NEXT GAMe
vs
- Newtongrange Star vs St Andrews Utd FC
- EOSFL Premier Division
- Saturday 13th October 2026 | 2:30PM
- New Victoria Park, Dalkeith EH22 4NG
HELP BUILD SAINTS FUTURE: BUY A SEAT IN THE NEW ENCLOSURE
SAINTS SUFFER LATE CUP HEARTBREAK
Dunipace 6-5 St Andrews United
South Challenge Cup 3rd Rnd
There are games you win, games you lose, and then there are games like this. St Andrews United travelled to Dunipace for the third round of the South Challenge Cup and somehow managed to score five goals, lead three times, score a hat-trick, equalise twice in the second half and still leave empty-handed after an extraordinary 11-goal afternoon. Football, as ever, remains a simple game.
Saints made the perfect start after just four minutes. A superb diagonal ball found Kavanagh, whose first touch was excellent as he drove into the box before firing a low diagonal finish beyond the Dunipace goalkeeper. Dunipace 0-1 Saints. The home side enjoyed plenty of possession after the opener but, despite having the ball, struggled to create any clear chances. On 15 minutes, Simpson embarked on one of his trademark mazy runs and was eventually wiped out for his trouble. A free-kick was awarded, although remarkably no booking followed. We can only assume the referee was saving his cards for something more dramatic.
On 21 minutes, Dunipace found an equaliser. A 25-yard effort from the home side was blocked by Simpson, but unfortunately the ball fell straight back to the same player, who made no mistake second time around, rifling the ball into the top-left corner. 1-1. Four minutes later, Dunipace turned the game around, scoring with their first real chance of the afternoon to make it 2-1. The Saints responded almost immediately, with a long throw turned into the six-yard box and deflected home, Kavanagh appearing to get the final touch to bring the scores level once again. 2-2. Moments earlier, Dunipace’s goalkeeper had dropped a long free-kick and the ball had been knocked into the net, only for the linesman’s flag to go up. It didn’t matter in the end.
With the score level, Saints also decided that half an hour was a reasonable amount of time to trial the 3-5-2 before reverting to a more familiar 4-4-2 formation. The tactical adjustment didn’t prevent another goal, however. On 38 minutes, a flat diagonal ball found a Dunipace player running in behind Wright. He brought it under control with his chest and guided it past the goalkeeper to put the home side back in front. Dunipace 3-2 Saints. And that was how it stood at half-time. Five goals, few chances. Quite how that worked remains unclear.
Saints started the second half brightly and were level again after just two minutes. Sneddon beat two players before reaching the byline and sending a cross towards the back post. Penman’s header was cleared off the line, but Kavanagh was on hand to tap home the rebound. 3-3 – and a hat-trick for Kavanagh. The momentum was now with Saints and, on 54 minutes, a Dunipace attack broke down and the Saints countered at pace, finding themselves three against one. Kavanagh picked out Berry, who kept his composure to fire home. Dunipace 3-4 Saints. Surely, surely, the game would settle down now. No.
Two minutes later, Dunipace were awarded a penalty for handball against Cunningham. The home player converted, the effort going underneath the goalkeeper, and it was 4-4. Eight minutes later, Dunipace were ahead again. An up-and-under from around halfway caught Saints napping. The ball was prodded across goal and eventually knocked home. 5-4. It was a poor goal to concede. Saints responded once again, with Wright rising highest at the back post from a corner on 67 minutes to head home and make it 5-5. At this point, the match had abandoned any pretence of being sensible.
With 15 minutes remaining, there was still plenty of time for something else to happen. Judging by the previous 75 minutes, there was also plenty of time for another four goals. Dunipace threatened on 79 minutes when a dangerous attack ended with a flashing shot across goal being cleared over the bar by Thomson. A mazy run and effort narrowly past the far post followed a minute later, before Robertson was called upon to tip a cross-shot over the bar on 85 minutes. Saints then had their own opportunity, but despite a huge stramash following a corner, they couldn’t force the ball over the line. A minute later, Lumsden caught a shot flush, only for the Dunipace goalkeeper to produce an excellent save.
Into injury time, and then came the final twist. On 91 minutes, Dunipace delivered a cross into the box. Robertson couldn’t hold it, the ball fell kindly to a home attacker and it was fired into the net. Dunipace 6-5 Saints. There was still time for a brief hope of another equaliser, but this time the Saints couldn’t produce one.
A sickening way to lose. St Andrews scored five times away from home, Kavanagh claimed a hat-trick, the team came from behind twice in the second half and led 4-3 with 36 minutes remaining. It still wasn’t enough. Credit to Dunipace for taking their chances when they came, but from a Saints perspective, there will be plenty to reflect on after conceding six goals in a game that could have gone either way.
An extraordinary afternoon, an 11-goal thriller and a heartbreaking way to bow out of the South Challenge Cup. After five goals, countless twists and a game that swung one way and then the other, it was Dunipace who march on to the 4th round
SAINTS FALL SHORT IN THRILLER
St Andrews United 3–4 Jeanfield Swifts
East of Scotland Premier Division
Clayton Holiday Park Recreation Ground
Sponsored by Westport Print and Design
St Andrews United were on the wrong end of a seven-goal thriller at the Clayton Holiday Park Recreation Ground on Saturday, going down 4–3 to Jeanfield Swifts in a game that had chances, controversy, late drama and, unfortunately for Saints, rather too many reasons to wonder what might have been.
