Trouble erupts as top teams clash
Southend go level on points
Ugly scenes of indiscipline are being probed by the Arran football league after shocking scenes saw a premature end to Monday night’s potential league decider at Sandbraes.
Tensions were running high during the clash between the top two teams and they eventually boiled over, seeing three players sent off and cutting the match short. This leaves both teams level on points as they face their final match games next week.
Southend went into this game knowing that they needed to win to keep their title hopes alive as Brodick were sitting three points ahead of their rivals with just two games to go.
From the off the Southend boys looked up for it and were creating more of the chances. Lewis Kennedy had the ball in the net but referee Stevie Crawford ruled it offside so the score remained goalless.
At the other end, Brodick nearly broke the deadlock only to prevented by a great save from Stevie Judge followed up by an off-the-line clearance from Fraser Gilbert. At the other end, it was Fraser who scored first as Southend took a 1-0 lead going into half-time.
Mark Halliday was given a yellow card after a horrible tackle on Ryan and was lucky to not receive his marching orders.
In the second half, the home team doubled their lead when Lewis Kennedy flicked a header beyond Gregor Adamson. Donnie Park then added a third to give Southend a good cushion with Brodick struggling to create anything at the other end of the pitch.
Jack Simmons went on a darting run from right back for the MBS boys and his cross ended up fooling everyone and nestling in the corner of the goal.
At 4-0 with around 15 minutes to go scenes got ugly as tempers flared. A minority of players engaged in fighting and, as a result, Southend’s new boy David and Brodick duo Mark Halliday and John Drummond were all sent packing.
After a discussion with a couple of the Brodick players, the referee came to the decision that enough was enough and that 4-0 would be the final score.
It was a sensible decision as Brodick were out of the game and it was best to leave it before any more trouble erupted.
Both teams are now level on points and, if they both win their final game of the season, then the league will come down to a playoff match. Lamlash ran Northend ragged in Lochranza on Monday night, beating them by eight goals to one.
Referee Jack McNally gave man of the match to Sean Higgins after an energetic performance in which he bagged two goals. Young Dylan Smith continued his good scoring form this season as he scored his first ever hat-trick for his team.
Brace
Ben Tattersfield also got a brace to add to his tally for the season and Jamie Sillars got the other one. Dominick Demazeux got Northend’s only goal of the evening.
Fixtures for Monday August 21 will see Brodick vs Lamlash and Shiskine vs Southend, both kick-offs at 6.30pm, with the Brodick and Southend teams desperate to attain the points advantage.