Kinnoull’s eventful opener
It was certainly an eventful return to competitive football for Kinnoull.
The Perth side netted five without reply in their East of Scotland League Conference B away opener against Preston Athletic - who finished the game with eight men - on Saturday afternoon.
Kinnoull were in the referee’s bad books too with both Paul Anderson and Rhys Davies receiving their marching orders.
Manager Alan Cameron was thrilled to begin the campaign with a solid victory but is sure his players can up their level further in the coming weeks.
“The red cards are disappointing but Paul Anderson’s was the correct decision,”Cameron admitted. “I thought Rhys Davies’red was a touch soft, but the referee made the call.
“I was very pleased to start with a win against a very good Preston side and we’re obviously delighted with a clean sheet. All of our forward players notching a goal is great for them.
“I didn’t feel we performed to our best but the whole team worked hard and the most important thing was to secure the three points.”
Preston had started well and looked threatening in the opening stages, but Kinnoull nudged in front just shy of the 20 minute mark.
Quick-thinking Andrew Mackenzie’s free-kick sent Ben Ragan racing down the right flank and, when he cut back to Dale Smart, the striker made no mistake in slotting into the bottom corner.
Alan Cunningham soon doubled the advantage with a low strike after being teed-up by Davies.
Kinnoull were in a clinical mood and would stretch their lead to four before the break thanks to neat finishes from Ragan and Davies.
The hosts were given a glimmer of hope when full-back Anderson was sent off for a last man offence.
But a flurry of red cards would follow with a Preston midfielder exiting the action for a tackle on Smart, while Kinnoull striker Davies was given his marching orders in the aftermath.
The men from East Lothian then lost another two players meaning it was now eight taking on nine.
Kinnoull added a fifth on 73 minutes when a free-kick from Pat Brown was turned into the net by a Preston player.
Goalkeeper Lukasz Osinski pulled off a couple of smart stops late in the day to keep hold of the clean sheet.
Man of the match for the Tulloch Park side went to Ragan for a goal, assist and tireless running in the second half.
Boss Cameron concluded: “It was just great to be back playing competitive matches. The boys were buzzing for the game.”