Passions run high as derby rivals draw
Whitburn battled back from two goals down to keep their title hopes alive – but Armadale Thistle boss Derek Strickland admits the derby draw ends their promotion dream.
A bumper crowd of 605 was announced at Volunteer Park as the two East of Scotland Conference X promotion-chasing neighbours produced a riveting afternoon of football.
Goals from Thomas Murphy and Stuart McLeod gave Thistle a 2-0 lead before Whitburn hit back through a Darren Liddell double.
In a game lacking in true clearcut chances but not in action, the opening exchanges took place more in midfield than at the top end of the park.
Whitburn had the first real chance as Reece Duncan teed up Louis Maguire despite getting the ball caught under his feet but the effort didn’t find the net.
Thistle’s industrious harrying gave the Burnie players little time on the ball and often forced Whitburn into rushed decision-making.
Thistle capitalised with 13 minutes on the clock. J.J. Henderson’s floated free-kick wasn’t dealt with properly and Murphy produced a sublime effort with the outside of his left foot to give Armadale the lead.
Thistle controlled much of the ensuing play without really threatening to double their lead in a true blood and guts derby tie.
The at times tempestuous affair kept referee Michael Walsh busy, no more so than on 30 minutes when McLeod’s robust tackle on Maguire resulted in consternation from both sides and a flurry of yellow cards.
Liddell passed up a great opportunity to equalise just before the break when he missed the target when one-on-one with Connor Shaw.
Thistle extended their lead early in the second half as Murphy’s lovely through ball found McLeod who raced through under pressure from Mick McGarahan before finding the bottom corner.
It looked like Armadale were home and hosed with Whitburn being restricted to few chances as the game entered its final 20 minutes. However, a three minute flurry would turn the game on its head.
Burnie keeper Daniel Potts’ long free-kick bypassed the Thistle defence and allowed Liddell to glance a header towards goal with Shaw getting an outstretched hand to the effort but unable to deny the goal.
Then, with 75 minutes on the clock, Duncan found Liddell and he made no mistake as he burst beyond the defence and slid the ball past Shaw.
Duncan could have sealed the victory for Whitburn deep in stoppage time.
He did well to get to the edge of the six yard box but might have chosen to cross rather than shoot with Liddell waiting at the back post as the sides were forced to settle for a draw.
Thistle boss Strickland said: “I think we needed to win. I think we’re out of the promotion race.
“The boys have done great and it would be a shame if it just petered out but probably we’ve just fell short a wee bit.
“I thought it was a right good local derby, tackles flying in, referee missing things.
“It was a typical derby with two teams that are up there challenging for things and overall a draw was probably fair.”
His Whitburn counterpart Darren Wilson admitted his team didn’t start well enough but praised their fighting spirit.
He said: “I thought we were nervous. We didn’t really play our own style, we didn’t pass the ball as well as we usually do.
“I spoke to the boys at half-time. One of the things we do is we never give in so we’ve always got the courage and the attitude to know we’re never out of the game.”