Published: Thursday, 21st February, 2008 09:00
Juniors Round-up
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Juniors Round-up
ALL four local Junior clubs suffered the disappointment of defeat last Saturday, albeit they were all by narrow margins.
Musselburgh Athletic were close to earning a replay against West Superleague side Glenafton Athletic in Ayrshire but crashed out of the Scottish Junior Cup to a goal with five minutes to go.
In the South Division, Haddington Athletic were left stunned by two late goals at Millfield from Blackburn United.
Dunbar United and Tranent Juniors lost by one goal at Harthill and West Calder respectively.
Musselburgh return to the bread and butter of Premier League football tomorrow (Saturday) with Dundonald Bluebell’s visit to Olive Bank.
Tranent are at home to Broxburn Athletic, Dunbar are at Pumpherston, and Haddington travel to Fauldhouse.
Glenafton Athletic 1
Musselburgh Athletic 0
JUST a week after disposing of Kirkintilloch Rob Roy in a fourth round replay penalty shootout, Burgh were once again in Scottish Junior Cup action last Saturday.
Opponents Glenafton Athletic, under the management of former Ayr United and Raith Rovers boss Gordon Dalziel, have a strong Junior Cup tradition, and most people had them down as favourites for Burgh’s visit.
The first half was a tightly matched affair with neither team giving much away. Musselburgh forced half a dozen corners amid an impressive midfield display which didn’t quite translate into a real attacking threat.
Paul Tansey came in for some close attention from the home defence and showed his usual excellent control in creating shots on goal, but he couldn’t find the target.
Danny Sweeney cleared Glenafton’s one genuine shot off the line but otherwise Ronnie McPherson’s goal went largely untroubled thanks to sound defending. There were first half bookings for Sweeney and Mark Quinn, a significant factor after the break. A first 45 minutes that was fairly short on excitement predictably ended goalless.
For most of the second half it was hard to see what was going to separate the teams, neither of them at their best.
Incidents were few and far between, but a second yellow card for Quinn saw Burgh reduced to 10 men.
With five minutes left though Glenafton hit the only goal of the game in controversial fashion to put an end to the Burgh Cup dream.
A throw in many thought should have been Musselburgh’s was awarded to the hosts, and from this Casey found time and space to hit a shot which McPherson did well to save.
The rebound however was tucked away by the Glens’ top scorer Cormack and the visitors’ offside appeals were to no avail.
Chris King collected two yellow cards in the last few minutes, resulting in Burgh’s 15th sending off this season in what was a disappointing end to another brave cup campaign.
Harthill Royal 1
Dunbar United 0
POSTPONED twice previously, the Seasiders’ first meeting this season with Harthill Royal went ahead last Saturday with both teams part of a tightly congested pack in the top half of the table.
Harthill, with fewer games played than their rivals, look well placed for a genuine title challenge, and Beechwood Park is never an easy venue to visit.
But Dunbar boss Jock Landells was pleased to name a team showing just one change from that which beat Blackburn a week earlier, with Scott Barclay replacing Brian Droudge in midfield.
Harthill were occasionally dangerous in attack but Dunbar too had their chances, and they were decidedly unlucky when McDonald’s header was cleared from the line by home defender Bonnar, with the keeper well beaten.
What proved the only goal of the game came just before half-time, Ferguson netting for Harthill.
A bad bounce deceived United defender Gareth Hughes and although Ferrier stopped Ferguson’s first effort he could do nothing to keep out the rebound.
Harthill failed to build any real second half momentum on the back of their goal, and the sides largely cancelled each other out in an often featureless forty five minutes.
Dunbar’s best chances fell to Paul Hampshire just three minutes apart – with 11 minutes left he shot just over the bar, and then with just Watson to beat the Royal ‘keeper blocked his shot.
Haddington Athletic 0
Blackburn United 2
THE opening 45 minutes proved a great disappointment as a spectacle, with scoring opportunities very much at a premium.
Haddington’s tendency to send in balls too close to the keeper cost them the opportunity to truly threaten, and the only other worthwhile effort they had came nine minutes before the interval when Derek Slight was well wide with his shot on the turn.
The dullness of the first half was soon forgotten once the game restarted.
Blackburn came close on 53 minutes when Alan Brown caught sight of goal from a good position inside the box, but he swept his shot just wide.
Home sub Jackie Myles was unlucky with a deflected effort and a Lukasz Rusin shot came off Murray and rebounded off the face of the bar.
With six minutes left Blackburn took the lead in controversial circumstances, as sub Lynch appeared to be offside when he collected the ball.
The referee didn’t agree and despite Chris Hill’s best efforts Lynch slotted the ball home as it dawned on the furious home defenders the goal was to stand.
A reckless pass three minutes later led to United’s second goal, with Alan Brown heading home from a corner.
West Calder United 2
Tranent Juniors 1
AFTER defeat at Livingston in Stevie McLeish’s last game in charge a week earlier, Tranent were back in West Lothian last Saturday under the management of new boss Davie Lees.
Their young squad competed well throughout an opening 45 which saw play swing from end to end in entertaining fashion.
Ryan Gibb’s headed goal from a free kick 10 minutes in gave Tranent the lead at the interval. This was the teenager’s first goal in Tranent colours.
The second half saw the hosts upping their efforts as they sought a way back into the game, but Tranent’s defence was in fine form and stood up well to their opponents.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half, but held firm until the 10 minutes from time when West Calder forced an equaliser.
