Rivals share points in a draw to forget
It was honours even at Recreation Park as Pumpherston and Fauldhouse United played out a dull scoreless draw.
The two sides cancelled each other out in a clash that featured very little in terms of goalmouth action.
Daniel Strickland for the hosts came the closest to breaking the deadlock in the dying embers but fired wide after beating the offside trap.
The draw was enough to lift Pumphy off the foot of the East of Scotland Conference X table, while Colin Hendry’s Hoose sit two points and three places better off than their hosts.
It was Pumphy who initiated the first real action of the day when Campbell Anthony picked up the ball from Steven Fleming and laid it into the path of Jordan Rodger, but the full-back shot wide.
There were then appeals for a penalty when Strickland was clipped by United keeper Daniel Tobin – but he stayed on his feet and the ref waved play on.
Fauldhouse’s first effort arrived when Ross MacNeil’s audacious overhead kick from a Conor Scullion cross was parried by keeper Jamie Bowman with Lee Marshall blasting the rebound over the bar.
The second half began in much the same fashion with both teams being unable to put together any fluent attacking moves that put either keeper under pressure.
The home side were dealt a blow when Anthony came out worse off from his own challenge – with a yellow card adding insult to injury as he was forced to hobble off.
MacNeil once again stepped up for the visitors when his run into the box saw his attempt parried out for a corner-kick.
The resulting set-piece saw Fauldhouse defender Reece Lowdon rise highest, only for his powerful header to nestle safely into Bowman’s hands.
As the game petered out into the goalless stalemate that had threatened to occur for most of the 90 minutes, Strickland missed the game’s only golden chance in stoppage-time.
He beat the Fauldhouse offside trap only for his shot to go inches past the post, much to Tobin’s relief.
Both sides will be hoping for much improved performances this weekend but face tricky contests.
Pumphy travel to promotionchasing Whitburn, while United make the trek north to face East of Scotland Premier Division outfit Dundonald Bluebell in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup.