Lochee Utd 4 Kennoway Star Hearts 2
KSH smarting from last week`s narrow derby defeat were looking to try and take something from potential league leaders Lochee Utd.
It was another rip roaring game for the neutral.
Kennoway started the game on the front foot and it was in form striker M.Gay who had the first effort on target. Collecting the ball wide on the right he managed to get a shot away as the defenders were closing in.
It was a controlled start to the game with Craig also looking to get behind his marker with a few lung bursting runs.
As in previous week`s though just when it looks like KSH have settled and enjoying their best spell of the game a split second decision costs them. A ball played into the right channel saw a cross delivered to the back post where Birse forced the ball home from four yards.
A sore one to take for the away side but almost immediately the chance fell to grab a leveller. Good play by Gay and Craig eventually saw the ball fall to Band,the forward beat his man and it looked like a certain goal only for the towering presence of Fotheringham to save with his feet. Thirty seconds later the ball was in the KSH penalty box with Lawson on hand to slot home.
From such a promising start the reality was KSH were now two goals down and Lochee were now firmly on the front foot. Paterson was on hand to save from a Birse shot as the home side upped the pressure.
Player/manager Johnstone was dictating the play in the midfield and he saw a rasping shot from twenty five yards tipped over by the Lochee `keeper. Craig then saw a tremendous run and shot saved again by Fotheringham. HT 2-0
The worst possible start to the half for the away side happened when a free kick by Cameron from twenty yards was dispatched behind Paterson. In a game they had contributed so well they were now staring down the barrel at a heavy defeat.
However one thing about this team is the ability to battle and scrape for each other. Slowly but surely they were posing attacking threats to the Lochee back line. Gay was desperate to get his team back in the game and the striker pulled a goal back with an expertly finished strike from an acute angle.
Buoyed by the goal KSH were pushing to try and get back into the game.
Players were gambling and leaving gaps for the Lochee strikers to exploit. It was a game played with the intensity of a Cup tie as every challenge was keenly contested.
Several set pieces for KSH saw the pressure building with Johnstone and Gay at the heart of most of the attacking play.
The introduction of Shaw provided fresh legs and almost straight away the winger made an impact. He collected the ball out on the touchline before beating a defender entering the penalty area. Another defender got too close and tripped Shaw leaving the referee with no option but to award a spot kick. Gay was the man in form and full of confidence as he collected the ball before thundering his effort high past Fotheringham.
Ten minutes remaining and it was game on.
Binnington was thrown on as an extra striker with KSH going to a back three. Lochee had the chance to kill the game but Kirk`s header came back off an upright.
A nervy home side were relieved to see a thirty yard piledriver from Craig deflected over with the ball looking destined for the top corner.
With four minutes injury time played and almost every KSH player apart from Partridge and Paterson in the Lochee half the home side finally killed the game off. A long ball was chased down only for Partridge to make a fine block,the ball fell kindly to Ritchie who executed a deft chip into the goal. FT 4-2
Team: Paterson Young Doig Partridge McGowan Muir Rolland Johnstone Craig M.Gay Band Subs: Shaw Collins Newlands Binnington
Next game is at home v Linlithgow Rose Sept 30th Kick Off 2.30pm