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Crawford scores hattrick at Thornton to seal 13th consecutive victory

The last game that Whitburn dropped league points in was the 2-2 draw at home to tonight’s opponents and they were hoping to add another three points. Like the game on Saturday Thornton applauded the league champions on to the park, a gesture that was appreciated by the Whitburn contingent. Thornton were the first to have a chance with a good attack in the 10th minute but Michael Gould shot wide. Two minutes later Ross Crawford got his 39th goal with a powerful shot having been put in by Andy Johnstone. On the quarter hour a corner was played to Andy Thomson from Johnstone and the former sliced a shot which landed at Martin Maguire’s feet and he had two shots blocked. Two minutes later 8 had a shot from the edge of the box which Blair Gallagher saved well. Almost on the half hour 6 tried a free kick from 25 yards which he got on target but Gallagher dived to his right to save it. With nine minutes till the half Adam Drummond put in a cross from the left that Gould headed over. Thomson soon after set up Crawford who shot just wide. In the 43rd minute Crawford would tap in his 40th goal after a great chase down by Harrison Edwards who cut back from the byeline having beaten keeper Calum Sutherland to the ball.

The second half started pretty sedately with the game played out mostly in midfield. Thornton were sent a lifeline on the hour when Garry Thomson, who looked well offside, intercepted a shot following a corner and fired the ball into the net. Buoyed up by this the home side began to dominate whilst Whitburn got nervy at the back and Thomson hit the post from a tight angle. Then Drummond was found well on the left but fired wide. Slowly Whitburn recovered their composure and in the 70th minute Cameron Stokes beat a couple of men near his own 18 yard line and passed the ball to Darren Tomaszewski who put in Crawford wide on the right and he slammed the ball past Sutherland for his hattrick. With eleven minutes to go Chris Hughes, on for Edwards, stretched to control a long ball and he set up the trialist on the left edge of the box who curled in a beauty. Going into the final five minutes both Darren Liddell and Hughes had shots saved from wide positions. In the end a good solid performance again from the Burnie to keep the number of points lost this season to five. They will be hoping to make it 14 wins in a row on Saturday at Heriot Watt in the final game of the season.

Whitburn retain unbeaten home record with rout of Edinburgh!

A bumper crowd of 700 turned up to see this 6-1 win over Edinburgh United and see the crowning of the worthy winners of the EoS Division 2. I’m pretty certain that this is the first time Whitburn have achieved back to back League promotions as the old Junior setup provided few (if any) chances of this. Whitburn got off to a dream start as Jack Henderson fired in at the back post following a left wing cross. Keeper Andrew Smith – who was probably their star player even though he lost six goals in the end – had a couple of saves around 5 minutes when he denied Louis Maguire and then Ross Crawford, the latter a rebound off a goal line clearance of a Grant Hamilton header from a corner. In a first attack, after a little dithering by the home defence, Ryan Quinn broke through but Daniel Potts made a good save. Just after Crawford rounded the keeper but a defender got the ball off the line. Henderson then netted but was adjudged offside and then, from a free kick by him Crawford had another goal attempt also saved. Ben Wardlaw got on the end of a long ball 16 minutes in and fired the ball past Potts and into the net to level the scores. It would only take four minutes for Whitburn to regain the lead when Crawford had better luck at the back post when a Darren Liddell overhead kick was deflected to him. In the 28th minute Darren Tomaszewski ran along the byeline then delivered the ball to Crawford whose shot was again saved. Just after Crawford almost became provider when he hit in a cross from the left that just eluded Liddell at the back post. The best move of the game came in the 33rd minute when Cameron Stokes went on a great run beating three men before passing to Crawford whose take beyond the keeper found the net from a tight angle. Three would become four with three minutes to go as Crawford made his hattrick when a shot was saved by Smith but the ball came back to him and he scored at the second attempt.

Seconds into the second half Crawford had his fourth (and his team’s fifth) when he chipped Smith from the edge of the box following a long clearance from defence. Henderson saw a shot deflected for a corner and just after he along with Andy Thomson and Lewis Milton were replaced by Andy Johnstone, Jamie Comrie and Martin Russell. On the hour Smith made a fine double save when he denied a wide Tomaszewski shot and then did likewise from Crawford who had received the rebound. Five minutes later Tomaszewski set up Russell but Smith also denied his shot. Around this time Martin Maguire and Harrison Edwards came on so that the bulk of the season’s starters had contributed. Comrie went on a great run that ended in another save around the 75 minute mark and Edwards headed a Crawford cross just after. With 80 minutes on the clock Johnstone went on a fine solo run which ended in a shot from the edge that flew past Smith for Whit burn’s final goal. Crawford in addition to all the above had a number of other attempts as he sought a fifth but on each occasion Smith denied him. It looked for all the world as if Crawford wanting to get to five might have been him seeking forty for the season as he was possibly on 35 before this (though having checked he was on 34 according to my records). Regardless, he still has two games to get to forty and he contributed brilliantly today. At the end of the game the medals and the trophy were presented by and EoSFL representative and I’m sure the celebrations will go long into the night. A great day for Whitburn Junior FC!!

Whitburn win second title in two years

Whitburn made it eleven league wins in a row and twelve unbeaten as they continued their long away streak at Ormiston with a resounding 4-0 win. It didn’t take the league winners elect long to get going as they pinned the home side into their own half playing the intricate passing football that they showed for the first 55 minutes at St Andrews and at Dunipace recently. It was almost incredible therefore that the game was fifteen minutes old when their first attempt came. It was top scorer Ross Crawford who fired in a shot which keeper Kieran Beveridge parried but there were no takers. Just after there were two chances – Andy Thomson had a long ranger go just wide then a Crawford cross was headed in by Jack Henderson but a defender got in the way to block. In a rare attack Ormiston might have taken an unexpected lead in the 28th minute when Murray Gilfillan got wide and crossed to Zac Scally who was covered by Cameron Stokes who slipped to give his opponent a chance to shoot but the Burnie man recovered and was able to block the shot. The opening goal came in the 36th minute when a good Max Condie shot was again parried by the keeper but this time Henderson was close and, with a cool head, he managed to slot the ball in at the far post.

The second half had been in play for eight minutes when the lead was doubled through a great passing move that ended with a great ball out wide right which Darren Liddell retrieved and, seeing Louis Maguire free in the middle, unselfishly delivered a cross which Maguire tapped in. On the hour Stokes had a shot saved as did Henderson who had been set up by Maguire four minutes later. Around this time seven substitutions were made – three for the home side and four for Whitburn who replaced Thomson, Henderson, Stokes and Crawford with Martin Maguire, Martin Russell, Andy Johnstone and Harrison Edwards. It took five minutes for Johnstone to make his mark as he received a good pass and calmly slotted the ball past Beveridge to make it three. As we moved towards the end of the game Ormiston’s subs were also making an impact and with 10 minutes to go following a cross from Scally, Jay Murray hit the bar. The home side’s defence, however, were visibly fading and the pace of Edwards in particular was causing problems. A minute after the last incident he got wide left and put in a low hard cross that Liddell met full on at the front post which we all thought had gone in but it was narrowly wide and the net had rippled as the ball rebounded off the boundary fence. Edwards would run from his own half to get on the end of a through ball that the home defence dithered over as they thought an offside Liddell was going for, which allowed the youngster in on Beveridge and he fired it past him from the edge of the box. Edwards would have another shot saved with four minutes go. On the final whistle the celebrations were quite muted compared to Saturday, probably because the players and management knew that the league was probably won there even though mathematically St Andrews could have overtaken us (would’ve taken about three miracles to do so!). The league trophy will be presented on our sole home game in this eight game final run in. This will be when we host Edinburgh United on Saturday 20 May which will have a 14:30 start.

Whitburn win second title in two years

The top two met at St Andrews with both knowing that a win was vital – Whitburn to virtually win the league on goal difference and St Andrews to keep up. The opening ten minutes were eventful as they produced three goals. The first got the home support going as a cross came in from the left after Whitburn failed to clear and Ryan Dignan headed across from the back post to the front and it hit the underside of the bar before bouncing down over the line according to the referee – we had no way of knowing but hopefully the highlights will confirm or refute the decision. The lead lasted three minutes as, from a Louis Maguire corner, Mick McGarahan rose the highest and scored with one of his trademark header. By the ninth minute Whitburn were ahead when Andy Thomson shot from the edge of the box and Whitburn shouted for handball and the referee agreed, Ross Crawford converted beating Calum Brodie comprehensively. In the seventeenth minute after good build up Crawford put in an in swinging cross and Jack Henderson headed past Brodie. Two minutes later McGarahan beat a couple of men and got a good shot off but it deflected wide for a corner. Max Condie set up Henderson in the 34th minute and he got his shot on target but Brodie saved. Still shell shocked and hitting down the slope the home side were unable to create anything as the game drifted towards the half. The final minute, though, had a chance at either end. Henderson was played in again and had a shot which Brodie saved low at his post but the ball went free and Crawford tried to force it in but it struck a defender on the line on the arm but play was allowed to continue. The ball was lumped up field and Jordan Mackenzie got on the end of it but his shot lacked power and Daniel Potts saved.

