Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Ramsay treble is trouble for Violet
IN the Premier League, poor defending proved to be the downfall for Violet as they went down 4-3 against leaders Forfar West End.
The Pansies took the lead through a close-range effort from Ben Middleton in 22 minutes but the home joy only lasted two minutes when Matt Ramsay levelled.
Ramsay then burst through the home defence just before half-time to fire West End into the lead and it looked all over when he completed his hat-trick in 50 minutes following a goalmouth scramble.
But, to their credit, Violet kept battling away and pulled one back through Connor McLeod on the hour mark.
However, poor marking allowed Graeme Hart to restore the visitors two-goal margin in 74 minutes.
Middleton made it a nervous last couple of minutes for the league leaders when he pulled another back but they held out.
Tayport kept their promotion hopes alive with a late leveller against Bathgate Thistle at The Canniepairt.
Both sides had half-chances in the first half but, in the main, defences dominated and it ended goalless.
It was much the same story in the second half but the deadlock was broken in 80 minutes when Robbie Feeney got in behind the ’Port defence and rolled the ball past Gavin Sorley to give the visitors the lead.
Five minutes later the Fifers almost levelled when Jamie Mackie forced a fine save from his free-kick.
But the hosts finally levelled with three minutes to go when a low shot from Dale Reid found the net to earn John Ovenstone’s side a share of the points.
Downfield suffered their biggest defeat of the season, going down 6-2 at Kennoway.
The Spiders took the lead through Ryan Rigden, who was later sent off for a handball in the box, but the visitors’ defence looked ill at ease for much of the first half and went in at the interval 4-1 down.
Downfield looked the better side in the second half but the damage was done in the first 45 minutes and, although Jack Neave pulled one back, the Fifers added another two to run out comfortable winners.