Seniors win with great fight back but Juniors and Amateurs go down

Posted on Saturday, February 18th, 2012

The Seniors beat Lothian Thistle 4 – 2 after being two goals down after 60 minutes.
We had the better chances in the first half with Omar Kader coming close twice with the Lothian ‘keeper Swain saving well. A minute before the break Lothian took the lead when Chris Flockhart blocked a free kick only to see the rebound knocked home. The free kick was given for a foul by Donal Henretty who picked up a yellow card much to the amazement of the crowd.
Lothian scored a second just into the second half with a cross cum shot which bounced in off the far post. The wind was behind us but the bumpy pitch was preventing us playing any passing football.
It was going to take some inspired play to get us back into the game and it duly transpired. Donal hit the post with an overhead kick before he pulled one back in the 67th minute with a curling shot after being set free by Keith McLeod. Two minutes later Robbie Manson showed an unusual turn of pace to outstrip the Lothian defence and slot home. With ten minutes remaining we were down to 10 men when John Grant picked up a second yellow for what seemed an innocuous challenge….perhaps the ref thought it was Donal? Anyway we brought on Jack Beesley and Jordan Finnie for Gavin Malin and Omar Kader and went for a winner. It duly came with three minutes remaining. Donal broke clear, Robbie followed up and the ball fell to Keith who drove the ball home from the edge of the box into he roof of the net as the whole team apart from Chris in goals ran to congratulate him. The ref picked up Chris for keeping he ball for more than 6 seconds in another bizarre decision but we survived the free kick and in the dying second Jordan broke clear and rounded the ‘keeper to net.
A great win in the end with Donal picking up the Malt and Hops man of the match award for a rampaging performance.
Team: Flockhart, Fusco, Hoskins, Sivewright, McKinnon, Manson, Malin (Finnie 72), Grant, Kader (Beesley 74), McLeod, Henretty Subs not used O’Donnell, Anderson
The Juniors found themselves two down after ten minutes to Pumpherston and down to ten men with ‘keeper Mike Atai sent off for a professional foul. Ainslie Hunter pulled one back before the half time whistle. We played really well in the second half, hitting the post and bar and Darren Thomson coming closest when his effort was cleared off the line in acrobatic fashion by the Pumphy defender.
The Amateurs lost 3 – 1 to Dalkeith in the last 16 of the Miller Cup with Robbie Laird scoring our goal. We didn’t pay as well as we have been playing and missed strikers Andy Hornell and Nick Reid who were on holiday.


Next Fixture

                     
Date: 02/11/24
Opponent: Peterhead
Venue:Balmoor Stadium
Competition: SPFL 2
Kick off: 3.00pm

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