Braidhaugh men grab three points from Dunkeld
Grove maintained their 100 per cent home league record with a hard-fought 4-1 win over Dunkeld and Birnam.
The Crieff side had enjoyed a famous Scottish Amateur Cup victory over local rivals Vale of Earn in their previous outing, but were forced to overhaul their starting line-up due to five players being unavailable.
Grove manager Graham Gray drafted in Ross Cramb, Chris McGraw, Campbell Dewar, Shaun Stewart and Dave McKay.
The other big change was to the home side’s appearance - the ‘All Blacks’ look was out, with the club’s new Dortmund-style strips supplied by sponsors The Pretoria Bar.
After a scrappy opening phase the home side edged ahead when McGraw picked out Jamie Henry on the right of the box with a superb defence-splitting pass and the striker took a touch before firing a low effort into the corner of the net.
But the lead didn’t last long and after Grove’s Connor Stewart was adjudged to have fouled an opponent as he raced in on goal Dunkeld drew level from the penalty spot.
Matters looked brighter again early in the second half when Campbell Dewar rose highest at a corner and when his header broke to Sean Fender the big central defender stabbed the ball home to put the Braidhaugh men 2- 1 ahead.
The fluency in Grove’s play that had been so evident in their near flawless win at Market Park the previous weekend only appeared here in fits and starts, and lowly Dunkeld caused more than a few uncomfortable moments at the back.
Not least of these was an amazing triple escape for Grove as the visitors turned up the heat.
First, right-back Cramb saved the day by clearing off the line, with ‘keeper Ali Grant then clawing the resultant corner onto the crossbar, before a second flag kick was headed inches wide from close in.
However, Grove were dealt a major blow when they lost Stewart, who was captaining the side for the first time, after he fell awkwardly.
The young defender faces a spell on the sidelines after sustaining a broken collar bone and is sure to be a big miss at the back for the Crieff side.
With the points in the balance, debutant Diogo Esteves, one of five substitutes who saw action on Saturday, was denied a goal in bizarre circumstances.
He appeared to have looped the ball beyond Dunkeld’s keeper and into the net, only for the referee to disallow the effort after the ball squirmed back onto the playing surface.
Minutes later, it was the ever-dangerous Henry who calmed the nerves when he fired in his second of the day to give the homesters a two-goal cushion.
But the celebrations were tempered when he received his second yellow card moments later.
If the chalked- off goal had looked like rough justice, Esteves didn’t let that disappointment affect him and he sent Callum Fraser away late on for Grove’s fourth goal.
Grove: Grant, Cramb, Fraser, Fender, C Stewart, Dewar, M Welsh, S Stewart, McGraw, McKay, Henry. Subs: Esteves, Gill, Richards, A Welsh, S Carter.
Grove are at home against Pole Team on Saturday. The Division Three tie is a 2pm kick-off.
• Auchterarder Primrose lost a Scottish Cup second round replay 4- 1 away at Morgan Academy FPs on Saturday.
They are away to Burrelton Rovers in Division One on Saturday. Kick-off 2pm.