East Craigie v Blairgowrie (reporter Stephen Durcan, East Craigie)

Another mouthwatering prospect lay in wait at Craigie Park as the top two sides in the East Region Premier Division (North) went head to head. With both clubs suffering a dearth of competitive football in recent weeks it was nice to get back to league action for the first time in a month. East Craigie, with 11 wins out of 11 on home soil were up against a Blairgowrie side with 8 victories on the road. The result of this fixture could have a massive bearing on the destination of the league championship with just two points between them prior to kick off. The Shipbuilders would have to make do without top scorer George Johnston who limped off a week earlier during the impressive victory over local rivals Tayport in a cup match. 

 The hosts shot out with Conan Howett driving narrowly wide with the keeper being forced to dive to his left in the opening minute. On 8 minutes they went ahead....Ross Mcnaughton, by the corner flag, slipped a dummy ball to Adam Brown whose shot was cleverly backheeled at close range by RORY FAULKNER and beyond the keeper. Mcnaughton then curled a corner kick into the box and Sean Reekie's header was blocked by O'Brien in the Blairgowrie goal. The visiting side, enjoying a brief respite, attacked for the first time but with Axworthy's cross floating to the far post keeper Liam Dunn rushed out to claim ahead of the waiting Neave. 

A touch of the farcical happened in the 12th minute but it gifted a second goal to East Craigie. REEKIE played a ball in, and when it eluded everyone, it was left to the keeper to make a routine save or clearance but instead he completely fluffed his lines and allowed the ball to trickle past him into the net, though maybe the ball did bobble a bit on the tricky surface. This was the belated Christmas present from Perthshire complete with fancy gift wrap and bow tied. These things do happen and to the best of goalkeepers. 

 We all needed a breather after the early flurry of activity and my writing pen was put into recharge mode as the game became one long midfield slog. It took until the 35th minute for the next effort on goal with Mcnaughton's corner kick landing between the keeper and striker Faulkner but the former managed to redeem himself albeit with a fumbled clearance. A confrontation followed which saw Beedie for Blairgowrie and Scott Brannan for the hosts both receiving cautions. On 38 minutes Faulkner raced down the left flank and played the ball into Mcnaughton but the Craigie number ten couldn't control both the ball and his balance and his weak shot rolled wide. 

 Faulkner tried a shot which O'Brien held firm before an incident in the last minute of the half brought immense drama. Beedie, 30 yards out, was sent sprawling to the ground in agony following a late challenge from Fraser MacLeod. It was a tad late, not in the slightest malicious but poor Beedie was going nowhere. After receiving medical attention and with the injury to his knee being serious the referee ended the half early while an ambulance was called. I must mention here that on behalf of East Craigie FC we all wish the player a speedy recovery. 

 After a 40 minute delay the final couple of minutes of the half were played out without further incident. 

 HALF-TIME: East Craigie 2 Blairgowrie 0 

 An immediate turnaround and the second period was on it's way. Within minutes McManus was booked for a silly challenge on Craigie's Andrew McDonald. On 50 minutes Faulkner weaved his way through the visiting defence, tried to chip the keeper but lifted too high and over the bar. Minutes later Blair substitute Brown knocked a bottle out of the hand of a spectator behind the goal with a wayward shot and with no consideration for the price of beer these days.

 Middleton played a free kick into the home box but the pace of the ball beat all of the inrushing attackers and flashed wide. Another needless booking followed with Blairgowrie's McPherson fouling Finlay Baird in an off the ball incident. Faulkner saw a shot blocked at the near post after good work from Mcnaughton as the hosts began to assert control once again. 70 minutes brought a defence splitting ball from Howett which was picked up by Faulkner and instead of trying a pop on goal he played the ball back for Brown to strike narrowly wide. This was a purple patch for the impressive BROWN as, first he tried a shot which the keeper stopped with his feet, before he superbly beat O'Brien with a sublime overhead kick to put the hosts 3-0 up and out of reach. 

 McManus tried a shot on 83 minutes which richocheted clear of goal before yet another Blairgowrie player was booked, this time it was defender Gray who incurred the wrath of the referee for a blatant foul on Baird. Three minutes from time a tremendous strike from Adam for Blairgowrie was too hot to handle for home keeper Dunn but he still managed to take the sting out of it to ensure a clean sheet. 

 A fantastic all-round display by East Craigie takes them 5 points clear with two games in hand and with 9 games left to play. 

 FINAL SCORE: East Craigie 3 Blairgowrie 0 

 MAN OF THE MATCH: Adam Brown 

 EAST CRAIGIE: Dunn, Reekie, Paterson, McDonald, Brannan, Baird, Brown (Garrick 87), Howett, Faulkner (Conway 82), Mcnaughton (Christie 79), MacLeod. 

 BLAIRGOWRIE: O'Brien, Gray, Middleton, Beedie (Brown 45), Simpson, McPherson, Axworthy (Kelly 72), Plenderleith, McManus, Neave (Mitchell 81), Adam.