Crieff side take points with win in tricky conditions

Strathearn Grove..........6 Moncrieff......................5 quicker to adapt after the clash was moved from the venue’s grass park to its 3G artificial surface and went ahead early with a surging run and finish.

Grove slowly settled and took control of the game.

After they had carved out a series of chances Kros Brown slotted home an equaliser after linking up with Jamie Henry and strike partner Josh Roberts.

And it was livewire Roberts who moved the Crieff side ahead minutes later with a smart finish after being sent through on goal.

A third Grove goal looked on the cards and it arrived shortly before half-time when a dinked pass from right-back Ross Cramb wreaked havoc in the visitors’ defence. After the ball was half-cleared Brown lobbed the goalkeeper to stunning effect from long range.

However, any thoughts that Grove were on Easy Street were rapidly dispelled after the break as the speedy Perth outfit grabbed two goals in quick succession to restore parity.

The home side regained their composure and went close when Roberts forced a save before a crazy barge on Kros Brown inside the box saw a penalty awarded to Grove. The South Inch side were also reduced to ten men following an outburst of dissent.

After Brown’s miscued effort was blocked by the Moncrieff goalie a scramble ensued and the same player was again felled inside the box, leading to a second spot-kick inside 30 seconds.

Lee Jack took the responsibility but also put his effort too close to the keeper, only this time he reacted quickest and bundled home the rebound to put Grove ahead again.

The hard-running Josh Roberts made it 5-3 with a cool, angled finish but just, as it seemed Grove had secured the points, Moncrieff snatched another goal to reduce the arrears.

A bullet header from a pinpoint Brown corner made it 6-4 as the forward completed his hat-trick but, typical of this goal-laden 90 minutes, there was still time for the South Inch side to grab their fifth in injury time following good wing play.

Grove, who lie seventh in Division Three, are on Perthshire Cup duty on Saturday when they travel to Pitlochry to take on Vale of Atholl in a 1.30pm kick-off.

Grove: Dave McKay, Ross Cramb, Callum Fraser, Mike Welsh, Andy Welsh, Connor Stewart, Lee Jack, Chris McGraw, Jamie Henry, Josh Roberts, Kros Brown. Subs: Sean Fender, Lee Roberts, Jamie McInally.