It was the third meeting between the sides this season, with Saints having come out on top in both previous encounters, a cup tie and a league meeting in Perth. A third victory was on the cards for long spells, but Jeanfield proved more clinical when it mattered and eventually took the points.
Saints started brightly and looked the more threatening side in the opening exchanges. Sneddon tested the Jeanfield goalkeeper from the edge of the box before a dangerous Cunningham free-kick caused problems, with the ball eventually worked back into the danger area. Lumsden, however, could only blaze over.
The visitors’ first real opportunity came through former Saint Lewis Payne, whose effort was comfortably dealt with, but Jeanfield would soon have something rather more substantial to celebrate.
After 16 minutes, the Saints goalkeeper came racing out of his box in an attempt to deal with a ball over the top, only to be beaten to it by the Jeanfield striker. With the goal unguarded, the finish was about as difficult as finding the back of the net during a warm-up.
It was a calamitous way to fall behind, but Saints responded well and continued to play their football.
And when the equaliser arrived, it was worth the wait.
With half an hour played, Regan Lumsden picked up the ball around 25 yards from goal and produced a superb strike which flew into the top corner, giving the Jeanfield goalkeeper absolutely no chance. A goal worthy of cancelling out the previous one, at least from an aesthetic point of view.
The game then settled into an entertaining end-to-end spell. Jeanfield threatened when a Swifts forward broke through the Saints defence, only for Robertson to produce an excellent save. At the other end, Saints felt they had a strong claim for a penalty, although the referee was unmoved, apparently deciding that one incident involving an unguarded goal was quite enough excitement for the afternoon.
Wright was booked as Jeanfield broke following the appeals, with Thomson also going into the referee’s notebook shortly afterwards.
Saints finished the half strongly. Lumsden went close again before Simpson saw a late effort tipped over the bar, leaving the sides level at the interval.
Jeanfield regained the lead shortly after the restart.
A floated cross into the Saints box was met by a Swifts striker, whose header found the net to make it 2–1. Saints were immediately back on the front foot, and Simpson produced one of the moments of the afternoon when he skipped past four Jeanfield players before finding Cunningham. His resulting cross just evaded the Saints strikers.
There was plenty of Saints possession, but the final ball repeatedly let them down. Lumsden then tried his luck with a snapshot which, rather optimistically, appeared to be heading for the goal before taking a slightly different route and ending up somewhere in the Kinnessburn.
Jeanfield thought they had extended their advantage in the 65th minute, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside. Saints continued to press, but for all their possession they were struggling to find the final pass or finish that would turn pressure into goals.
Sawers was introduced for Kavanagh with 15 minutes remaining, but it was Jeanfield who struck next.
A soft effort in the 76th minute somehow found its way beyond the Saints goalkeeper to make it 3–1. It was another frustrating moment for Saints, who had spent much of the second half asking questions at one end only to find themselves punished at the other.
To their credit, they responded almost immediately.
A free-kick was delivered into the box and Mark Smith rose highest, sending a looping header into the net to reduce the deficit to 3–2. Suddenly, Saints had a game on their hands again.
Jeanfield had another goal ruled out for offside before Cunningham was replaced by Berry, as Saints continued to push for an equaliser.
Instead, Jeanfield found a fourth.
A free-kick into the Saints box eventually fell to a Swifts player on the edge of the area, and he made no mistake, firing past the Saints goalkeeper to restore the two-goal advantage with just two minutes of normal time remaining.
That might have finished lesser teams off, but Saints were not quite finished yet.
In the second minute of stoppage time, Jeanfield failed to clear their lines and Alex McCreadie reacted quickest, pulling another goal back to make it 4–3.
Suddenly, what had looked like a comfortable Jeanfield victory was anything but.
Berry saw a late effort saved before a corner in the fifth minute of added time fell invitingly to Saints. The resulting effort, however, drifted wide, bringing an end to Saints’ hopes of completing an unlikely comeback.
The final whistle confirmed a 4–3 defeat, and while the scoreline suggests a close contest, Saints will know they were some way short of their best.
FT St Andrews Utd 3-4 Jeanfield Swifts
Special thanks to WESTPORT PRINT & DESIGN for sponsoring today’s game
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
St Andrews United FC are delighted to welcome Hatch St Andrews as the club’s newest partner. Located in the heart of St Andrews on South Street, Hatch is a popular all-day dining destination, serving breakfast, brunch and lunch, alongside speciality coffee, afternoon tea and private events. With a focus on vibrant, seasonal food and great hospitality, Hatch is a fantastic local business and we are proud to have them supporting the club. Welcome to the United family, Hatch!
REPLICA TOPS NOW AVAILABLE!
We’re delighted to announce that St Andrews United FC replica tops are now available for supporters to purchase!
Both Home and Away tops are available for £35.00 (adults), £25.00 (kids)
If you’d like to get your hands on one, please contact:
📧 ericgillespie@hotmail.co.uk
📱 07552 632777
Get behind the Saints and show your colours! 🔴⚫
SAINTS SIGN MIDFIELDER KEMP
St Andrews United FC are delighted to announce the signing of Aidan Kemp from Dunipace. Aidan joins Saints with experience at a good level, including representing Scotland Schoolboys at U18 level, and will add further quality and physicality to Fraser Duncan’s midfield options.
TOP SCORERS
GOLF DAY RAISES £1341.00 FOR MAGGIES
League Table
Last Match
6-5
- Opponents: Dunipace FC
- Competition: South Challenge Cup 3rd Rnd
