JUNIOR FOOTBALL – PA TUESDAY OCTOBER 24

Oct 25 2011 Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

JEANFIELD SWIFTS were due to play Thornton Hibs and travelled to fulfil the fixture.

But the referee – after inspecting the Memorial Park pitch – ruled that it wasn’t playable and the game was called off.

Bankfoot were due to play Steelend Vics away from home at their Woodside Park but as the pitch was unlikely to be playable the clubs agreed to switch it to Coronation Park.

Kinnoull were away to the league leaders Kirkcaldy YM and both sides were nursing undefeated league records before this Denfield Park clash. At the end of the 90 minutes Kinnoull emerged with their record intact as they went on to win 2–0.

The score didn’t flatter them as they were the much better side on the day.

The opening 20 minutes or so saw play pretty much confined to the midfield with the first real chance coming Kinnoull’s way in 20 minutes when a cross from Chris Webster into the YM goalmouth was headed out by a defender and was picked up by Keith Dewar on the edge of the penalty box but his well struck shot just whistled inches past the post.

There was one more minute on the clock when Kinnoull went ahead.

An attempted passback from a defender was short and it left Chris Webster and the YM keeper Jason Curran in a race for the ball.

Webster got to it first and headed it over the onrushing goalkeeper, rounded him and was left with the easy task of side footing the ball into the back of the empty net.

Kinnoull continued to attack the YM goal and in 38 minutes came close to increasing their lead when Keith Dewar out on the left hit a cross into the YM goal and Gary Fraser and Lee Deans both came within inches of connecting.

Five minutes later play was stopped when Kinnoull striker Gary Fraser sustained a head knock.

It was restarted with a bounce up and Chris Webster connected with the ball and his shot looked to be bound for the back of the net but was brilliantly saved by the keeper.

Twenty minutes into the second half the YM had what was their first real chance of the game when a cross found Chris Ireland unmarked in the penalty box.

His shot from about the penalty spot brought out a stunning save from Duncan Bruce who dived full length to clutch the ball safely.

Five minutes later Richard Doig, who had come on as a sub for Gary Fraser, headed the ball down to Chris Webster in the penalty box, he hesitated before shooting from about 15 yards and it allowed a defender to get back and block the ball on the goal line.

A few minutes later Kinnoull came close again when Lee Deans out on the right hit a cross cum shot into the YM goalmouth and it almost caught out the keeper who was off his goal line but he managed to get back and finger tip the ball over the bar.

There was only eight minutes of the game remaining when Kinnoull clinched the points with an excellent second goal. Mark Duigan started the move when he won the ball and then played it out to Chris Webster on the right.

His cross found Richard Doig who headed it down into the path of full back Sean Fleming, who had joined in the attack and he drilled the ball first time into the corner of the net from the edge of the penalty box for a really well worked and taken goal and Sean celebrated what was his first goal.

Bankfoot went a goal behind to their guests Steelend Vics in 12 minutes and it was a brilliant goal from Connor Little who a couple of minutes earlier had missed a snip when he hit the ball over the bar from the edge of the six yard box.

His team had been awarded a free kick at least 30 yards from the Bankies goal and Little was entrusted with it and he atoned for that miss as he slammed the ball into the postage stamp corner of the Bankies net.

Three minutes later Bankies equalised when they were awarded a free kick which was hit out on the right. Chris Jones took the kick and hit it to the edge of the Vics penalty box and Ross Mitchell outjumped a bevy of defenders to bullet a header past the keeper.

Eight minutes later Bankies took the lead with an almost identical goal.

A Jamie McAinsh cross to the right corner of the Vics penalty box and again Ross Mitchell timed his run and jump to perfection to rise above everybody and his powerful header flew into the back of the net for another terrific goal.

The interval was only minutes away when the Vics equalised.

They were awarded a free kick which was taken by Connor Little and hit into the Bankies goalmouth and before keeper Matt Curtis could get his hands to the ball Vics striker Andy Watt nipped in and touched it over the goal line.

Midway through the second half came a controversial incident which saw the Vics reduced to 10 men and Bankies going back in front.

The referee adjudged that Vics’ Rory Harrower was guilty of simulation in Bankies’ penalty box, and he received a second yellow card and was sent off.

Bankies were awarded an indirect free kick which brought no joy but the referee ordered it to be retaken and Bally Whytock touched it to Sean Fergus, who had come on as a sub five minutes earlier, and he slammed it into the corner of the net.

Bankies went 4–2 ahead in 78 minutes, David Fyfe the scorer.

A couple of minutes later Vics were reduced to nine men when another player was sent off.

Danny Dobbie made it 5–2 when he smashed a 25 yard free kick into the back of the net and with little more than a minute to go a third Vics player got his marching orders.

Both those sending offs were for second cautions.

Luncarty at home to Newburgh went a goal behind after 20 minutes when the Fifers were awarded a penalty after a tackle on one of their players, which seemed a rather harsh decision, however Billy Carle made no mistake with the spot kick.

There was more woe for the Bleachers when their full back Grant McGregor had to go off with an injury.

He was replaced by Jamie Fairlie who picked up two yellow cards in the space of a few minutes and he was sent off.

The now 10-man Bleachers got back on level terms with a goal a few minutes before the interval when Scott Lafferty hit a cross into the Fifers penalty box where it was met by Mark Caldow who shot past the keeper from close range.

Newburgh restored their lead on the hour mark when they were awarded a second penalty and again Billy Carle did the needful.

The Bleachers strived hard to get back on level terms but unfortunately for them Newburgh increased their lead to 3–1 when a free kick was played to Chris McLeish who was unmarked and he ran on to beat the keeper from eight yards. Any hopes of a Bleachers comeback was virtually ended when they went down to nine men after Noel Meehan got a red card for a tackle on an opponent in 77 minutes.

In the North League Blairgowrie were at home to Kirrie Thistle and they lost to their Angus visitors 2–0. It certainly wasn’t one of Blair’s better performances.

It was former Blair player Darren Neave that crossed the ball into the penalty box where it was met by Gary Archibald who beat Blair keeper Gordon O’Brien from 12 yards, that was after 35 minutes.

That’s how the score stood until the 81st minute when Gary Archibald scored again to make it 2–0. Man of the match was Blair Goalkeeper Gordon O’Brien who had a string of outstanding saves.

Coupar Angus, at home to Montrose Roselea for a second week, were trailing 3–0 to their guests before Fraser Smith reduced the leeway with a terrific scissor kick goal from inside the penalty box four minutes before the interval.

However any hopes of a second half revival were swept aside as the Roselea went on to add four more goals to their tally to win 7–1.

Coupar Angus have placed their young full back Mark McColl on the open to transfer list at his own request. All enquiries re the player should be directed to the manager Alan Robson at 07902 886940.

SATURDAY’S results in the McBookie Leagues: Central League – Kirkcaldy YM 0, Kinnoull 2; Luncarty 1, Newburgh 3; Bankfoot 5, Steelend Vics 2.

North League – Blairgowrie 0, Kirrie Thistle 2; Coupar Angus 1, Montrose Roselea 7.

Match off – Thornton Hibs v Jeanfield Swifts.