Seniors secure vital victory over Whitehill

Posted on Saturday, October 13th, 2012

We climbed to the top of the East of Scotland Premier Division for the first time this season with a convincing 2-0 victory over rivals Whitehill Welfare today at Ainslie Park. A crowd of over 300 were at the game to enjoy the action.

Kevin Sivewright and John Grant missed out through injury while Danny O’Donnell was suspended following his red card last weekend.

After a frantic opening half hour with limited goal scoring chances, Keith McLeod played a ball into the box which was deflected into the path of the on form Donal Henretty who slotted the ball home from 16 yards in the 34th minute. It was one booking apiece at half time with Keith and Dayne Robertson in the book.

Whitehill started the 2nd half with intent and Wayne MacIntosh forced Chris Flockhart into a good save early in the second half. We came more into the game and when Walker dropped two balls in a row Donal came very close to scoring again but Whitehill cleared frantically. Whitehill then cleared two corners off the line before a third corner was crossed at the second attempt by Jack Beesley and headed home bravely by Ally MacKinnon into the roof of the net in the 69th minute.

Robbie Manson reacted first to clear a header off the line to prevent Whitehill getting a goal back while keeper Chris Flockhart pulled off a brilliant save with a shot looking destined for the top corner to keep a clean sheet and a gain a vital 3 points. Late bookings for Robbie and Donal were frustrating but the young referee had had a great game despite the best efforts of the Whitehill players to intimidate. Whitehill threw on a couple of giants to try and rescue the game but Jonny Seeley and Ali coped comfortably with the aerial onslaught. Despite Whitehill being odds on at the bookies we had won the tactical and individual battles.

Malt & Hops Man of the Match: Donal Henretty – yet another vintage performance from Donal who never stopped. He took his goal well and was a torn in the side of the Whitehill defenders all afternoon. Mark Whately pushed Donal close and along with Willie Bremner in midfield it was here where we won the battle.
Team: Flockhart, Cennerrazzo, Henretty, MacCuish, MacKinnon, Manson, Martin, Whatley, Anderson (Beesley 64), McLeod (Wringe 76), Bremner (Seeley 83) Unused: Laird,