The start of the second half was equally explosive as within the first minute from a long Liddell throw in McGarahan double his tally with another header into the opposite top corner. Two minutes later Liddell scored with a chip of Brodie after he chased a long ball, similar to his goal last week at Dalkeith. Few of the away support could believe that Whitburn would be 5-1 up against their rivals for the title on their home ground. The game after this changed, however, as Whitburn seemed to think they were unassailable and started punting high balls into the home half with as little effect as they had been. The potential comeback started in the 53rd minute when Ewan White got wide on the left and passed to Micheil Russell Smith who fired a shot past Potts. In the 64th minute the same move resulted in the same result though this time the ball deflected in off Reece Boyle. With 15 to go Maguire had a long range free kick saved and three minute later, Carter Kelly had a shot saved at the other end. Just after McGarahan had another headed effort from a throw in but this went just wide. In the 81st minute St Andrews narrowed the gap again when Mackenzie fired into the net with a shot that seemed to deceive Potts and set up a grandstand finish. In truth the home side looked more likely to score and two minutes into added time two got through on goal with only McGarahan between them and Potts but he timed a fantastic tackle to get the ball out and the referee blew the final whistle a minute later.

Whitburn out of League Cup

Whitburn travelled to Denny to take on First division Dunipace in the League Cup and the teams provided a hugely entertaining game. Whitburn dominated the opening stages of the game playing great football on the artificial pitch with Jack Henderson coming closer when, after driving along the bye line, he had a shot cleared off the line. In the home side’s only attack up till then Liam McCroary knocked in a cross from the right to give his side the lead. Whitburn continued to dominate after this setback and Mick McGarahan had two headers from corners saved by keeper David Kane just after. Around the 35th minute Martin Russell had two long range shots saved. Then, in the 38th minute, Dunipace went two up when Marty Wright on the left corner of the box hit in a wicked dipping shot that flew into the far top corner. The half ended with another two Whitburn shots which were saved, the first from Russell after being set up by Henderson and the second by Louis Maguire after a Darren Liddell pass.

The home side made it three in the 57th minute with a bizarre goal when Ryan Fleming hit a shot from wide on the right which clipped a defender, deflected onto the goal and somehow went in at the back post – it didn’t look as though it had crossed the line and was put in by a home player at the back post (who would surely have been offside) but the goal was given. Just after Crawford had a shot come off the bar and it rebounded to Maguire whose initial shot also came off the bar but he knocked in the rebound. Apart from one Dunipace effort in the 74th minute when Jamie Lapsley headed off the bar, Whitburn resumed domination and what would later happen was quite amazing. In the 65th minute another corner caused problems when Grant Hamilton headed one back across the goal to McGarahan and he had another header saved. Four minutes later Andy Johnstone, on as a sub, converted a great Liddell cross to half the lead. Another corner in the 72nd minute saw a Reece Boyle header cleared of the line. Two minutes later Whitburn were level as Maguire was fouled on the edge of the box and he hit a great free kick round the wall and into the top corner. With eight minutes to go Ross Crawford netted but was judged offside. Just on the whistle Liddell came really close to robbing Kane but the keeper just managed to recover and save his blushes.

The game went to extra time and nothing changed in terms of domination with Whitburn having three attempts from Crawford in the first half. The first was saved one minute in after a Crawford shot, the second in the fifth minute when Taylor fired just wide and the third when, having been found by a diagonal ball, Johnstone cut in but Kane’s legs saved the shot. Into the second fifteen Andy Thomson and a shot saved and Crawford had a shot go just wide. Again, against the run of play, Dunipace took the lead when Lapsley converted an Aidan Kemp cross. Almost unbelievably Whitburn forced penalties when with two minutes to go a McGarahan header finally hit the back of the net from another headed back cross. Kane was the hero in the penalty shootout as he saved the first and third, both low at his left post so they were well struck, while Dunipace were perfect to win 4-2 though Daniel Potts got to the fourth.

Whitburn earn three more points in pursuit of title

Whitburn took another giant step towards successive titles with an emphatic 4-0 win over third placed Dalkeith. The game took a little while to settle and it was around the quarter hour before Whitburn showed but they camped in the home box for at least a minute eventually earning a corner from which nothing came. In the 20th minute from a Louis Maguire corner Mick McGarahan headed goalwards but keeper Aaron Jones pushed it out. The first goal came in the 21st minute from another corner and another header, down this time, which reached Ross Crawford and he tapped in from close. A minute later Crawford threaded through a pass for Maguire to run in on goal but he slightly over-ran the ball which allowed Jones to recover the ball. In the 28th minute a long diagonal ball from McGarahan found Jack Henderson out wide and he passed to Maguire in the box but he sclaffed his shot wide. With six minutes to the half a good wide ball found Darren Liddell who cut inside his man and shot towards the near post but the combination of Jones and a defender got it out.

The second half was nine minutes old when a high ball into the edge of the box was latched on to by Liddell and, spotting Jones well off his line, he chipped in for a fine goal. Just after Liddell turned provider as he delivered a great cross from the right which Henderson half volleyed past Jones for the third. With two men on the ground in the 63rd minute the referee played an advantage which allowed Crawford to rush in on goal but as he poised to shoot a challenging defender got a foot to the ball to put it out for a corner. The game then drifted away as numerous substitutions were made and the referee turned offside happy (or so it seemed at the Dalkeith half of the park). Late drama would come as sub Andy Thomson was found on the edge of the box by a short Jamie Comrie free kick and he fired in a low shot that bounced just in front of Jones to secure the fourth.

Whitburn secure promotion at Hawick!

Whitburn made the long trip south to Mansfield Park, the home of Hawick Royal Albert, knowing that a win would guarantee promotion. In the end this was secured thanks to two first half penalties though they were scarcely troubled by the opposition and keeper Ross Wallace made a number of good saves to keep the score down. Whitburn had the first chance in the second minute when Ross Crawford set up Darren Liddell wide right but he shot wide. Hawick’s Finlay Ness and Ross Stuart combined well four minutes later but the latter’s shot was blocked. Crawford netted a minute later when found by Andy Johnstone but he was adjudged offside. Just after a free from the left was headed wide by the home Andy Common. Crawford then forced a double save and then Liddell, put through by a pinpoint Louis Maguire pass, was fouled in the box and Crawford converted. The game then entered a scrappy phase with little goalmouth action till the 40th minute when Crawford challenged the keeper to a high ball and came off best but as he was poised to score he was held back by 2 just outside the box. A red card was shown but Maguire hit the free kick just over. With two minutes of the half to go Hawick conceded another penalty when Maguire was tripped as he drove along the bye line, Liddell taking responsibility this time and scoring.

The second half was, as might be expected, dominated by Whitburn and Crawford had a shot saved ten minutes in. On the hour a free kick wide on the left by Maguire was headed at the back post to Crawford at the front but his header went just wide. Five minutes later from a Dewi Taylor cross Crawford forced another good save with another header. Another Crawford header midway through at the back post was met by Wallace again. In the 76th minute Maguire got in on Wallace but he blocked the initial effort and recovered to pounce on the loose ball. Just after Liddell squared to Crawford and another decent shot was saved – this would be his last attempt as he was substituted just after. There was no further scoring and although Hawick had a couple of breaks near the end they never troubled Daniel Potts. Near the end Jack McAlpine was red carded for an incident we didn’t see. Despite being outplayed Hawick deserve a great deal of credit for keeping the score down despite playing the entire second half with 10 men.

Whitburn beat Premier League Tynecastle 3-2 in League Cup!

A much improved Whitburn performance today saw them beat a team two tiers up and do it deservedly. The game was also a much better spectacle than the previous match, played in similar circumstances. After the initial sparring it was Whitburn who had the first chance in the shape of a Cameron Stokes shot from the edge that keeper Jamie Rae saved in the 7th minute. Seven minutes later Andy Johnstone tried one of his wonderstrikes on the left corner of the box but this one went just over. Midway through in their first real attack and against the run of play, Tynecastle took the lead when Andy Thomson was adjudged to have fouled his man on the very edge of the box and Ryan Cameron scored from the spot. In the 33rd minute Darren Liddell had a long range shot saved and then just after he got in on the keeper but a last minute hand deflected the ball away from goal. Liddell’s equaliser would only be delayed a minute as he scored with a similar shot having been set up by a Louis Maguire cross. Two minutes later Cameron set up Jack Chesser for a header at the back post but Daniel Potts made a good save. With 40 minutes played Maguire played a clever free kick wide into the path of Ross Crawford but he didn’t make great contact and his shot was blocked. Johnstone tried another of his shots near the end but his goal bound effort was headed out by a defender.

