The St Andrews United players faced Luncarty at Brownlands Park knowing that a win would lift them out of the relegation zone. As such, stand-in manager Stevie Clark picked the same starting eleven that beat Hutchison Vale three days previously but the opening quarter of an hour proved to be evenly contested. Former Saints’ goalkeeper Matt Curtis then made two terrific saves from point-blank range to deny Freddie Rowe and Owen Andrew yet the visitors began to turn the screw thereafter. The lively Andrew Johnston earned a penalty when he was fouled by former St Andrews United defender Jamie Mackie and Owen Andrew made no mistake from twelve yards to make the score 1-0 in the 31st minute. However, the hosts equalised in the 40th minute when Rannoch Ramsay found the net with a snap-shot from just outside the 18-yard box. That goal came totally against the run of play and the action promptly moved back up the other end of the pitch when the impressive Alex McCreadie hit a shot over the home crossbar from 20 yards.
The first half subsequently ended with Andrew heading a Mikey Ness cross over the target so the sides remained locked together at the interval with the score tied.

Not surprisingly, Clark’s boys began the second period on the front foot and Johnston pulled a shot wide of the near post following a mistake from the Luncarty defence. Saints also pressed throughout the next ten minutes and their efforts were rewarded when Andrew headed home a superb cross by Ness. Andrew then completed his hat trick in the 63rd minute when he dribbled past two opposition players before rounding Curtis and knocking the ball into an empty net. The away supporters therefore thought that all three points would be heading back to Fife at that point but their opponents pulled a goal back with four minutes of normal time remaining through Liam Woolley.

Despite losing that goal, the visitors continued to look like the better side as the clock wound down and substitute Lewis Sawers set up Lewis Payne on a counter attack. Unfortunately, Curtis saved the tall striker’s shot and the travelling fans were further frustrated when referee Ross Donaldson waved away appeals for a penalty after Payne was pushed to the ground. Those away fans then went from being frustrated to stunned when Luncarty’s Gregor Donald equalised from a free kick in the second minute of injury time. However, there was still time for Payne to miss a good chance before the final whistle went so St Andrews United dropped two valuable points. That being said, the score was not a fair reflection of United’s performance and there were more than enough positives to take from the afternoon as the battle to avoid relegation continues. Indeed, results elsewhere meant that Saints climbed out of the relegation zone for the first time this season.

Match report by Leo Micallef