AmAteur FootbAll

GAME OF THE DAY GOALLESS The two main contenders for the Premier League title, St James and Douglas Athletic, provided the focal point of Saturday’s fixtures, but disappointingly the high-scoring pair were unable to produce a goal between them, writes our Amateur correspondent.

During the 90 minutes, the sides were very competitive and there were chances at both ends but neither could conjure up a winning strike.

While the result was better for Douglas than the Saints, other clubs still in with an outside chance of the title will believe they are the main beneficiaries.

Apart from the big game only five other senior matches survived the weather.

Both Merpro and Morgan FP bagged nap hands as they won their outings, with the former finding life easier than the FPs who stuttered before they collected their reward.

Merpro’s five came from Daryl McDougall’s hat-trick and singles from Dan Mallie and Euan Duff in their 5-0 defeat of Invergowrie. It seems the village side are almost certain to be playing Division 1 football next season.

As for the former pupils, they opened with a couple of early goals against Barnhill through Jason Alexander and Danny Deacon.

Then, despite their pressure, they let Hill back into the game with a wind-assisted own goal.

But Alexander found the net again before David Salisbury and Stuart Brankin squared it at 3-3 just before half-time.

With the wind at their backs Hill remained on the front foot for the next 20 minutes until the game swung in the FPs’ favour when they moved into a 5-3 lead with Alexander netting his third and fourth goals. A 90th-minute Salisbury strike moved the scoreline to 5-4 and made the four minutes added on time an anxious period for the Morgan line. In the two Bremner Cup ties played, berths in the next round went to Broughty United and Carnoustie Panmure YM. Despite it being 1-1 at half-time, United grabbed four second-half goals to beat Tayside Fire Brigade 5-1. Liam Barrie, Ross Pengelley, Callum Faulkener, Mark McGuire and Brian Craik, his first goal for the club, were their marksmen.

At Carnoustie, Division 1 leaders Montrose AFC put up another good performance against a Premier side, losing out by a mere 2-1 margin to the Gowfers in their tie. Graeme McLeish and Michael Fotheringham got the goals that mattered.

In the only Division 1 match played, AHSFP dropped two precious points against Forfar West End in a 2-2 draw. Rhys Richardson and Richie Fenwick got the High’s goals but they really needed the win to keep alive their hopes of a second place promotion spot. West End are now well out of the reckoning.