Whitburn continued their good work into the second half which was a minute old when Crawford headed a corner over. Crawford would only be denied 4 more minutes after another Maguire cross picked him out and he kept good control of the ball before firing past Rae. In the 55th minute Crawford had another shot but this one was saved. Ten minutes further on a poor clearance found Maguire 40 yards out and he got it to Lidddell who had another shot saved. In the 72nd minute Tynecastle earned a free kick left of the box and sub Fletcher Hendry shot for goal but Potts tipped over. From the corner a shot came in which Potts got down to and pushed out but the ball landed at Dale Penicuik’s feet and he fired in to give his team a leveller. Whitburn nearly took the lead with 8 minutes to go when a shot from a free kick was just kept out by a scrambling Rae. Two minutes later sub Dewi Taylor raced in on goal accompanied by a defender and went down under pressure but the referee turned down what looked like a stonewall penalty. On the final whistle Maguire put in a beautiful corner which was met by the head of Reece Boyle and almost burst the net in its ferocity. Five added minutes were played but neither side could add and Whitburn had claimed another Premier League scalp in the League Cup. With St Andrews playing two League games this week it was expected that they would take top spot. Heriot Watt had other ideas and they got a late equaliser which leaves Whitburn and St Andrews level on points but we remain top on goal difference (and we now have three games in hand)!

Whitburn beaten 2-0 in King Cup by Lochore

This was a game of two halves and the first can be summarised in a sentence, so bad it was. In the 6th minute Ross Crawford shot wide and the best play of the game came down the right and ended in a Louis Maguire shot too weak the trouble the keeper who made an easy save.

The second half was better but still resulted in little constructive football, but at least there were shots on target. With nine minutes gone Crawford wide on the left swung in a great cross that Maguire guided goalwards but sub keeper Dale Wotherspoon got down to save. Four minutes later Harrison Edwards crossed from the other flank but Crawford curled it wide. Whitburn were well on top at this point but conceded a free kick wide left about 30 yards out – normally easily dfended. Peter Thomson tried his luck and looped in the ball and, with two attackers bearing down on him, the ball bounced right in front of Potts and went straight in. Lochore then had the better of the game and Joseph Kirby had a shot saved then a corner was cleared off the line by Crawford. In the 82ndminute Crawford set Jack Henderson free on the right and Dewi Taylor got a great shot away the Wotherspoon saved well. In injury time Chris Hughes seemed to be fouled in the box but the referee decided on a dive and booked him. Around the 5th minute of added time Lochore doubled the lead with a close in shot.

Whitburn beat Hawick 3-0

Another top v bottom clash today at Central Park as Whitburn took on second bottom Hawick. On paper it looked like a reasonable bet for the home side but the visitors belied their lowly position creating a number of chances and playing really well. Whitburn took the lead in the 10th minute when a throw in was headed put to Andy Thomson on the edge of the box and he scored with a lovely shot. Two minutes later Grant Hamilton looped a header off a free kick that keeper Derek Polowyj had to tip over. At this point most home fans may have been thinking of an easy game. However, Hawick started to come into the game and Tom Fowler struck good free kick from distance on the quarter hour which, though looking goalbound struck the wall. In the 18thminute a speedy David Scholtes got in on goal and fired off a powerful shot which Daniel Potts had to push away. Unable to properly clear the ball it eventually fell to him again, this time more central and again Potts had to be alert to save. In the 21st minute Hamilton had another header, this time from a corner, which came off the bar. Astoundingly two minutes later the last real chance of the half came when Ross Crawford fired wide from a wide position.

Four minutes into the second half Crawford set up Jack Henderson but his shot lacked real power and was saved. In the 56th minute Cameron Stokes doubled the lead when he made space and fired in having been found by a Max Condie cross after he had been put wide by Henderson – easily the best move of the game. Hawick remained resolute after this and denied Whitburn any chances and made a number of decent breaks though they didn’t trouble Potts. Ten minutes from the end sub Dewi Taylor shot wide. A minute later Scholtes from wide right shot into the side netting. Then in the 86thminute from the other flank sub Ross Stuart forced a great diving save from Potts to retain his clean sheet. Three minutes later Martin Russell, also on as a sub, shot from the edge but sub keeper Ross Wallace pushed it out. A minute into added time another sub, Harrison Edwards made the scoreline more ‘respectable’ when he made space in the box and scored, the ball deflecting on the way to goal. Not a memorable match but one which gave Whitburn three more points as they strive for the championship.

Whitburn gain another three points

It seemed to take an age for this game to get going as neither team was able to pass the ball with any accuracy. The deadlock was broken in the 26th minute when Whitburn took the lead when Darren Tomaszewski put in a great cross which came off an Edinburgh player and found the net. Eight minutes later Edinburgh were level when a low left wing cross was met by Joe Kerr in front of goal and he fired past Jack Wilsdon. With 41 minutes gone Andy Johnstone fired in a shot from the edge of the box that flew into the top corner.

Luckily the second half was much more entertaining and it begun with an Andy Thomson shot in the first minute which was saved. Then in the 50th minute Ross Crawford made space for himself on the edge of the box but his resultant shot went wide. With 59 minutes gone Thomson cleared from his own box, Jack Henderson received the ball, put in a through ball which Johnstone ran onto and after holding off a defender hit a powerful shot which went just wide. A minute later Crawford was set up in the box and shot at goal but his effort was saved. In the 58th minute after a corner the ball fell to William Scott 25 yards out and he scored with a looping shot to level the scores. Parity would be short lived as on the hour a looping free kick from the right was headed in by Mick McGarahan. Just after Darren Liddell, on as a sub, had a long range effort go just over. In the 82nd minute a dangerous free kick was fumbled by Wilsdon and the ball had to be cleared off the line. With five minutes to go Harrison Edwards, also on as a sub, was pushed in the box but Crawford’s spot kick was saved. On full time Wilsdon made a good save to ensure the points would stay in Whitburn. The final action of the game saw a diagonal ball find Edwards and he forced a save.

Whitburn win hard fought game at Lochgelly 3-2

Today bottom of table Lochgelly played host to table toppers Whitburn and the latter emerged victorious in a hugely competitive game. Lochgelly started briskly and within the 4th had two diagonal shots saved by Jack Wilsdon, the first from the right and the second from the other side by . Whitburn’s first chance came on the quarter hour when a long diagonal ball found Darren Liddell but he elected to shoot and blazed past the post. A minute later a good move down the right ended in a pass to 5 who shot from the edge of the box and forced a good save. The referee spotted an infringement that no-one else saw and pointed to the spot. Wilsdon dived to his right to save Lee Celantano’s well struck effort. In the 25th minute a right wing free kick came off Louis Maguire’s head and over. Just before the half hour there was some hesitation in the Whitburn defence which Celentano took advantage of and got the ball to a free Connor Murdoch(?) who fired past Wilsdon to give his side a deserved lead. Just after a Liddell header went too high from another free kick. Reece Duncan was booked for diving in the 36th minute – a decision that the ref would have had to overturn had var been active as he was clearly tripped. A minute later Celentano got through the defence and chipped the advancing Wilsdon but Mick McGarahan got back to clear it off the line. So, the first half ended with Whitburn lucky to be only one goal down as they hadn’t had a direct shot on the home goal.

Whitburn looked more purposeful after the restart and Grant Hamilton headed in a corner in the 56th minute. Midway through the half Andy Johnston, on as a sub, drove up the line and crossed to Crawford but his shot lacked power and was easily saved. Just after the right back was red carded after a poor challenge on Duncan who had to leave the park too, injured, Jack Henderson replacing him. On the half hour Maguire set up Johnston on the edge of the box but his powerful shot was well saved. Then, against the run of play, in the 77th minute a carbon copy of the first goal saw the same two players combine and Murdoch was again ruthless in front of goal to retake the lead. It was then one way traffic till the end towards the home goal. The first attempt was a Crawford header from a Johnston cross which was saved. Then with ten to go Henderson, in a good position fired a shot off the bar and Crawford headed in the rebound but he was adjudged to have pushed his opponent. Two minutes from the end another Johnston cross found Maguire but his shot lacked the power to trouble the keeper. Just as we were fearing the worst in the shape of a defeat, almost in the 90th minute Crawford squared to Henderson and this time his shot hit the back of the net. A minute into injury time sub Harrison Edwards beat his man on the left and fired in a cross that was met by Crawford at the back post and this time he netted to give his team their first lead. The game ended in little controversy as, two minutes later Henderson got in on the keeper and his shot bounced up on to his chest beyond the keeper and as he tried to retrieve it he seemed to be brought down but the ref waved away the Burnie claims. In the end as hard a three points as in any game this season but they put us four in front of St Andrews with a game in hand. On this performance it is hard to see how Lochgelly are statistically the worst team in the division and we wish them well in their efforts to avoid relegation.

