Hailstones hits late winner for Balfron

Jun 12 2009 by Our Correspondent, Stirling Observer Friday

Aberfoyle Rob Roy 2 Balfron Rovers 3

BALFRON must have thought that their lead at the top of the table was already consolidated when David Reid scored a brilliant opening goal against Aberfoyle after only 90 seconds play in Saturday's league match. After that they weaved some very pretty patterns over the Gartmore turf without finding a way past a no-nonsense Aberfoyle defence.

With only seven minutes of the first half remaining they were made to pay when Alan Hutcheson scored Aberfoyle's equaliser from a corner and at the interval the sides were level at 1-1.

Rovers had a slight edge in the second half but their efforts at goal were fruitless. It looked as if their luck was out when Richard Hailstones cracked a fierce shot against a post followed a couple of minutes later with a free kick from David Reid which rattled the post and rebounded on to keeper Peter Orr's body before being scrambled to safety.

Strong running from Richard Hailstones looked to be promising for Balfron and when he was brought down on the edge of the box he tried unsuccessfully to suggest to the referee that it might have been a penalty.

Mr Johnstone was not impressed but it did not matter for David Reid stuck the free kick into the net from 18 yards to restore Rovers' lead.

Aberfoyle had less of the ball but still managed to cause a bit of unease in the visitors' ranks.

In 79 minutes they shocked the leaders when the ball was cleared from a corner only as far as Gregor Creevy and he steered in the equaliser through a forest of legs from 18 yards.

Substitute Steven Nicholson had the ball in the Rob Roy net but was given offside and only six minutes was left when Richard Hailstones finished off a strong run with a goal to secure victory for Balfron who now have 23 points from nine games and are six ahead of Killearn who have a game in hand.

Thornhill have moved into third place with 16 points from seven games.

BLANEFIELD THISTLE 4

DEANSTON 4

IN an all-action high scoring game at Blanefield the home side emerged lucky to hold on to a single point in a match in which at one stage they had threatened to overwhelm Deanston.

Allan Inglis put Deanston ahead after only five minutes play but their lead was cancelled out a couple of minutes later when Kevin Meggat sent in an inviting cross and James Hutcheson volleyed in a great goal. Deanston then had a let off when Derek McAuslane headed against their crossbar with the keeper stranded.

Thistle were not to be denied and went in front after quarter of an hour when a good passing move between Scott Granger and Steven Tobin let Kevin Meggat in to score.

A minute before the break Chris Geddes scored to bring Deanston back to level terms but from the restart Blanefield pressed forward and when James Hutcheson was downed in the box Drew Lowrie did his usual competent job from the penalty spot.

The second half was fast and furious and on the hour mark James Hutcheson chased a long ball to give Blanefield a two-goal advantage. That might have settled the issue but Deanston had no intention of lying down and Chris Geddes scored a controversial goal which rattled the home side. Their anxieties were increased when Stu Buchanan scored an equaliser. It might have been worse for with time running out Allan Inglis blasted a penalty kick against the bar and in the dying seconds the ball was kicked off the Thistle line.

Thistle and Deanston are level on 14 points but the Blanefield side have played only seven games against Deanston's 11 matches.

BUCHLYVIE UTD 1

DRYMEN UTD 2

DRYMEN were at less than full strength for their visit to Buchlyvie on Saturday but they were able to match their hosts in a no-scoring first half.

In the second half they took the lead when Craig Cowan's corner was headed firmly into the Buchlyvie net by Ian Torrance.

They held on to that lead until 10 minutes from the end when Fraser McLaren blasted in the equaliser from a free kick.

That looked like a fair share of the points but with only three minutes left Craig Cowan hit a great winner for Drymen from another free kick.

Drymen are now in sixth place with 11 points from 10 games. They are one place above Buchlyvie who now have ten points but have played only nine matches.

GARTOCHARN 1

THORNHILL 3

SATURDAY'S league match at Gartocharn turned out to be a good old scrap and a great appetiser for the Gartocharn versus Thornhill cup tie on Tuesday.

