BURNIE BITTEN
Burgh just too hot for battling United side
Blackburn United suffered their first defeat in two months as they couldn’t inflict a first league defeat of the season on Musselburgh Athletic.
United travelled east for their first league visit to Olivebank in 16 years and had to make do without inspirational pair Craig Young and Brian Ross.
That, perhaps, contributed to a rather sluggish start by the visitors with promotion favourites Musselburgh bossing the early stages despite not creating anything in the way of chances.
Indeed, it was United who carved out the first genuine opportunity to break the deadlock but Richie Hutton’s cutback was cleared by the defence when trying to test the goalkeeper would probably have been the better option.
However, Musselburgh’s early monopoly of the ball did eventually end in the afternoon’s opening goal.
Former United man Jed Davie’s cross failed to be cleared with Conor Thomson on hand to bundle an effort over the line.
The hosts continued to dominate possession but do little with it as a couple of long-range efforts failed to test Kyle Marley.
At the other end, United’s Callum Rarity was desperately unlucky to see his header cannon off the bar after getting on the end of Danny Campbell’s enticing corner-kick, while his cross just before the break would be just out of reach of unmarked duo Andy McQuillan and Hutton.
Athletic, who have dropped just two points this term, resumed after the break on the attack and a fine defensive stop from Ewan Herriot cleared early danger.
Hoping to get back into the game, McQuillan went close with an angled drive after a clever quick free- kick from Fraser Spence presented the
striker with half a chance. With Blackburn now enjoying much more possession and territory, it was perhaps somewhat against the run of play when Athletic doubled their lead just after the hour mark.
Again, it came from a poor clearance which dropped kindly for Thomson to squeeze an effort through a crowded penalty box and past the unsighted Marley in Blackburn’s goal.
Mark Campbell’s men would cut the deficit in half seven minutes later and drag themselves back into the contest when substitute Aaron Gowans and Herriot combined for the full-back to try and flash the ball across the face of goal although he was unceremoniously sent sprawling before he could do so with the referee pointing to the spot.
From the resultant penalty, McQuillan calmly netted to give his side some hope of getting something from the game.
With little more than quarter of an hour remaining, Athletic nearly found a way past Marley again but Thomson couldn’t bag a third as his side-footed effort went wide.
Athletic then became content with seeing the remainder of the game out and went about it in a professional manner although Mathu King somehow failed to net a third for Athletic from close range.
A defeat for United but nonetheless a spirited performance that once again suggests they have adapted brilliantly to life in the Premier League in their maiden campaign and will be safe of any relegation worries.
They will be hoping they can get back to winning ways this weekend when they host Glenrothes.