Whitburn win big in the rain

Near the beginning of this game a vibrant rainbow arced across the sky with Jack Wilsdon’s goal bang in the middle and we wondered if the seven colours of the rainbow might be an omen about the outcome. In the end eight was the magic number as ruthless Whitburn put the Stirling students to the sword with an 8-0 win. The game was played in light rain, the occasional bright sunlight and almost torrential rain with the pitch receiving a battering. None of this stopped the two teams putting on a good game of (admittedly) one sided football though the students did have a few decent chances. Whitburn took the lead in the 6th minute after a great run up the left wing by Reece Duncan which ended in a cross that Darren Liddell converted on the edge of the six yard box. Five minutes later Duncan, back after injury and looking very hungry and dangerous, had a shot deflected off a defender which keeper Euan Dallaa dived high to clutch. Almost on the quarter hour Duncan tormented his defender with a great run and another cross that Louis Maguire hit but it was saved and deflected to Liddell whose shot came off a defender on the line. Stirling’s first real attack came with 24 minutes played when Matthew McCole drove down the left and crossed to Ben Craig-Hislop who drove in on goal but hit the side net. In the 31st minute the lead was doubled courtesy of more great work by Duncan, the cross this time being sclaffed by Ross Crawford at the near post straight to Maguire and he deflected it into the net. Five minutes later Craig-Hislop got in and knocked the ball goalwards past the advancing Wilsdon and guess who intercepted to keep it out – Reece Duncan working his socks off for the team! The lead became three in the 38thminute when Andy Thomson picked up the ball on halfway, went on a mazy run to the edge of the box and unleashed a shot which beat Dallaa comprehensively. With five minutes till the half a left wing cross picked out Stirling’s Mark Thomson who shot just over.

The second half would add five more goals and the first came two minutes in when Liddell, wide on the right, spotted Crawford all alone at the back post and hit a great cross that the big man volleyed home. On the hour Jamie Comrie swung in a cross from a similar area which found Liddell but his shot was blocked. Four minutes later another piece of great play from Duncan who cut back from the line to Liddell who slammed home his second. Just after Whitburn made a five man substitution taking off Reece Boyle, Thomson, Cameron Stokes, Liddell and Duncan with a trialist, Martin Russell, Jack Henderson, Andy Johnstone and Harrison Edwards replacing them. In the 70thminute Stirling sub Ryan Lennon got in on Wilsdon who made a good save and the ball was cleared. Johnstone who had scored last time with his first touch as a sub almost repeated the feat today when he scored with a shot from the edge of the box in the 73rd minute but I’m sure he had more touches this time. From fully 25 yards Edwards hit a powerful shot which flew in off the turf thirteen minutes later. The torture ended for the students a minute from the end when a well placed Henderson shot past the keeper to make it eight. This win extends the goal difference gap we have over St Andrews as they had a 4 goal differential over Edinburgh United. Also Dalkeith’s shock defeat to bottom of the table Hawick must surely end their hopes of the title.

10 man Whitburn put 4 past Tweedmouth

Tweedmouth’s first ever visit to Central Park ended in a 4-0 defeat but they made 10 man Whitburn fight for it all the way especially in the second half. After a nervy opening minute Whitburn got underway in the 5thminute when Andy Thomson played the ball to a wide Ross Crawford whose shot was well saved by Stephen Mason. Michael Robinson replied two minutes later with a 25 yard shot which went just wide. Just after a great Reece Duncan ball out wide found Crawford who cut in and shot but this was also saved. With eleven minutes gone a hopeful high ball seemed to be misjudged outside his box by Daniel Potts and he brought down the Craig Bell. Despite there appearing to be a defender close and the fact that it seemed more a tangle of legs than anything more sinister the referee awarded a red card and the U20 keeper Blair Gallagher came on, unlucky Jamie Comrie sacrificed to allow this. Despite the inferior numbers Darren Liddell headed in a great Crawford cross on the quarter hour for the opening goal. Seven minutes later good interplay between Liddell and Crawford ended in a cross that fell to Darren Tomaszewski whose shot was blocked. Just over midway through a great through ball from midfield was raced on to by Duncan who rounded the keeper with a slightly overhit kick but he sprinted to the line and just managed to slide the ball into the empty goal from a very tight angle. This stretch possibly caused a problem for Duncan’s hamstring as he was replaced ten minutes later by new signing Andy Johnston who came from Camelon. Amazingly his first touch resulted in a goal two minutes later when he got free on the left and calmly slotted the ball through the legs of the advancing keeper.

Although starting the game favourites, few could have imagined that they would be three up at halftime having lost a man so early. It could have been four three minutes into the second half when another Crawford cross found Johnston in the box but he couldn’t get the ball out of his feet and eventually passed to Liddell on the edge and his shot deflected over for a corner. Tweedmouth from this point started pressing the Whitburn players and began to look more dangerous as evidenced in the 50thminute when a left wing cross was headed wide by Robinson. Robinson then got in five minutes later and forced a good save from Gallagher at the back post. On the hour Louis Maguire beat a couple of men in the box near the byeline and got in an inviting cross that Michael Hunter headed just over. From the corner a Mick McGarahan was well saved by the keeper. In the 67th minute Rhys Bloomfield had a good shot from the edge of the box which Gallagher punched away. With 15 minutes to go and the crowd getting a little restless with the visiting pressure, this was released when McGarahan fired home a loose ball from another corner. Four minutes later Crawford provided another cross which found sub Martin Russell whose shot deflected for a corner which Russell headed just over. There were no more real chances and so Whitburn held out for a shut out and a four goal win against what looked to be a reasonable team.

Ross Crawford scores hat trick in big Whitburn win

After a couple of below par games Whitburn bounced back brilliantly at Newburgh to claim a 6-1 win with Ross Crawford netting three. The pitch looked heavy from the off and cut up further as the game wore on but both teams tried to play progressive passing football. Whitburn started well and in the fifth minute had the first chance when Andy Thomson put in Louis Maguire but his shot lacked power and was saved by Mark Robertson. Three minutes later a good wide run by Crawford ended in a great cross which Thomson knocked over the bar. Newburgh then had a good spell which saw a shot from the edge deflected over for a corner and then took the lead when Johnny Malcolm chased a ball into the corner on the right and hit in a great cross that Hamid Eddouss headed into the net – this on the quarter hour. Midway through there was a scramble in the opposite box during which possibly four short range shots were fired in but all were blocked – including by a Whitburn player – and the ball was eventually cleared. On the half hour Andrew Cameron had a powerful diagonal shot well saved by Daniel Potts. With 36 minutes gone and out on the right wing Reece Duncan fired in a high cross that came off the bar and landed at Crawford’s feet and he tapped home for his first and the equaliser. Good work on the right in the 40th minute saw a cross find Jamie Fyfe who fired in a great shot which Potts had to punch away. Almost on the whistle Mick McGarahan volleyed in a probing right wing cross at the near post to give his side the lead.

Although Whitburn added four more goals in the second half it was less eventful than the first and almost totally dominated by the Burnie. Newburgh, though they had a fair amount of possession, seldom troubled the visiting defence and Potts barely had a save to make. In the 50th minute Crawford doubled the lead with a shot similar to last week’s goal, this one barely getting above ground level and curling in at the post. The next 20 minutes or so turned into a midfield battle on the increasingly difficult pitch and Whitburn’s next goal midway through was a tapped in by Crawford after a header which looked goal bound by Grant Hamilton from a corner. Number five came just after when sub Jack Henderson fired home a cross from Crawford. The final goal came with three minutes to go when another sub, the evergreen Dewi Taylor knocked home a shot from fellow sub and evergreen, Martin Russell which had been blocked.

Whitburn held by Thornton at home

Whitburn allowed the following pack to get a little closer to their top spot today as they drew 2-2 with Thornton Hibs at Central Park. Darren Liddell had the first chance in the 5th minute when he headed a Louis Maguire corner goalwards but it lacked power and was saved. Three minutes later  Thornton took the lead when an offside looking Garry Thomson  got free on the right and squared to Joe Kinninmonth  who tapped in. Just after and from another corner Mick McGarahan had a back post shot blocked. With 18 minutes gone Max Coleman  bent in a free kick from the right which Daniel Potts had to tip over. Whitburn had two good chances around the half hour mark – first a Liddell overhead kick which Matthew Robertson cleared off the line and then a Ross Crawford diagonal that flew across the face of the goal with no takers. With 9 minutes to the half Thomson looked offside again but was allowed to continue and just missed with a shot from the left edge of the box. Four minutes later Crawford picked up the ball on the edge of the box, turned and fired a great shot past keeper Calum Sutherland to level the scores. On 45 minutes a Liddell shot seemed to be helped over the bar by the keeper but the referee gave a bye kick.

Whitburn came out after halftime looking more purposeful and within 4 minutes had won a corner which Sutherland grabbed and threw straight to Cameron Stokes who shot narrowly wide from distance. Four minutes later a long throw was headed by Reece Boyle to Reece Duncan whose shot was batted away by Sutherland. The keeper was alert five minutes later when he saved a Liddell shot from the edge after he had timed his run to beat offside. Sutherland had no chance just a minute later when the ball came out from a corner and was met almost in slow motion to Darren Tomaszewski and his daisy cutting piledriver got through the ruck of players and beat a surprised keeper who could get nowhere near it. Midway through Thornton, looking dangerous on the break, had a shot by Thomson blocked by Potts, the ball falling to John Soutar but he shot wide. The visitors kept up the pressure and Thomson was rewarded in the 78th minute when he fired home the equaliser. With 10 minutes to go Harrison Edwards, on as a sub, was fouled on the edge of the box as he chased a good through ball, his ‘tackler’ Aman Johal being red carded. Duncan fired the free kick just over. Scenting the possibility of another late winner Whitburn piled forward but a red for Stokes when he mistimed a challenge in the 82nd minute reduced their chances and the teams had to settle for a share of the points. Meanwhile St Andrews defeated Lochgelly to get to within four points and Stirling University also won to get to five points back. Syngenta, in turmoil, moved out o the promotion places as their game was off due to an inability to field a team – their days look numbered.

