Whitburn 1 Kennoway Star Hearts 4
KSH traveled to Whitburn for their last league fixture of the season knowing a win was needed to try and put the points on the board hoping that the team`s below have some sort of slip up in the run in if they have any hopes for automatic promotion.
A swirling wind and bumpy pitch was proving difficult in the early stages as the KSH defence saw a great deal of action. Gray and Doig were in the thick of it with strong defensive play from both allowing the team settle.
Paterson was called into action when he diverted a Bain shot around the post with an instinctive save.
Gray then vacated his defensive duties and almost opened the scoring with a snapshot after a Band corner kick.
Gray did open the scoring inside the eighteenth minute, the defender stooped to head a pin point Johnstone free kick past Horne from four yards out. At the other end Paterson was called into action again this time stopping a goal bound free kick from Patrick, Doig was on hand to clear the ball as the Whitburn strikers closed in.
Band and M.Gay were linking well in attack and the latter saw a jinking run brought to a halt with a terrific last gasp tackle just as the striker looked to pull the trigger.
Another Johnstone set piece saw KSH double their lead when his in-swinging corner was headed goal-wards by M.Gay the ball deflected of a defender into the net. This goal was the breathing space the away team wanted and they played out the remainder of the half with some confidence. HT 0-2
Whitburn made a few changes at half time hoping to get back into the game as they were fighting for points at the other end of the table.
An aggressive start from the home side saw a barrage of long balls played deep into the last third, the wind was playing a huge factor as time after time the ball was played into the Kennoway penalty box. Doig headed a goal bound effort over his own crossbar as the pressure was ramped up. From the resultant corner Skinner headed home as he lurked at the back post.
Gradually KSH started to regain some composure on the ball and it was M.Gay who went close bringing out a double save from Horne.
Whitburn looked to play the long ball forward hoping to turn the back four as quickly as possible. Skipper Brewster marshalled his defence superbly as they slowly regained control.
The wide men were playing a huge part with Craig and Johnstone offering vital out balls to the team. A fantastic moive involving Brewster and Johnstone released Band. The tireless work from the young forward saw him creep into the penalty area before he played a reverse pass into the feet of M.Gay, the striker hit a low shot to the `keepers right and into the net despite Horne getting a hand on the ball.
It was the goal the away side needed and with fifteen minutes remaining it looked to have knocked the fight out of a now deflated home side.Craig then saw a run and shot blocked as KSH stepped up the pressure. Another set piece at the other end should have pulled a goal back but Russell headed wide.
Band provided another assist when he pounced on a loose ball out of defence to drive to the by-line, he showed his awareness as he hit a low driven ball across the face of goal for M.Gay to gleefully ram the ball home for his hat trick.
Another surging run from Johnstone saw the midfielder provide a chance for Rolland with a few minutes remaining but the shot missed the target.
FT 1-4.
Team: Paterson, Davidson, Brewster, Gray, Doig, C Gay, M Gay, Rolland, Band, Craig, Johnstone, Subs: Binnington, Byers, Shaw, Young