The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Hawsscore fivetoleave Locheelivid
LOSING 5-0, as Lochee United did at Hill of Beath, may sound like a one-sided affair, but that was far from reality with the Bluebells leaving aggrieved at the size of the Fifers’ winning margin, writes our junior football correspondent.
Secretary Larry Duncan was livid at the end, saying: “On paper it looks like a real hammering, but the result was nothing like as bad as it looks.
“We believe that at least three of their goals in the second half shouldn’t have stood, as they looked miles offside, but that is football.”
Tormentor in chief was CalumAdamson with a hat-trick for the Haws, while Craig Smart hit a double.
StAndrews United new boy Lee Sibanda marked his debut with a last-minute equaliser to earn his side a point at home to Ballingry Rovers.
The visitors took the lead on 39 minutes when Gavin Gray was tripped just inside the box by keeper Steve McEwan after he had missed a cross and Darren Smith converted the resultant penalty.
The second half was devoid of any real chances with both sides guilty of misplaced passes.
However, in the fifth minute of stoppage time Ballingry failed to clear their lines and Sibanda struck the ball through a crowd of players to net with the last kick of the game.
If a point wasn’t what StAndrews wanted then it at least lifted them off the bottom of the table, trading places with Tayport after their disappointing defeat at Armadale.
Making the 3-2 reversal on a bog-like Volunteer Park even more frustrating was the fact the Fifers twice led.
After 13 minutes Thistle gifted Port their opener, presenting Grant Lawson with an easy chance. Shortly afterwards, though, Robertson restored parity with a header.
Dave Baikie’s side regained the lead on 24 minutes, MattAdam drilling home a low shot.
After the interval, however, Armadale, were in charge with the arrival of substitute Brown turning the game in their favour with two great finishes to plunge Port deeper inot the relegation mire.
At Central Park, Kelty Hearts and Bonnyrigg Rose had to settle for a share of the points after a 1-1 draw.
Former Bonnyrigg man Paul Shields opened the scoring for Kelty but Ian Little equalised for the visitors with 15 minutes remaining after Gary Greenhill had missed a penalty for Kelty just before the hour mark.