Gartocharn win top clash

Jun 15 2012 by Tom Yuill, Stirling Observer Friday

Balfron Rovers 0 Gartocharn 1

SATURDAY’S top-of-the-table match kept the small crowd on their toes.

Balfron started level on points and behind only on goal difference. They had the better of the first half and should have taken the lead after 18 minutes. A brilliant run by Andy Pender took him past a line of defenders but his shot was turned away by Hugh Wylie for a corner. Before the corner was cleared a push gave Balfron a penalty but Craig Reid’s effort was saved.

The home side still had a slight edge in the second half but could not find the net. The final quarter saw Gartocharn built up the pressure and with five minutes left a Gartocharn attack was cleared only as far as Ian Muir, who took a couple of steps and from 25 yards crashed a great shot past Stevie Day.

BUCHLYVIE UTD 3 KILLEARN 4

KILLEARN had no goalkeeper for Saturday's match at Buchlyvie until committee man Hugh Russell offered to take the yellow jersey. Hugh never played in goal and retired from active participation in the game years ago.

After 10 minutes, by which time Buchlyvie had put two goals past him, he was not sure that he had made the right decision but gamely stuck to it. His mates responded well and by half-time had come back to 2-2.

In the second half Killearn went ahead but Buchlyvie drew level before Killearn got a late winner.

SATURDAY'S Thornhill v Blanefield league fixture was called off by Thornhill as they are again experiencing team difficulties. The match has been awarded to Blanefield. Thornhill were also forced to concede the points to Gartocharn on Tuesday. The result will go down as a 3-0 win for Gartocharn.

KIPPEN 1 BALFRON ROVERS 3

BALFRON were the first league visitors to Kippen's new facilities and quickly found that it will not be an easy place to pick up points. The only goal of the first half was scored after 30 minutes by Sean Browning from the penalty spot after Rory McKinnon went down.

Balfron rejigged their formation after the break and started to show more penetration. Cammy Rubython brought them level after 57 minutes with a well directed header from Andy Pender's cross.

Pender gave Balfron the lead in 75 minutes with a 25-yard shot after Gordon Reid had sent him through and five minutes from the end Connor Eckersall made sure of the points when he scored with a penalty after he had been brought down.

BUCHLYVIE UTD 0 DRYMEN UTD 2

DRYMEN kept themselves in third spot in the table with a fairly comfortable win at Buchlyvie. They were on top for most of the game but had to settle for one goal in each half, Ruaridh Nicolson scoring the first and Scott Cowan taking advantage of a long clearance from Gary McIntyre for the second.

ABERFOYLE were unable to raise a team for their match at Killearn and conceded the points.

BLANEFIELD THISTLE 3 GARGUNNOCK 0

GARGUNNOCK were well short of their full complement and were no match for Blanefield, whose winning run is carrying them up the table.

DEANSTON 4 FINTRY 1

DEANSTON and Fintry swapped places in the table on Tuesday when the home side proved far too strong for an under-strength Fintry side. With an hour played they were tied at 1-1 but Deanston's strength and experience was made to count in the last half-hour when they added three more to their total.

FIXTURES

Sunday – Margaret White Trophy semi-finals, 2.30pm: Balfron Rovers v Blanefield Thistle (at Fintry), Deanston v Gartocharn (at Balfron).

Friday – League, 7.30pm: Kippen v Gargunnock.

Saturday – League, 7pm Drymen Utd v Fintry.

Tuesday – League, 7.30pm: Blanefield Thistle v Balfron Rovers, Buchlyvie Utd v Deanston, Drymen Utd v Gartocharn, Gargunnock v Aberfoyle Rob Roy, Killearn v Thornhill, Kippen v Fintry.