Last gasp leveller is stunner for‘Burn
BANNOCKBURN ................................... 2 WISHAW HSFP ...................................... 2
Bannockburn ended this rain-soaked game feeling like they had lost as they dropped two league points against a powerful and stoic Wishaw side.
An injury time equaliser for the visitors gave them an early Christmas present of a point in Burn’s last league game of 2019.
Early half chances went to Declan Wood and Dom McGrandles while
Gary Currie too had a good chance after lead up play involving Harry Bruce, McGrandles and Darren Walker.
Wishaw however opened the scoring on the break following a period of decent Burn pressure.
From the restart Burn threatened but a carbon copy breakaway saw the visitors almost double their lead’ fortunately the shot came off the post into the hands of goalkeeper Adam Young.
Keeping up the pressure, McGrandles put a straightforward opportunity over the bar then the referee waived away a strong penalty appeal after the defender brought down Wood in the box.
Soon after the restart a David O’Brien free kick hit the bar and Ryan Miller replaced Wood in an attempt to change Burn’s attacking fortunes.
A goal finally came and it was defender Kenny Feaks who levelled things with a header.
Chris Ogilvie came on for Currie and soon after, Miller, Ogilvie and O’Brien had shots in the same move all of which were blocked. Soon after, a lightning break concluded with Ogilvie blasting over the bar.
But with 10 minutes to go an O’Brien cross found Walker who headed home, a goal which looked to have sealed the points.
Burn went chasing a third when, in hindsight, the team could have opted for better game management and the spectre of a visitors’equaliser came to pass in injury time.
The draw leaves Bannockburn inm third spot in Central Scottish AFL Premier Division behind Eastfield and St Patrick’s FP.
Thanks to Hi Fi Corner for their support to the amateurs. Thanks too, go to Caroline Knox for organising a highly successful fundraising raffle. The top prize went to Kenny Shaw.
Bridge of Allan Sports Club squash starlet Lucy Murchie is already developing 2020 vision as she looks forward to the New Year.
The 16 year-old Scotland under-17 champion finished an impressive sixth place in the Scottish Ladies championship earlier this year while also turning out for her country at both under-17 and under-19 level in the European Championships.
Now after consolidating her progress with a string of standout performances for both the Bridge of Allan ladies and men’s teams, Lucy is looking to bring the New Year in with a bang.
She said: “In 2020 I hope to be chosen to represent Scotland at the European Junior Team Championships at under 17 and under 19 level. I made both teams in 2019 in Prague and Eindhoven which was a big thing for me and in terms of the level of experience I gained it was massive.
“But having that experience behind me has only made me even more determined to improve on my performances from last time around.
“I’m also playing in the Edinburgh Open in January which I’m looking forward to. So, 2020 is already looking like a really big year and hopefully all the hard work I have done with my coach Jane Martin will pay off.”
For her part, coach Jane, the former world No.8, is confident 2020 can be a breakthrough year for her charge.
“Lucy is a great athlete who also reads the game very well, has great touch on the ball and has a fantastic all round game,” said Jane.
“For the New Year we are trying to get Lucy to be that bit more ruthless. If we can add that layer I believe she has the potential to become a world class player.”
Lucy’s impressive mobility and deft touch have regularly seen her star at the top of the order for the BofA ladies team who are running away with the East of Scotland Ladies’ Division 1 and she is in no doubt how important her regular outings in a Bridge of Allan shirt are to her improvement.
The Scotland under-17 No.1 said: “Playing for the ladies’ team has been great and I’ve been getting really good matches.
“Last year we narrowly lost out on the title but this year we’re sitting at the top of the league and in a very good position to win it.
“It would be massive for the club if we could win our first East of Scotland League title and we have so much depth in the ladies’ squad that there is no reason we can’t achieve that.”
Lucy, who is hoping to study physiotherapy at university after completing her sixth year at Dunblane High, is grateful for all the help and support she has received in her squash career.
“I have been working with Jane for roughly the last two years and we get on well which makes training fun but she also makes sure that I put in the hard work.
“Obviously we have been trying to develop my game and I have been working on trying to be more attacking during my matches.
“There are so many people I am grateful to like my parents, Jane, Susan Stewart from Crieff Squash Club and my sponsor Andrew MacBean of Eye. Hopefully I can repay them all by making 2020 my best year yet.”
Meanwhile the club’s fourth team, sponsored by The Birds and The Bees, cemented their place in fourth spot in the Crieff and District Division 1 with a fine 3-2 defeat of Perth last week.
Special mention must be made of youngster Rowan Niven who recorded a 3-0 victory at a career high position of No.2.
They bring down the curtain on the first half of the season with a visit from second-placed Dunblane 1 to Minewood tomorrow (Thursday).