Match Report - Whitburn Junior FC
whitburn junior fc 2-2 St andrews United
Match Report
St Andrews United travelled to Whitburn on a cool but dry winter’s day and the 220 spectators in attendance were hoping to see another high-scoring encounter between the old rivals. Not surprisingly, the away team’s starting eleven was unchanged from the previous Tuesday’s draw with high-flying Hill of Beath yet the home players flew out of the traps like a greyhound chasing a plastic hare! Indeed, Kyle Thomson turned a shot from Ross Crawford round his right-hand post in the third minute of the contest prior to making a fantastic save from a Mick McGarahan header a few seconds later. Steph Murray then headed the ball over Thomson’s crossbar from Whitburn’s third corner in quick succession before Lewis Sawers went close with a turn and shot at the other end of the park. However, Whitburn took the lead in the eleventh minute when Cammy Graham kept his cool to find the far corner of Thomson’s net following a tussle between Crawford and John Tod. Thomson had caused Saints all sorts of problem during previous meetings in the East of Scotland League and he again proved to be big a handful for the United defenders on this occasion. Crawford was unlucky not to score in the 19th minute when his shot clipped the post and ran along the goal-line before being cleared but the strong centre forward was not to be denied for much longer. The powerful number nine beat United’s offside trap in the 22nd minute and he calmly beat Thomson with a composed finish to make the score 2-0.
Andy Thomson subsequently wasted a good chance to add a third goal on the half-hour mark and his colleagues looked dangerous every time they pressed forward. Darren Liddell also headed the ball straight to the away goalie from a promising position in the 38th minute and Saints only other attempt at goal during the first half came from a weak free kick by Ryan McManus. That free kick was awarded on the very edge of the box as Freddie Rowe appealed for a penalty but the Whitburn players deservedly headed for the changing rooms with a two-goal cushion in their favour. The visitors did string a few passes together throughout the first period, despite the soft pitch cutting up rather badly, yet there were times when the hosts threatened to run away with the contest. The home players used their strength, physicality and direct style to good effect against energetic but largely inexperienced opponents and some of the 26 travelling fans felt like they were watching men against boys! That feeling lingered into the second half when Tod blocked a shot from Thomson on his own line before heading the resulting corner towards the edge of the penalty box. Crawford then fired the loose ball at Thomson and the young ‘keeper was delighted to see the far-side linesman flagging for offside as his namesake knocked a rebound into an empty net. The aforementioned away supporters were beginning to think about their Saturday night takeaways at that point yet St Andrews United manager Greg Shields was able to make meaningful substitutions as Lewis Payne, Alex Balfour, James Collins and Kyle Sneddon replaced Ross Cunningham, Finlay Kerr, Freddie Rowe and Alex McCreadie respectively.
The hosts also made the mistake of trying to manage the game at 2-0 by keeping possession in non-threatening positions as well as time wasting. Shields and his assistant Stuart Milne both earned cards from referee Robert Bowie for protesting too loudly over the perceived time-wasting at a substitution and the former was ordered from the dug-out. Shields then trudged over the full width of the pitch since the dug-outs were on the opposite side to the changing rooms and cynics would say he was cleverly giving his players a much-needed breather! When the action resumed thereafter it soon became clear that the Saints’ gaffer had pulled off a tactical masterstroke with his replacements. Sneddon in particular looked like a man on a mission, having been omitted from the starting eleven, and he quickly formed a productive partnership with McManus in central midfield. ‘Sneds’ could easily have taken the huff at getting dropped but the big St Andrean took his medicine with good grace prior to helping his team get back on track. Indeed, the visitors found a new sense of urgency during the latter stages of the match and they halved the deficit in the 86th minute when Lewis Payne more than earned his petrol money for the week by adding the finishing touch to an excellent passing move.
That goal gave the boys in blue a massive lift and the hosts suddenly started to suffer from Alex Ferguson’s squeaky bum syndrome! The away fans, on the other hand, were still celebrating when Ryan McManus was fouled inside the Whitburn penalty area and Mr Bowie immediately pointed towards the spot. Sawers therefore took on the responsibility of taking the penalty kick, and the Saints’ star calmly stroked the ball into Danny Farrell’s net as the goalie dived in the wrong direction. That was Sawers’ 77th goal for United but only his fourth of the current campaign, though this dramatic comeback was a real team effort. The Whitburn lads did try to throw the kitchen sink at their opponents throughout the final few minutes of injury time but Thomson was not called into action as his defenders impressed under pressure. The game thus ended 2-2 and Shields became only the second manager in St Andrews United’s history to remain unbeaten after six league fixtures in charge!
Result
2-2
- Saturday 09-02-25
- Location: Central Park
- Competition: East of Scotland Premier Division
