AN AWAY DAY VICTORY FOR BLAIRGOWRIE

Local lads inflict first loss of the season on Luncarty

It was far from pretty but Blairgowrie put in a spirited display to record a 3-2 away win against Luncarty on Saturday.

The visitors from Davie Park found the going tough on the tight Brownlands Park pitch and were rarely given a chance to settle by their combative hosts.

Luncarty were first to threaten before Ryan Menzies came close twice for Blair with a well-saved shot and a header from the resulting corner which shaved the woodwork.

Steven Findlay had two opportunities for Blair following fast raids down the right and, shortly before half-time, an effort by Allan Cruickshank was palmed away from underneath the crossbar.

Luncarty had enjoyed the bulk of the play, but it was a blank scoreline at halftime.

All that changed in the first 20 minutes of the second-half.

Billy Mackay’s side took the lead in the 46th minute through a smartly-taken goal by Cruickshank after an Axworthy free-kick had been parried.

The advantage was doubled almost immediately when Jamie Duncan won possession 25 yards out and curled a brilliant shot into the corner of the Luncarty net.

The home side quickly got back into the game with a penalty, despite a great effort to save by Blair keeper Gordon O’Brien

Then Axworthy accepted a pass from Ian Plenderleith to rifle a 25-yard missile into the roof of the net on 62 minutes to restore Blair’s two-goal advantage.

That cushion lasted only three minutes as Luncarty scrambled home a second goal after a shot had rebounded off the post.

Following that goal, a Luncarty striker was red-carded for an off-the-ball incident.

Despite this set-back, Luncarty pressed for a spell and Blair had to remain resolute to keep them out.

The east Perthshire side regained some measure of control in the closing minutes and pressed for a goal to make things more comfortable.

That didn’t arrive, but the win was nonetheless welcomed by a large travelling support – many of whom were en route to the club’s 70th anniversary celebrations later that evening.

Blairgowrie: O’Brien, Findlay, McDonald, Millar, Brash, Axworthy, Menzies, Duncan, Maloney, Plenderleith, Cruickshank. Subs used: Hood, Brown, Mitchell.

Blairgowrie play host to Coupar Angus on Saturday. Kick-off 2.30pm.

•This week’s berry-pickers’ weigh-in numbers were 3, 9, 14, and 15.

There were no winners, meaning the jackpot next week is £850.