Whitburn fall to second league defeat

Arniston narrowed their  gap to Whitburn at the top of the league today with a 3-0 win in a game that Whitburn never seemed to get going in. Andy Thomson had the first shot in anger in the 12th minute but his goal bound shot was pushed wide by keeper James McQueen. On the quarter hour from a corner Daniel Grieg leaped highest to head the ball over Daniel Potts and into the net. Just after a long diagonal ball found Darren Liddell but his shot was blocked wide by a defender. With both teams finding it hard to play the passing game on a difficult pitch there were few chances till the 35th minute when Arniston’s Arran Laidlaw got in on Potts but he made a good block. Whitburn responded with three minutes till the half when Mick McGarahan headed a deep free kick goalwards but it was just wide.

With around six minutes of the second half gone following a free kick on the left edge of the box Reece Boyle set up Liddell but his shot was scuffed and the keeper made an easy save. Meanwhile six minutes later Laidlaw had a shot from the edge of the box well saved. Around this time Whitburn went three at the back as Martin McGuire was replaced together with Jack Henderson and Martin Russell by Stuart McIntyre, Dewi Taylor and Reece Duncan – a move that made them more vulnerable to breaks which had been Arniston’s main mode of attack. Midway through the half Whitburn’s best move came when a ball to Mcintyre was moved wide to Liddell who squared to Ross Crawford but his shot was comfortably saved. In the aftermath a break happened down the right with the ball centred to Niall Kemp  but his shot was blocked for a corner. A McGarahan header in the 71st minute from a long throw was tipped over the bar by McQueen. With 15 minutes to go and bodies in the middle Duncan made space and sent in a good cross but a home defender got to the ball first and headed calmly back to his keeper. Despite having the remainder of the game Whitburn could make nothing in front of goal and were sucker punched near the end with two quick goals to end their challenge. The first was another break down the right which ended in a cross to James Peggie  who found the top corner from 15 yards and the second from a cut back to (maybe) Ryan Turner  who fired home and send home the Arnie fans ecstatic.

Whitburn win to extend lead at the top

Whitburn, heavily favoured to take all three points today were made to fight all the way against a stuffy Easthouses team, eventually running out 3-2 winners. The visitors started well and had a shot saved and one blocked before Whitburn could even get started. Ross Crawford had Whitburn’s first chance in the sixth minute when he shot wide after receiving a long throw. Just after Andy Thomson drove in from the right and had a good shot blocked, the ball falling to Crawford but his effort was saved by keeper Steven Hay. Martin Russell broke the deadlock midway through the half when he received a cross from Thomson, controlled the ball and fired into the net. With 27 minutes gone Jack Neilson shot from 25 yards but Daniel Potts saved well. On the half hour Crawford was in on goal and, though his shot was saved, the ball ricocheted straight to Darren Liddell and bounced off him and into the goal. With three minutes to go Neilson got in again but this time blasted well over.

Early in the second half Liddell spotted Hay well off his line and tried a long range lob but the keeper got back to deny him. Almost on the hour Easthouses, who had made five substitutions, came roaring back into the game when Ali Adams shot home from a corner. Three minutes later they were level from a well made goal down the right which ended in a shot from Gary Shearer which beat Potts. A further three minutes in Whitburn were back in front when a free kick was headed on at the back post where Liddell got the final touch to knock the ball into the net. A minute later it should have been 4-2 when Crawford, have got free on the left, unselfishly squared to Liddell but the ball took a bobble on the rough ground and he looped the ball over. A little later Easthouses forced two good saves from Potts, the first from Adams and the second hit by Shearer, both low at the post. Reece Duncan had come on at halftime and sent in a great left wing cross with 15 minutes to go that Crawford seemed odds on to score from but he got a little in front of the ball and knocked it over. Almost on full time Easthouses, who had had numerous men yellow carded, were eventually reduced to ten men when sub Scott Waterton fouled Potts as he overstretched for the ball and collided with him – having been previously booked he had to go. Duncan had the final goal attempt just after when he tried a curling shot from the left edge of the box but Hay made a great save to deny him. Almost on the whistle Easthouses were reduced to nine men following a bad tackle in midfield.

Whitburn carve out battling win at Craigroyston

Whitburn travelled through to Craigroyston today where they played on a pitch which looked very soft and cut up from the start. It was obvious that this game would be unlikely to be won playing the ground game that Whitburn usually employ, but, to their credit they did try to play football and emerged with a good 3-1 win. Owing to the vagaries of the Edinburgh traffic we arrived midway through the first half and had missed the first two goals. The first came in the second minute when Ross Crawford stabbed home a rebound from keeper Jamie Newman when he saved a well struck Andy Thomson shot from the edge of the box. On the quarter hour Craigroyston were level from a break in which an apparently offside player approached the edge of the box and chipped the ball over Daniel Potts. In the part of the half that I saw just about the only real chance came in the 37th minute when Mick McGarahan had a shot blocked in the aftermath of a free kick. The bulk of the game was literally bogged down in midfield, though Whitburn had better possession and control.

The second half saw its first chance eight minutes in when Reece Boyle found Jack Henderson out wide left and his cross fell to Martin Russell but his shot from 12 yards went just wide. On the hour Boyle himself crossed from the left, the recipient this time being Darren Liddell who headed the ball goalwards but it deflected off a defender for a corner. Martin Maguire retook the lead for the his team midway through the half when he knocked the ball in at the back post after another Thomson shot had been saved and parried by Newman. Just after another left wing cross, this time from the bye line, was met by Liddell, his shot this time being deflected for a corner. With 73 minutes gone Whitburn seemed to have another when a corner was headed at the back post by Maguire and met by McGarahan whose effort seemed to be cleared by a defender beyond the line. The referee, to be fair to him, would never have been able to make that decision without a linesman, so he didn’t. Two minutes later Henderson was unlucky not to get the third when he controlled a long ball, cut inside his man and unleash a great strike but Newman made an equally fine diving save to deny him. From the corner McGarahan headed over following another back post header. The third goal finally did come with nine minutes to go when a Jack Lapsley free kick from the centre line was played wide right where Crawford took a touch and dispatched the ball across Newman into the net, most of the opposition expecting a ball to the penalty spot. A good win in tough conditions made all the sweeter by the news that Syngenta had lost at home to Stirling University to open up a three point gap with a game in hand!

Whitburn back to top of league

Syngenta’s stay at the top of the league was shortlived as Whitburn leapfrogged them today to go to on goal difference with a 4-0 defeat of Ormiston. Whitburn had the first goal attempt with 2 minutes gone when Cameron Stokes had a long range free kick well saved by Kieran Beveridge. Six minutes later Ormiston’s task was made even harder than it might have been when Theo McGuire was ordered off for a high challenge on Andy Thomson. In the 14th minute a cross from the left made the far post where Martin Russell retrieved it but Beveridge saved his return cross. Russell then had a good header saved in the 24th minute after he met a right wing cross. Three minutes later Russell turned provider when he hit in a good cross which Ross Crawford met with his head but Beveridge made another decent save. On the half hour Reece Boyle headed in the opener, the cross this time provided by Duncan. With 40 minutes gone Dewi Taylor hit in a cross that Crawford got on the end of but his shot was saved. A minute later Stokes tried a shot from 25 yards which flew just over. The second goal came a minute from the half when Taylor hit a shot that seemed to rebound back to him and he stabbed the ball into the net.

In the 54th minute a ball from the left fell to Duncan 25 yards out and he hit a sweet shot into the top corner to make it three. On the hour Thomson played in Crawford on the right of the box but his shot went agonisingly wide of the back post. Seven minutes later Crawford had another shot saved, this time set up by a good run from Taylor. With 20 minutes to go Duncan had another long range effort, this time from a free kick but again a good save thwarted him. Aiden Martin, on a s a sub was next to try a long range effort but his shot was just over three minutes later. In the 72nd minute Jamie Comrie, on as another sub, got his first for the club when a loose ball fell to him in the box and he gave Beveridge no chance with a fierce drive. The next chance came a minute later when fellow sub Ali Croall chased a long ball to the line and delivered a good low cross which Stuart McIntyre couldn’t force in at the near post. In the 86th minute Stokes forced a change of possession deep in Ormiston territory and got the ball to Crawford whose cross found another sub, Kamil Spalony who cotrolled well and fired in a good shot that was brilliantly tipped round the post. Despite being under the cosh for so long the visitors nearly got a consolation just after but two players couldn’t get the final touch on a good left wing cross. Spalony had the last effort in injury time but again Beveridge kept his shot out. With Syngenta idle today with their game at Peebles being off, this win took Whitburn back to the top of the league, level on points but with a better goal difference. The Burnie still have another game in hand however.

