Millar time for Blair
Sub Danny comes on to complete four-goal win
Blairgowrie turned in an impressive all-round performance to defeat Brechin Vics 4-0 at Davie Park on Saturday.
In truth, the margin could have been much more emphatic but Blair’s dominance and intensity of play sustained over the 90 minutes was nonetheless impressive.
There were further positives to be taken from new signing Keir Reilly showing great composure in midfield, using the ball well at the heart of the action.
Allan Cruickshank gave Blair the lead in the second minute after good play by Gary Axworthy.
Billy Mackay’s home side maintained the momentum and repeatedly carved out openings, with some exciting play down the wings.
Cruickshank and Axworthy came close on several occasions, shooting narrowly wide or being denied by good goalkeeping.
Rudi Brown, meanwhile, saw a header cleared off the line before a second goal finally arrived after 32 minutes.
Brown shrugged off a number of challenges to deliver a perfect cross to the far post which found Cruickshank, who powered a header into the top-left corner of the Vics’ net.
The impressive goal was enthusiastically received by a healthy home crowd.
This was followed by a bizarre episode which saw Blair strike woodwork at least three times and have a similar number of shots cleared off the line in a furious goalmouth scramble.
The second-half saw Blair become a little less fluent, but they were still on top and were creating opportunities.
Despite this, there was a scare in the 65th minute when Stuart Nicoll had to execute a goalmouth clearance as Brechin created a good chance.
Just two minutes later, Brown ran through to score Blair’s third with a low, angled drive.
And, in the last minute, substitute Danny Millar bulleted a header from Brown’s corner high into the net.
Blairgowrie: O’Brien, Findlay, Nicoll, Pirie, Hood, Axworthy, Brown, Reilly, Cruickshank, Plenderleith, Mitchell. Sub: Millar.
Blairgowrie will need to be at their best on Saturday this week when they travel to play Superleague outfit Broughty Athletic in the GA Engineering Cup. Kick-off 2.30pm.
Seven players were missing from the Brechin match and it remains to be seen how many will return this week.
●This week’s berry-pickers’ weigh-in numbers were 6, 9, 15 and 16. There were no winners, meaning next week’s jackpot is £1000.