INSIDEI TODAY
Pumphy are back on the winning track
Pumpherston showed that last week’s defeat was merely a blip as they got their Premier League South title charge firmly back on track with a comfortable victory over West Lothian counterparts Stoneyburn.
This was always likely to be a tough day at the office for The Fulshie, and that certainly proved to be the case as it took Pumphy just 12 minutes to get on the scoresheet when central defender Darren Carroll headed in a corner from the right beyond Allan Ross in the Stoneyburn goal.
Pumpherston’s pressure on the away side’s defence was relentless, with Fulshie barely getting the opportunity to foray out of their own half.
Ally McRitchie, usually so clinical in front of goal, passed up a glorious chance inside the six yard box when it looked easier score. However a couple of minutes later he atoned for his error with a defence-splitting, slide rule pass that cut through the heart of Fulshie’s defence.
Mark Wilkins was on the end of it and he coolly rounded the keeper before slotting home into the empty net to double Pumphy’s advantage.
As the half wore on, Stoneyburn eventually began to get a foothold in the match, and only a great save from Pumphy keeper Connor Shaw kept out Cameron Donaldson’s spectacular 30 yard strike. The keeper was at full stretch diving to his right to parry the ball wide for a corner. Sadly for Fulshie, the resultant corner was punched away by Shaw as they went into the break two goals behind.
The second half continued in the same vein with Pumphy showing their near neighbours no mercy.
Just two minutes in to the half, Jack Beaumont shot directly from a free-kick
from 25 yards out and despite keeper Ross’ valiant efforts to keep the ball at bay, he could only tip it on to the inside of the post and into the net to put Pumpherston on easy street with a three goal cushion.
Pumphy were now in cruise control and nine minutes later it was four. The ball was crossed in from the left, and with Stoneyburn’s defence all at sea, midfielder Barry Nicholson found himself with the ball at his feet 10 yards in front of goal and he smashed it home.
The fifth goal came shortly after when McRitchie, Pumphy’s top scorer, finally got his customary strike as he netted from inside the six yard box.
Stoneyburn were no match for their opponents - who have won all but one game this term - and looked a dejected side.
It came as no surprise when, on the 68th minute, Pumpherston again added to their total. This time it was through a delightful ball over the top of Wilkins’ right shoulder, which he hit first time to make it a brace for himself.
With still more than 20 minutes left on the clock, Stoneyburn would have been fearing a real hammering, but they managed to shore things up at the back for the remainder of the match, and would have been glad to at least get on the scoresheet.
This they managed with just five minutes left when Stephen McLay took a run down the left wing and his shot slid underneath Shaw and into the net.
It was merely a consolation, but at least a positive to take, on an otherwise challenging day for The Fulshie.
The two sides do it all again this weekend at Beechwood Park in the League Cup.