Whitburn lose by odd goal in seven

This keenly anticipated game between the top two in the league served up goals galore but, unfortunately ended in a narrow defeat for Whitburn. The home side started strongly with Jackson Cowan coming close twice within the first two minutes – the first he fired a shot wide and the second Whitburn conceded possession in the box and he forced a good diving save from Jack Wilsdon. In the 10th minute Regan Thomson forced another save from a corner. Whitburn were finding it difficult to get out of their own half and lack of game time was showing as their passing was less accurate than normal. A horrendous challenge in midfield by Reece Glackin on Cameron Stokes with 20 minutes gone saw him given a straight red and a possible foothold on the game for Whitburn. Their first chance came just after when Mick McGarahan headed a good Darren Tomaszewski cross goalwards but keeper Lewis Duffy made the save. It was the ten men, however, that opened the scoring in the 27th minute when James Finlay got on the end of a through ball and blasted the ball in from the edge of the box. Kevin Fotheringham double the lead 5 minutes later when he picked up a loose ball wide on the right of the box and saw his shot deflect off a defender to give Wilsdon no chance. Martin Russell headed in a corner in the 42nd minute to give his team hope going into the half. The hope was extinguished somewhat when Fotheringham got behind the defence from the centre and doubled the lead again to make it 3-1 going into the half.

Whitburn replaced Grant Hamilton (on a yellow card) and Jack Henderson with Martin Maguire and Harrison Edwards at the start of the second half in a bid to change the game. It was, though, Syngenta who forced an early corner and Wilsdon had to make another save, from Declan Fitzpatrick this time who fired in a loose ball. With 50 minutes played a deep free kick was headed from the back post to the front where it was narrowly missed by Edwards. Whitburn, looking a little more dangerous now got another goal back in the 58th minute when a diagonal ball found Edwards who passed to Ross Crawford and, from an impossible angle he shot the ball into the net off the post. As with the first Burnie goal, Syngenta scored a minute later when Fotheringham completed his hattrick from a similarly ridiculous shot wide right that flew in over Wilsdon. Just after Lewis Milton was sent off on a double booking to level player numbers. Whitburn got another goal back in the 76th minute when Edwards fired an unstoppable from the edge of the box, left of centre, into the top corner. Though dangerous looking on the break Syngenta could make no further inroads but Whitburn were not really looking like scoring and players were going down with cramp all over the park. Tomaszewski went down under a severe challenge with around 15 minutes to go and was forced to play on as Whitburn had used all five subs. With 4 minutes to go one of these subs, Stuart McIntosh beat his man to a through ball and had a clear shot on goal but, unfortunately fired wide and the home side held on for the win. Near the end young Edwards got a sore one and had to be carried off the pitch – we hope his injury is not too serious.

Whitburn hit Newburgh for six

Despite the scoreline it was Newburgh that took the lead early on when Michael Perrie headed in a corner at the near post, this after a double save from Daniel Potts from a long range effort from Harris Mitchell and then a point blanker from Cai MacDonald that conceded the corner. Whitburn were level by the midpoint of the half when a through ball to Ross Crawford was passed back to Andy Thomson whose ball in found Crawford and he fired into the net, his 19th of the season. A good diagonal ball in the 28th minute was retrieved by Jack Henderson but his diagonal shot was well saved by keeper David Chalmers. A minute later a long wide ball found MacDonald whose shot from a tight angle under pressure from Darren Tomaszewski was adjudged to have come off the Whitburn man for a corner. Whitburn took what would become an unassailable lead in the 34th minute when a great Louis Maguire diagonal ball picked out Darren Liddell whose shot was blocked out by Chalmers straight to Andy Thomson on the edge of the box and he cutely chipped the ball into the top left corner. With 42 minutes gone a Crawford cross from the left was headed off the underside of the bar by Liddell and just after L Maguire forced a save from a well struck shot. Just a minute later Crawford had his second when he volleyed home a right wing Mick McGarahan cross to give Whitburn a 3-1 half time lead.

The second half was only four minutes old when Crawford completed his hattrick in bizarre fashion. Tireless Liddell had chased down a great wide ball and delivered a low cross that Crawford initially missed but landed at Henderson’s feet and he squared to him and he seemed to mis-shit the ball and it barely tricked over the line – not a bad way to get to 21 for the season! Whitburn went nap with 56 minutes gone when a high ball was misjudged a little by Chalmers as L Maguire bore down on him and was able to head the ball into the unguarded net with the keeper stranded on the edge of the box. On the hour Newburgh had their only good attempt on goal when Andrew Reade forced a good diving save from Potts. Just 2 minutes later Liddell finally got his goal with a good shot having been set up by sub Harrison Edwards. The remainder of the game yielded three more chances for the home side but they, though another couple of goals would have been beneficial to the goal difference. For the record these came in the 81st minute from a McGarahan wide header from a corner, a Liddell shot deflected wide just after and a stooping effort from Dewi Taylor that went just over.

Whitburn beat Arniston on penalties

This King Cup second round tie was filled with incident on a very heavy Gorebridge pitch, eventually going to extra time and then penalties. Whitburn started well and had the first chance in the fifth minute when Reece Duncan put in Stuart McIntyre but keeper James McQueen came out quickly to smother. Five minutes later at the other end Jack Wilsdon made a great save to deny a free Jordan Daly 12 yards out. Just after a right wing Darren Liddell cross was headed just over by Louis Maguire at the back post. Midway through the half Whitburn got a huge let off when Arniston broke from a Whitburn attack and a good cross from the right came off Grant Hamilton on to the post and Wilsdon dropped on the rebound. A couple of minutes later Reece Duncan forced two good saves with goalbound shots. Around the 35 minute mark an Arniston player collided with Wilsdon in what seemed a fairly innocuous challenge but the keeper had to be replaced by U20 Blair Gallagher. Though it looked not too serious, Wilsdon sustained a head knock and we wish him a quick recovery. Just after Liddell had a couple of good shots, the first after a pass from McIntyre which was saved and the other which went just wide. Near the end of the half Martin Russell set up McIntyre who had his shot saved and Grant Hamilton headed the resulting corner just over.

Ryan Turner had a shot saved by Gallagher in the first minute after the restart. Darren Tomaszewski had a good effort fly just over two minutes later and in the 51st minute L Maguire had a shot well saved. Arniston now took control and some decent football found Elliot Grieve free in the box and he scored from 8 yards. On the hour Arran Laidlaw doubled the lead following a good run to the left wing eventually beating Gallagher at his near post with a vicious shot. Seemingly in control Arniston lost their captain Ryan Moore in the 65th minute to a second yellow following a rash challenge. Just prior to this Whitburn had made a triple substitution bringing on Dewi Taylor, Ross Crawford and Andy Thomson for Russell, McIntyre and Cameron Stokes respectively. The extra man and the substitutions paid off almost immediately as a Thomson free from the left was headed at the back post by Martin Maguire straight to who Crawford toepoked the ball home from 6 yards. Then Crawford combined well with Liddell who found Duncan on the edge but his shot was well blocked. With 12 minutes to play Crawford controlled a high ball well, cut inside his man but saw his shot well saved. Whitburn’s pressure and dominance finally paid off in the 87th minute when L Maguire fired in directly from a corner – something both he and Duncan had tried several times previously.

Into added time Whitburn had two further shots on goal from Liddell and Duncan both well saved by keeper McQueen who was having a great game. Into extra time the first 15 minutes had few chances though Duncan had another shot saved and James Peggie from Arniston shot over. The second 15 were more clearly Whitburn’s with Jack Henderson, Liddell and Crawford all thwarted by McQueen, another effort being cleared off the line. Young Gallagher excelled himself in the penalty shootout saving Laidlaw’s spot kick and obviously intimidating Kieren Douglas who shot wildly over whilst L Maguire and Crawford converted theirs to open up a 2 goal lead. Ian McManus and Jason Daly netted for Arniston while Thomson and Liddell did likewise to take the shootout 4-2.

Whitburn’s unbeaten run in League extends to 13

This leaves Whitburn in sole possession of the unbeaten crown in the entire league! It was Edinburgh South, however, that had the first chance at Paties Road on a surface that seemed very slippery on top when William Scott got in on goal in the third minute but was thwarted by a save from Jack Wilsdon on the edge of his box. Around the ten minute mark Louis Maguire had a couple of chances, this first from a Darren Liddell long throw headed on by Ross Crawford but his shot was blocked by the keeper Aaron Hamilton’s legs then an inswinging corner from him had to be tipped over by the Hamilton. A quickfire double from the home side saw put them 2 up. The first in the 17th minute saw a diagonal ball put in Jacob Riley on the right wing and his cross was converted by Scott. A minute later an almost identical move saw the ball centred to Declan Roose whose shot was saved by Wilsdon but ricocheted back off him into the net with a chasing Jack Lapsley unable to keep it out. Whitburn got a goal back midway through when a Reece Duncan cross was hit in by Ross Crawford and parried out by the keeper to Liddell and his shot rebounded back to Louis Maguire who forced the ball over the line. With 34 minutes gone Crawford passed the ball wide to Liddell who found Reece Duncan whose shot was saved. A slip in defence 42 minutes in allowed Riley in again wide left but he shot over.A minute later Maguire got in on the keeper who spilled the ball on the edge of the box but Andy Thomson fired wide. A minute into injury time Maguire was again in but this time he beat Hamilton and chipped it over him into the unguarded net. Just after Aiden Martin also got in but this time he was clattered by the keeper but nothing was awarded by the referee.

