V Tech SMT Ltd Fife and Lothians Cup Saturday 13 October
Whitburn Juniors 1 Kennoway Star Hearts 2
It was cup duty for KSH as they travelled to Central Park the home of Whitburn Juniors in West Lothian. One change to the starting line up from the previous week saw striker Band reinstated to the team after a one match ban with youngster Watson missing out.
Whitburn kept the same side that defeated Tayport last week, with Gary Brass and Andy McQuillan relegated to the substitutes bench.
The teams had met in a league fixture earlier on in the season with Whitburn scoring a last gasp goal to give them a 3-2 win.
Conditions, though, were not favourable as it had poured of rain for much of the previous 24 hours and it looked likely to continue throughout the game , however the referee passed the pitch as playable and it was game on.
Players getting to grips on the surface early on saw the opening period tentative as both team`s were well aware the importance of the cup tie.
KSH struck an early blow to the home side when a perfectly delivered corner kick from Johnstone was powerfully headed home from skipper Doig in the eleventh minute. A well worked goal from the training field and one the team relished judging by the celebrations.
Buoyed by the positive start Kennoway looked bright every time they entered the last third. Mair and Young were having a positive contribution on the right flank with the latter almost adding to the lead when he powered past a defender only to see his shot saved by D.Russell.
Whitburn had a chance of their own when a M.Russell centre saw Liddell head over from a few yards out.
The game was now in full swing with tackles flying in all over the pitch. The referee was allowing for conditions and to be fair the players were also adding to the enjoyment of a good old fashioned Cup tie with their commitment.
Scott Young had another chance for KSH as he again got beyond the full back this time his effort was off target when the opportunity arose.
On the stroke of half time a let off for KSH. A long ball somehow found Liddell unmarked, with just Paterson to beat from the edge of the area the striker hit his shot wide of the goal, despite the players protests for a corner kick the referee gave a goal kick. HT 0-1
The second half began with the home side on the front foot. Liddell was a menace in attack and he was being well policed by Doig and Bremner, it was a strong defensive showing as the physical side of the game was becoming important with several long balls to deal with.
Liddell did manage to escape from his marker ten minutes in but Paterson was alert to the danger as he raced from his goal to block with his legs. An almost identical chance happened in the other goal mouth this time it was D.Muir who ghosted into the penalty area only to see his effort blocked by D.Russell.
Bryce then entered the fray replacing the injured Collins and the striker almost made his mark straight away. He picked the ball up just outside the penalty area and fizzed in a shot that was deflected wide for a corner.
The game was back and forth at pace and on the hour Paterson showed his agility with another fine stop, this time Thompson was denied by the Kennoway shot stopper.
Ten minutes later a slack pass out of the Whitburn defence was pounced upon by D.Muir, he hit a low shot that skimmed over the surface from 25 yards that again brought out the best of D.Russell with a fine save low to his right.
The game management from KSH was looking good as the midfield and defence tightened up all over the pitch, this in turn forced Whitburn into hitting hopeful balls into the KSH half as the clock run down.
With six minutes remaining a fine counter saw Young somehow get to the byline before playing a cross straight across the goal with Bryce lurking at the back post to force the ball home. A crucial second goal but one that had came at a price with the striker colliding with a defender leaving him injured inside the goals.
With two minutes left on the clock a lifeline to the home side when a penalty was awarded when McQuillan collided with Brewster in an off the ball incident. Duncan took the spot kick an scored to give his side a glimmer of hope.
Remarkably Kennoway almost restored their two goal lead when D.Muir again picked up the ball outside the eighteen yard box this time he hit a delightful chipped effort that saw D.Russell leap high to his right and claw the ball away for a corner kick. FT 1-2
Team: Paterson Mair Doig Bremner Brewster Young D.Muir Johnstone L.Rolland Collins Band Subs: B.Rolland R.Muir K.Lindsay Bryce Watson
