KILLEARN BOOK PLACE IN FINAL

Jun 22 2007 Stirling Observer

KILLEARN4

BLANEFIELD THISTLE2

LAST Thursday's Margaret White Trophy semi-final at Drymen was all wrapped up for Killearn by half-time.

They had recovered from the shock of losing the opening goal to Mark Linning after just 13 minutes had been played. Thistle were the livelier side in that early spell but their chances were considerably lessened when they conceded two free kicks in a minute.

The first, from around 25 yards, was driven hard and low by Richard McColl and eluded both the defensive wall and keeper Gary McIntyre to end up in the net. The second, a minute later, taken by the same player from almost the same spot, was a pacy cross to the far post. James Beaton towered above his marker to score with a powerful header.

Killearn were quite definitely on top and ten minutes before the break Alan More popped up on the right touchline. His cross seemed to be going behind only to be held up in the strong wind. The ball dropped on to the bar and fell conveniently for the ever-alert Ian Crawford to trundle it over the line to give Killearn a 3-1 lead. Defences were on top for the second half until each side scored a late goal. With five minutes left Alan More made it 4-1 and shortly after that Adam Hopes bagged Thistle's second.

Killearn will meet Gartocharn in the final at Balfron on Tuesday, kick-off 7.30pm.

KILLEARN6

ABERFOYLE ROB ROY0

KILLEARN turned in another powerful performance to maintain their unbeaten record on Saturday. Aberfoyle, although much improved with the return of Alistair More, could not match the scoring ability of their hosts. By the interval Killearn were 4-0 ahead and in the second half they coasted to a 6-0 win. Their goals were scored by Ian Cameron (3), Alan More (2) and Robert Howie.

Killearn have still to lose a goal at home this season.

THORNHILL3

DRYMEN UNITED1

THORNHILL emerged comfortable winners in an exciting match on Tuesday.

The home side’s goals were scored by Stewart Anderson, Jamie Kirkwood and David Lamont, while Willie Alexander counted for Drymen.

DRYMEN UNITED3

BALFRON ROVERS2

BALFRON must have been wondering what was happening to them when, still smarting from a heavy defeat by Gartocharn in the Margaret White semi-final, they found themselves 2-0 down after only 13 minutes on Saturday.

Ian Strachan opened the scoring for the home side in six minutes and David MacDonald added a second soon after. Drymen were playing confidently enough but their task was made easier by a Rovers' side that had difficulty in stringing together two successive passes.

At half-time Drymen led 2-0 but Gordon Stewart added a third in the opening minutes to open up prospects of another heavy defeat. Balfron finally got their act together but it took them 67 minutes to break through the Drymen defence. David Reid's cross was played on by Lewis Anderson and Gary Buchanan was on hand to deliver the final touch.

Nine minutes later Lewis Anderson scored from close in after Kevan Meggat had done the spadework. Balfron pressed unsuccessfully for another in the last quarter but the nearest thing to a score came at the other end when Drymen broke away and Steven Skinner was forced to go full-length to fingertip away a shot from Gordon Stewart.

KILLEARN1

BLANEFIELD THISTLE0

KILLEARN returned to the top of the table on Tuesday when they scored the only goal of the game. The match may have been short on goals but it was 90 minutes of pulsating action, with both sides doing themselves credit in a contest which might have gone either way.

Blanefield had the better of the opening exchanges and should have gone ahead when Jimmy McNeill missed an easy chance.

After that escape Killearn gradually took over and in 30 minutes Ian Crawford forced a fine block from Gary McIntyre. The ball went loose to Ryan Campbell and the youngster fired home his first goal for Killearn.

From then on play raged from end to end, with Killearn perhaps edging ahead in scoring chances only to find Gary McIntyre in unbeatable form.

This win puts Killearn one point ahead of Blanefield with two games in hand. Killearn have played six games at home, scoring 28 times without losing a goal.

BALFRON ROVERS7

ABERFOYLE ROB ROY1

BALFRON, with a much changed side, got back to winning ways with a big home win on Tuesday.

Their youngsters played some sparkling football from the start but it took them 19 minutes to go in front, Paul Ainsworth scoring directly from a corner. The same player had a scoring shot blocked by Peter Orr in 28 minutes but Gary Buchanan followed up to net the rebound.

Five minutes later Craig Reid, in a midfield role, scored his first goal for the Rovers and at the interval the home side had a comfortable 3-0 lead.

David Reid, with a brilliant solo run from halfway, scored the fourth in 63 minutes.

The score remained unchanged until, with only quarter of an hour left, there was a crazy spell with four goals in four minutes. Paul Ainsworth started the deluge with a penalty kick after he had been tripped, Kevan Meggat had a tap-in from David Haggerty's pass, David Haggerty was put in by Paul Ainsworth and from the restart Alisdair Smith ran through for Rob Roy's consolation goal.

RESULTS

Thursday, June 14 — Margaret White Trophy, semi-final: Killearn 4, Blanefield Thistle 2.

Saturday — League: Blanefield Thistle 4, Gargunnock 1; Buchlyvie Utd 5, Fintry 2; Drymen Utd 3, Balfron Rovers 2; Gartocharn 1, Deanston 1; Killearn 6, Aberfoyle Rob Roy 0; Kippen 0, Thornhill 3.

Tuesday — Balfron Rovers 7, Aberfoyle Rob Roy 1; Fintry 2, Gartocharn 3; Gargunnock v Buchlyvie Utd Killearn 1, Blanefield Thistle 0; Kippen 1, Deanston 7; Thornhill 3, Drymen Utd 1.

FIXTURES

Saturday, 7pm — League: Aberfoyle Rob Roy v Thornhill, Blanefield Thistle v Balfron Rovers, Buchlyvie Utd v Killearn, Deanston v Fintry, Drymen Utd v Kippen, Gartocharn v Gargunnock.

Tuesday, 7.30pm — Margaret White Trophy final, at Balfron: Killearn v Blanefield Thistle.