Tranent threw caution to the wind and didn’t deserve the cruel fate in injury time, when a long throw for the home side was headed on to the back post and scrambled over the line.
ALL four local Junior clubs suffered the disappointment of defeat last Saturday, albeit they were all by narrow margins.
Musselburgh Athletic were close to earning a replay against West Superleague side Glenafton Athletic in Ayrshire but crashed out of the Scottish Junior Cup to a goal with five minutes to go.
In the South Division, Haddington Athletic were left stunned by two late goals at Millfield from Blackburn United,
Dunbar United and Tranent Juniors lost by one goal at Harthill and West Calder respectively.
Musselburgh return to the bread and butter of Premier League football tomorrow (Saturday) with Dundonald Bluebell’s visit to Olive Bank.
Tranent are at home to Broxburn Athletic, Dunbar are at Pumpherston, and Haddington travel to Fauldhouse.
JUST a week after disposing of Kirkintilloch Rob Roy in a fourth round replay penalty shootout, Burgh were once again in Scottish Junior Cup action last Saturday.
Opponents Glenafton Athletic, under the management of former Ayr United and Raith Rovers boss Gordon Dalziel, have a strong Junior Cup tradition, and most people had them down as favourites for Burgh’s visit.
The first half was a tightly matched affair with neither team giving much away. Musselburgh forced half a dozen corners amid an impressive midfield display which didn’t quite translate into a real attacking threat.
Paul Tansey came in for some close attention from the home defence and showed his usual excellent control in creating shots on goal, but he couldn’t find the target.
Danny Sweeney cleared Glenafton’s one genuine shot off the line but otherwise Ronnie McPherson’s goal went largely untroubled thanks to sound defending. There were first half bookings for Sweeney and Mark Quinn, a significant factor after the break. A first 45 minutes that was fairly short on excitement predictably ended goalless.
For most of the second half it was hard to see what was going to separate the teams, neither of them at their best.
Incidents were few and far between, but a second yellow card for Quinn saw Burgh reduced to 10 men
With five minutes left though Glenafton hit the only goal of the game in controversial fashion to put an end to the Burgh Cup dream.
A throw in many thought should have been Musselburgh’s was awarded to the hosts, and from this Casey found time and space to hit a shot which McPherson did well to save.
The rebound however was tucked away by the Glens’ top scorer Cormack and the visitors’ offside appeals were to no avail.
Chris King collected two yellow cards in the last few minutes, resulting in Burgh’s 15th sending off this season in what was a disappointing end to another brave cup campaign.
POSTPONED twice previously, the Seasiders’ first meeting this season with Harthill Royal went ahead last Saturday with both teams part of a tightly congested pack in the top half of the table.
Harthill, with fewer games played than their rivals, look well placed for a genuine title challenge, and Beechwood Park is never an easy venue to visit.
But Dunbar boss Jock Landells was pleased to name a team showing just one change from that which beat Blackburn a week earlier, with Scott Barclay replacing Brian Droudge in midfield.
Harthill were occasionally dangerous in attack but Dunbar too had their chances, and they were decidedly unlucky when McDonald’s header was cleared from the line by home defender Bonnar, with the keeper well beaten.
What proved the only goal of the game came just before half-time, Ferguson netting for Harthill.
A bad bounce deceived United defender Gareth Hughes and although Ferrier stopped Ferguson’s first effort he could do nothing to keep out the rebound.
Harthill failed to build any real second half momentum on the back of their goal, and the sides largely cancelled each other out in an often featureless forty five minutes. Dunbar’s best chances fell to Paul Hampshire just three minutes apart – with 11 minutes left he shot just over the bar, and then with just Watson to beat the Royal ‘keeper blocked his shot.
THE opening 45 minutes proved a great disappointment as a spectacle, with scoring opportunities very much at a premium.
Haddington’s tendency to send in balls too close to the keeper cost them the opportunity to truly threaten, and the only other worthwhile effort they had came nine minutes before the interval when Derek Slight was well wide with his shot on the turn. The dullness of the first half was soon forgotten once the game restarted.
Blackburn came close on 53 minutes when Alan Brown caught sight of goal from a good position inside the box, but he swept his shot just wide.
Home sub Jackie Myles was unlucky with a deflected effort and a Lukasz Rusin shot came off Murray and rebounded off the face of the bar.
With six minutes left Blackburn took the lead in controversial circumstances, as sub Lynch appeared to be offside when he collected the ball.
The referee didn’t agree and despite Chris Hill’s best efforts Lynch slotted the ball home as it dawned on the furious home defenders the goal was to stand.
A reckless pass three minutes later led to United’s second goal, with Alan Brown heading home from a corner.
AFTER defeat at Livingston in Stevie McLeish’s last game in charge a week earlier, Tranent were back in West Lothian last Saturday under the management of new boss Davie Lees.
Their young squad competed well throughout an opening 45 which saw play swing from end to end in entertaining fashion.
Ryan Gibb’s headed goal from a free kick 10 minutes in gave Tranent the lead at the interval. This was the teenager’s first goal in Tranent colours.
The second half saw the hosts upping their efforts as they sought a way back into the game, but Tranent’s defence was in fine form and stood up well to their opponents.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half, but held firm until the 10 minutes from time when West Calder forced an equaliser.
Tranent threw caution to the wind and didn’t deserve the cruel fate in injury time, when a long throw for the home side was headed on to the back post and scrambled over the line.
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