The final result surprised many who perhaps recognise Gartocharn's potential but overlook the unspectacular winning qualities in the Thornhill side.

Thornhill scored first when Steven Scott's accurate cross was headed home by Ian Young. Their second goal was a solo effort by Stuart Donaldson who finished a long run with a scoring shot from 18 yards.

The 2-0 score at half-time caused a lot of head scratching in the Gartocharn ranks. They seemed to have received a lifeline when Thornhill were reduced to 10 men, veteran Charlie MacPherson collecting his second yellow card for seeking to develop his debating skills.

With 70 minutes played the home side were given a further boost when Jimmy Bilsland scored to reduce the deficit to a single goal.

Both sides went at it hammer and tongs as Gartocharn went all out for an equaliser.

Thornhill were a match for them and with barely five minutes left Gareth Killen killed off Gartocharn's hopes with a thundering shot from 18 yards.

Thornhill are now in third place and astonishingly Gartocharn are fourth from bottom with eight points from eight games.

GARTOCHARN 1

THORNHILL 4

IN the Margaret White Trophy semi-final, any doubts about the validity of Saturday's result between Gartocharn and Thornhill were laid to rest when the sides met again on Tuesday at Balfron.

Gartocharn looked good in spells but Thornhill smothered their best attacking efforts, stuck to the simple things and did them very well.

The 'Hill also had the benefit of a deadly finisher in Steven Scott who more or less decided the outcome before the interval with four quality first half goals.

Thornhill were first into their stride and gave the impression that they knew that the previous result was no fluke. Their early pressure produced no goals and when Gartocharn settled their quick breaks carried menace. It was good end to end stuff and although the first quarter of the match passed with no goals, there was still plenty for the fans to shout about.

The biggest cheer went up in 25 minutes when a Gartocharn attack was broken up and a long clearance reached Steven Scott. He took the ball under control, beat off a couple of challenges and blasted home Thornhill's first goal. The Gartocharn contingent was silent for only a couple of minutes, until Dougie Wilson carved through the Thornhill defence and fired in an excellent equaliser.

With goals on the board both teams stepped up the pace and it was anyone's game until the last frantic eight minutes of the half. Steven Scott restored his side's lead with a looping header which gave keeper Hugh Wyllie no chance.

That was followed in 42 minutes by the goal of the game and one which could rate as the goal of the season. Gareth Killen headed the ball back to Steven Scott and the striker took the ball about waist-high on the volley to hammer in an unstoppable shot.

Gartocharn scarcely knew what was happening and on the stroke of half-time more misery followed when Gareth Killen was downed in the box and from the penalty spot Steven Scott brought his tally to four.

The 4-1 score was perhaps a bit hard on Gartocharn and they did their best to remedy matters in the second half. Thornhill did not exactly shut up shop but they were in pole position with enough savvy in their ranks to realise that they had only to play sensibly to go through. They contented themselves with speedy individual breaks from a solid defence. Gartocharn for their part threw everything at them but the second half produced no goals and Thornhill are through to the final at Drymen on 23rd June where they will meet the winner of the Balfron v Blanefield semi-final.

Results: Saturday, June 6: Aberfoyle Rob Roy 2, Balfron Rov 3; Blanefield Th 4, Deanston 4; Buchlyvie Utd 1, Drymen Utd 2; Gartocharn 1, Thornhill 3. Gargunnock v Killearn (off); Fintry, bye.

Tuesday, June 9 Margaret White Trophy semi-final: Thornhill 4, Gartocharn 1.

Fixtures: Saturday, June 13 kick-off 7pm - Balfron Rovers v Buchlyvie Utd; Deanston v Aberfoyle Rob Roy; Drymen Utd v Gargunnock; Fintry v Blanefield Thistle; Killearn v Gartocharn; Thornhill, bye.

Tuesday, June 16, 7.30pm – Aberfoyle RR v Fintry; Balfron Rov v Deanston; Blanefield Th v Thornhill; Buchlyvie Utd v Gargunnock; Drymen Utd; Gartocharn v Drymen Utd. Killearn, bye.