LATE BLAIR COLLAPSE
Injury-hit squad concede three goals in closing stages
Blairgowrie ........... 4 Lochee Harp ......... 4
Injury-hit Blairgowrie conceded three goals in the closing stages to draw 4-4 away at Lochee Harp on Saturday.
The Davie Park side’s late collapse seemed inconceivable as late as midway through the second half as Billy Mackay’s charges were 4-1 up and apparently in total control.
However finishing the North Division tie with nine fit players owing to injuries ultimately saw Blair leave the door open for Harp to capitalise and earn a share of the spoils.
Blairgowrie went into the match with a completely new back four and conceded the softest of goals in the first 30 seconds.
However, once the back four bedded in, the travelling east Perthshire outfit dominated the next hour and played some good football on a tricky surface.
In-form attacker Allan Cruickshank equalised from the penalty spot after 22 minutes.
He then turned in a low Paul Maloney cross from eight yards to put the visitors ahead.
It was 3-1 before the break when Rudi Brown fired home from 10 yards after the Harp defence had some amazing escapes.
Blair continued to dominate after the break.
Two efforts were cleared off the line and Maloney turned the ball over from a Cruickshank cross.
A fourth goal arrived on 65 minutes when Cruickshank completed a second successive hat-trick, firing a penalty high into the net after Maloney had been chopped down in the box. Then came that late collapse. Brown suffered an injury and, by then, Blair had used their only two substitutes.
Keeper O’Brien had carried an injury since the early stages and suddenly Blair were up against it.
Two penalties for Harp and a late equaliser made it 4-4, but it felt like a defeat to the Blair camp,
Blaigowrie: O’Brien, Trialist, Nicoll, Simpson, Pirie, Axworthy, Brown, Duncan, Maloney, McDonald, Cruickshank. Subs: Mitchell, Trialist.
This Saturday, Blairgowrie are at home to Brechin Vics in the North Division. Kickoff 2.30pm.
Menzies, Brash, Millar, Findlay, Plenderleith, Hood and Kelly will all be missing at Davie Park.
And, with O’Brien and Brown picking up injuries during the Harp match, Billy Mackay will be left with a selection headache.
Meanwhile, Blairgowrie have been drawn away to Dundee Violet in the second round of the Scottish Junior Cup. Kick-off 2pm. ● This week’s Blairgowrie Juniors berrypickers’ weigh-in numbers were 11, 15, 16 and 20. There were no winners, meaning the jackpot next week is £950.