Today’s game between two of the favourites for promotion started explosively as in the second minute an onrushing Reece Duncan was upended in the box by Syngenta’s keeper Lewis Duffy as he pushed the ball wide of him. The referee awarded the penalty and red carded Duffy as last man. There followed a lengthy delay before Duncan himself fired in the spot kick with 6 minutes on the clock. In the 15th minute a diagonal Grant Hamilton ball wide left was retrieved by Duncan and he forced a save from sub keeper Calum Erskine at his near post. Nine minutes later another diagonal put Duncan in again but this time he squared the ball when a shot was on and the ball was cleared. The second goal came just after from the right flank as Darren Liddell outpaced his defender, though his cross was deflected, it fell perfectly for Ross Crawford and he scored at the near post. From a similar move in the 32nd minute Liddell’s cross was pushed out by Erskine straight to Louis Maguire whose powerful shot from the edge of the box was saved by the keeper. Two minutes later Liddell would get his goal when he ran on to Reece Boyle pass and slammed the ball past Erskine. Erskine would do better with 7 minutes till half time when he saved a 25 yard free kick from Liddell after Andy Thomson had been fouled.

Syngenta withdrew their striker Andy Rodgers at half time, replacing him with Andrew Johnston to try and get back in the game. It was Whitburn, however, who had the first chance as a sweet Maguire through ball put in Duncan but his shot deflected wide. Just after Johnston showed he had pace as broke through only to be fouled by Boyle on the edge of the box. Liam Taggart hit a good free kick round the wall and forced a great diving save form Jack Wilsdon – the dyes first attempt on goal. In the 57th minute a Duncan corner was headed over by Boyle. On the hour Johnston outpaced the home defence again but shot over the advancing Wilsdon. At this point Whitburn fell deeper as they seemed to have settled for the 3-0 and created very little in front of goal. Syngenta, though they knocked the ball about well were similarly unable to mount any real meaningful attacks and those that they did were easily snuffed out. Drama was still to come, however, as with a minute to go from a throw in Jack Henderson, on as a sub, got in on the right and fired the ball past Erskine at his near post from a tight angle. Almost from the restart Syngenta won a free kick wide left and the ball eventually fell to Johnston who fired in a shot that beat Wilsdon for a consolation.

Whitburn and Peebles share points

A disappointing result at Central Park today as Peebles Rovers earned a 1-1 draw, a result that saw Whitburn relinquish top spot and drop to fourth. The following brief report comes courtesy of Robert Cook as I was not at the game. Whitburn started well, having a couple of chances early on and taking the lead through a Reece Duncan penalty after Louis Maguire had been fouled in the box. Shortly thereafter a shot hit the post but rebounded to the keeper who went on to have at least three decent saves whilst Daniel Potts largely remained a spectator. The second half proved to be frustrating  for the home side who, despite creating a number of half chances, were unable to add to their tally. Corner kicks were there most potent weapon but the closest they came to scoring was an effort off the bar. Having weathered the storm Peebles began to come more into the game and, with 7 minutes to go won a penalty which Kyle Kivlichan converted to give his team an unlikely point. All credit to Peebles, however, for sticking in, keeping it tight and benefitting from a little good fortune in front of goal.

Whitburn back to top of the league

Whitburn, with an 8-1 blitzing of Lochgelly, took over the top spot of the league through more goals scored compared to Syngenta who they equalled on goal difference. Martin Maguire volleyed a wide right free kick at the back post to get the rout underway. Three minutes later Aiden Martin slammed home a great Andy Thomson cross after a good run up the right. Just after Ross Crawford got in on keeper Sam Mcguff  who  made a fine save but he wouldn’t be denied in the 18th minute when he converted a penalty after a trip on Louis Maguire.  In the 21st and 22nd minute Mcguff made two good saves to deny Martin and Martin Russell as Whitburn kept up the pressure. Lee Celantano, however, scored for Lochgelly when he beat Daniel Potts to the ball, with home defenders too high up the pitch, and knocked the ball into the unguarded goal. Two minutes later the three goal lead was restored as Grant Hamilton headed in a Louis Maguire corner. Martin then had another shot saved and Lochgelly should have had a second minutes before the half but Sean Johnstone  somehow shot wide from a great position. Whitburn would go nap on the 45 minute mark when Thomson went on another great run, up the left this time, and set up Russell who scored from 10 yards.

The second half would be even harder for the visitors as they seldom got anywhere near the home box though only three more goals were scored. Mick McGarahan had the first effort in the 51st minute when he chased a wide ball on the right and hit in a super diagonal shot the slammed off the bar.  Around the hour Thomson picked up a clearance 25 yards out and hit in a great half volley that Mcguff  pushed over. Just after a good run from Martin ended in a cross to Jack Henderson who shot just wide. Henderson would do better in the 64th minute when a Crawford pass went behind him but he retrieved the ball, beat a man to make space and fired in from 10 yards. Crawford then set up Martin with a diagonal pass but the shot was saved. Crawford then had another shot saved when he chased a long Potts’ clearance. With 77 minutes gone Louis Maguire got on the scoresheet  with a great 22 yard free kick which found the bottom corner. Lochgelly’s one incursion deep into Whitburn territory came with 4 minutes to play when Johnstone  wide on the left hit in a great shot that Potts acrobatically saved. Crawford finally got his second with two to go when he again got behind the defence and he almost got a third just before the end but was again denied by a decent save.

Whitburn win 3-0 at Dalkeith

This Traderadiators Challenge Cup first round match was as easy as the score suggests for Whitburn as the home side rarely troubled Daniel Potts. Indeed it was a long Potts’ clearance in the seventh minute that set up the first Whitburn chance as Darren Liddell chased it then crossed it to Ross Crawford but his shot went just wide. Two minutes later a Liddell effort was blocked at the back post after a great run and cross by Reece Duncan.Then with 15 minutes gone a great Jack Henderson pass set up Liddell whose shot from the edge of the box slammed off the underside of the bar out to Crawford who in turn had his shot blocked for a corner. This was taken short by Duncan to Liddell who found Henderson on the edge but his goalbound shot was also deflected wide. A good deal of midfield play then ensued until the 42nd minute when Dalkeith had a rare attack when Jordan Mackie knocked in a decent cross which Jack Burrows  headed at the back post but, unfortunately for him, straight at the well positioned Potts. The deserved goal eventually came on the stroke of halftime when a pinpoint right wing cross from Henderson was headed in by a stooping Mick McGarahan.

Three minutes into the second half another great run by Duncan ended with a good cross which Crawford fired powerfully against the bar. Just shy of the hour Whitburn attempted a quick free kick on halfway which was intercepted and Josh Davidson  ran through on Potts who kept his cool and managed to tackle the home man as he was poised to shoot. On the hour a good diagonal Reece Boyle pass to the left was raced onto by Darren Tomaszewski  whose cross found Henderson but again his shot was blocked. Henderson would eventually get his goal when put beyond the defence by a Crawford through ball and calmly slotted the ball past advancing keeper Thomas McLean  to double the lead. With 71 minutes gone a Louis Maguire wide pass to the right was raced onto by Liddell and he drove into the box before firing to the left of McLean and into the net. With around 15 minutes to play indiscipline cost two Dalkeith players to red cards and just after a triple substitution allowed three under 20 players to get some game time: Taylor Barbero, Chris Hughes and Kamil Spalony. The latter two almost created the fourth goal when, in the 85th minute, the latter passed to the former at the near post but the shot went just the wrong side of the post. Just prior to that Liddell hit a powerful free kick from 20 yards that McLean just managed to keep out at the second attempt. Whitburn then seemed content to keep the ball, which they did to see out the game.

Whitburn go nap at Tweedmouth

This was the first time that Whitburn and Tweedmouth  played and the odds heavily favoured the visitors but the hosts had not read the script as midway through the first half they took the lead with a good move when Regan Graham  combined well with Michael Robinson  who poked the ball past Daniel Potts. Whitburn had started sluggishly and found passing on the parched pitch difficult, repeatedly giving the ball away. Shortly after this Jack Henderson was found by Reece Duncan but his shot was saved. Robinson  got in again on the half hour and set up Craig Colquhoun  but Potts saved his shot. Having weathered the storm Whitburn equalised in the 34th when Reece Boyle headed Duncan corner in at the near post. Now dominating there would be three more chances from Whitburn before the half. The first came just a minute later when Duncan, after a good run down the left had a shot from a tight angle saved. Then 5 minutes later Henderson passed to Darren Liddell who chipped over after keeper Steven Mason  came to meet him on the edge of the box. Finally roles were reversed with 5 minutes to go but Henderson hit his shot straight at the keeper.

