wind assisted as it went over the Bankies goalkeeper who was off his line, it clipped the underside of the bar and landed in the back of the net.

Bankies had a couple of chances to regain their lead around the midway stage of the half.

Ross Mitchell got the first of those but his shot was saved by the keeper and not many minutes later Gary Campbell met with a free kick just inside the penalty box but his header went over the bar.

Bankies went 2–1 behind in 28 minutes when a long ball down the Fifers right wing was picked up by Steve Brown.

His cross into the penalty box was met by John McDiarmid and he beat the keeper with a header. Bankies strong appeals for an offside decision were swept aside by the referee and the Bankies were one behind at the interval but still very much in the game.

Five minutes into the second half the Lochgelly striker Lee Celentano shimmied his way past his marker and his well struck shot from the edge of the penalty box beat the keeper and the Fifers were 3–1 in front.

Bankies brought on Jordan Brown and Bally Whytock as subs for the final 15 minutest but with four minutes remaining Steve Brown with his second goal of the day made it 4–1.

Luncarty after going a goal behind after six minutes in their home game against Lochore Welfare, John Ferguson was the scorer, the Bleachers were back on level terms.

Five minutes later a ball into their opponents penalty box saw Scot McKain round the keeper and plant the ball into the back of the empty net.

The Bleachers proceeded to take the lead when Angus Wilson shot past the keeper from the edge of the penalty box.

There was more joy for them when Mark Caldow chipped the ball over a defender ran round him and met the ball on the drop to slam it past the keeper from eight yards and the Bleachers were 3–1 ahead.

Their prospects were looking bright but the half ended disappointingly for them as it ended all square at 3–3 as the Bleachers lost two goals in the last five minutes of the half. Craig Duncan and John Ferguson with his second goal of the game were the scorers.

The second half saw the Lochore side take command and they went on to add three more goals to their tally to make the final score line 6–3 in their favour.

John McDonagh, Craig Duncan for a second time and John Ferguson completed his hat-trick with goal number six.

The Coupar Angus/Blairgowrie derby clash finished 4–1 in Blairs favour. They were one ahead at the interval after Gary Axworthy had put them in front with a quickfire strike after just 40 seconds.

Four minutes into the second half Johnny McBride made it 1–1 and Coupar had their best spell after this goal and created a few chances but failed to put any of them away.

Blair got back into the driving seat when David Salisbury put them ahead in 67 minutes.

New signing Chris Farquharson came on as a sub in 73 minutes and a minute later with his first touch of the ball he scored from close range to put Blair 3–1 ahead.

Gary Axworthy in 82 minutes latched on to a Gordon Pirie cross and he was left in a one to one situation with the keeper and he hit the ball past him to make it 4–1 with his second goal of the game.

Blair are now undefeated in their last three games.

SATURDAY’S results in the McBookie Leagues:

Central League – Luncarty 3, Lochore Welfare 6; Dundonald Bluebell 2, Jeanfield Swifts 1; Steelend Vics 2, Kinnoull 3; Lochgelly Albert 4, Bankfoot 1.

North League – Coupar Angus 1, Blairgowrie 4.