Whitburn hit Tweedmouth with a double in a minute right at the start of the second half – the first a tap in at the back post by Henderson after a Liddell cross from the left somehow got through a ruck of players to him. Then Liddell netted with a shot from a Darren Tomaszewski cross from a similar area to the last. The fifth minute saw Rhys Bloomfield  hit the post from a tight angle for the hosts and Ross Crawford force a save from Mason. Three minutes later Colquhoun hit in a cross which Robinson  hit wide of the post from a dangerous position. Three became four on the hour when Crawford curled a beauty from the right corner of the box. Then midway through it became five when another Liddell cross was controlled by Crawford and he passed to Duncan who fired low past Mason. Seven minutes later Bloomfield ran right through and hit a good shot from the edge that Potts got a leg to. Duncan had the ball in the net just after when a long range free kick was parried to him but the referee ruled offside. Tweedmouth ended on a high when Jay Atkinson had a shot saved and then he won a free kick when Jack Wilsdon (on as a sub) handled the ball out of his box and was red carded. Drew Cummings’ effort was way over the bar so didn’t trouble stand in keeper Martin Russell.

Whitburn beaten by slick Tranent

New Lowland League Tranent were the visitors to Central Park tonight in the East Qualifying Cup and left with a convincing 3-0 victory. The first half was goalless and very even with the teams sharing the chances equally. Tranent’s Steven Thomson had a shot from halfway in the 13th minute which hit the bar and was retrieved by Daniel Potts. Two minutes later after a foul on Louis Maguire on the edge of the box Darren Liddell’s shot was well held by Kelby Mason diving to his left with two Burnie players closing him down. Soon after Jamie Docherty got in on the left and hit a shot which Potts tipped over though it seemed to be going over. With 33 minutes gone an Adam Mcgowan cross was chested to Potts by Grant Hamilton but Martin Maughan got a foot in and guided the ball goalwards but Potts recovered to pounce on the ball. Three minutes later Reece Duncan got the ball wide to Ross Crawford who beat his man and crossed to the near post where a Duncan shot was deflected for a corner. Maughan had a shot from 25 yards well saved by Potts and just before the half Crawford was injured going for a cross with Mason and was later replaced.

Into the second half Paul Simpson had a shot that clipped the outside of the post. Under 20 player Harrison Edwards, who replaced Crawford,  hit a free kick from 25 yards which Mason had to save at his post. Mason then, in the 54th minute, made a good save from Liddell who had picked up a loose ball 25 yards out and fired in a great shot. In the 57th minute Maughan hunted down a long ball wide on the left, drove in on goal and beat Potts at his near post with a powerful diagonal shot. Tranent at this point started to dominate with some good football and running off the ball though their second came from a soft looking penalty which was converted down the middle. Whitburn then had a Liddell shot blocked over for a corner which was headed over by Reece Boyle. The remainder of the game saw Tranent hit a few shots from distance that went narrowly over, wide or both whilst Whitburn could no inroads into the visitor’s defence. With three minutes to go Mcgowan did get one on target from the edge of the box to give Tranent a (slightly flattering) 3 goal win.  

Whitburn out of Alex Jack Cup

Whitburn travelled to Kinnoull to play the hosts in the first round of the Alex Jack Cup and were beaten 2-0 in a competitive game. Whitburn had the first chance in the 5th minute when a long ball picked out Ross Crawford and he passed to Reece Duncan, back from suspension, but his shot from 20 yards went just over. A minute later Martin Russell had a shot which was blocked by a defender who might have handled it but the referee thought not. With 10 minutes gone Duncan hit a free kick from 25 yards off the wall and then Louis Maguire set up Darren Liddell whose first time effort also went over. Typically with 16 minutes gone and having been under the cosh Kinnoull took the lead when a corner was headed straight out to Cameron Robertson  on the edge of the box and his half volley through a ruck of players gave Daniel Potts no chance. In the 32nd minute home 11 got in on the right, made space and fired in a shot that Potts tipped over. Just on the half a long throw was headed on by Crawford and picked up by L Maguire but his shot lacked power and was easily saved.

The second half took a long time to get going and it was again Whitburn that had the first chance in 18 minutes in when the ball bounced about the Kinnoull box and eventually fell to Mick McGarahan whose shot came back off the post. Nine minutes later Kinnoull were two up when Fraser Morrison picked up a loose ball 25 yards out and hit a great shot into the bottom right corner  which eluded a diving Potts. With 14 minutes to go a home player, who looked offside, was allowed to continue into the left side of the box but hit the bar with his diagonal shot. McGarahan, now playing as a forward had a header from a Lennon Watson cross go just wide with 9 minutes to go. Two minutes into injury time a long ball was fetched by Crawford who passed to McGarahan but, again, the shot missed the goal wide. Just after this the game descended into farce as a little time wasting ended in a fracas in which McGarahan and a home player were red carded. Manager, Darren Wilson also saw red as he made a comment the referee took exception to.

Whitburn defeat 10 man St Andrews 3-1

This was a game of two halves which St Andrews played with 10 men for over an hour as David Shields  was red carded for a kick on Cameron Stokes in the 28th minute – Stokes limped off a couple of minutes later to be replaced by Martin Russell. One might have expected the second half to be dominated by Whitburn but oddly that is not how it panned out... St Andrews were first to attack and should have taken the lead in the eighth minute when Reece Redpath drove up the right wing and crossed to Jordan Mackenzie but he shot straight at Daniel Potts back in the home goal. A minute later Whitburn replied with a Louis Maguire shot from the edge of the box that went just wide. Maguire would have better luck in the eleventh minute when a wide Mick McGarahan free kick was touched on by Jack Henderson to him and he slotted the ball past keeper Calum Brodie. Just a minute later Ross Crawford ran on to a through ball on the left and forced a good save from Brodie. With nineteen  minutes gone a great long ball by Maguire picked out Darren Liddell who drove towards the line before hitting a cross that Henderson converted with a low shot. With 25 gone and after a slip in the home defence Ross Cunningham got in on goal but screwed his shot wide. Then with 9 minutes till the half Lewis Sawers  headed a right wing cross goalwards but Potts made the save.

Whitburn go nap against Arniston and top the League

In their inaugural game in the EOS second division Whitburn welcomed Arniston Rangers to Central Park. The last time they visited was 19 May 2018 and Arniston ran out 3-0 winners. This game was rather different as the home side emerged 5-2 winners. Whitburn got off to a dream start as Andy Thomson poked home the ball after a slip up in the Arniston defence was pounced on by Ross Crawford who passed to the scorer.  In the 10th minute Louis Maguire won the ball in midfield and set Darren Liddell free on the left whose cross was headed goalwards by Crawford but was saved by keeper James McQueen. Two minutes later a good diagonal Cameron Stokes ball found Jack Henderson wide right and his shot was also saved. On the quarter hour another Liddell cross was headed by Crawford and this was saved by the leaping keeper but the ball couldn’t be cleared and eventually was slammed home by Crawford. Five minutes later Crawford doubled his tally when he converted  a Mick McGarahan cross. In a rare attack ten minutes later Tyson McLean got behind the home defence but Reece Boyle was able to deflect his shot wide. Just after Stokes again freed Henderson who crossed to Crawford and his powerful header was pushed over spectacularly. From the corner McGarahan hit the bar with a lovely header. With ten minutes to go Daniel Greig headed in a corner at the back post to give his side a lift. The three goal lead was immediate restored when Liddell hit a beauty from the edge of the box that hit the bottom corner. McLean then had a shot from the left that Jack Wilsdon saved easily then near the half’s end McGarahan had another effort rebound off the bar, this time a shot from a tight angle.

With a minute of the second half played Thomson ad a shot from a short corner which went wide from a deflection. Three minutes later Arniston were back in the game when McGarahan fouled an opponent 25 yards out and Kieran Douglas flighted his free kick over the wall and into the top corner. Crawford could have extended the lead a minute later when an ambitious Maguire free from 35 yards got through the wall and landed at his feet but he couldn’t get enough power on his shot and McQueen saved easily. Nine minutes later Crawford ran through from the right but, with Liddell square, elected to shoot and fired wide under pressure. A carbon copy came in the 18th minute and this time Crawford played in Liddell but he got the ball caught in his feet then pivoted round a couple of players to make shot for a weak shot which eventually hit the post. With 24 minutes played Liddell joined Maguire in attempting a 35 yard free kick but the keeper made an easy grab. Six minutes later Crawford passed to Maguire who touched the ball round McQueen and shot but a defender cleared off the line. Liddell then set up Crawford in front of goal but his first time shot was straight at McQueen and the he had a shot deflected wide. From a corner with five minutes to go Reece Boyle had a shot that lacked power and was easily saved. Under20 player Ryan Harrison came on as a sub and had two decent shots go just wide. Crawford would have the last laugh and a hattrick a minute into added time when he converted a penalty after Harrison had been fouled on the edge of the box.

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