McBookie.com North Division Scone Thistle v Kennoway Star Hearts Saturday 22nd February 2014
Scone went into yesterday's match on the back of five straight wins with only the weather preventing more matches being played over the last 10 weeks since they last suffered defeat. That was to yesterday's visitors, Kennoway Star Hearts, this season's surprise package in the McBookie.com League North Division.
There was only one change to the side that had faced Luncarty in Scone's last match three weeks ago with Captain Willie Laing coming back into the side, Derek Keir dropping to the bench.
Kennoway took the game to Scone in the early stages and took the lead after only five minutes when Field took a shot from the edge of the Scone penalty area which Curtis could only parry and Boylan who had been standing goalside of the Scone defence was able to tap the ball home from a couple of feet out. The goal was offside but when the referee has no assistants these things happen in games at our level (indeed Scone themselves have benefited from such decisions in the past). It was though a sign of the bad luck that was to face the Jags during the match.
Two minutes later and Curtis made the first of a number of top class saves during the game when Craig cut inside Lafferty on the right before curling a great shot towards the top corner of the Scone goal. The Jags number one reached up and touched the ball over the bar for a corner.
With 10 minutes gone it looked like it was all square when Ayton got on the end of a diagonal pass from the right wing and managed to slot the ball home from nine yards out, unfortunately the referee had already blown his whistle to signal an offside decision.
The game was now in the balance with Scone slowly managing to get the better of the play without creating any clear chances, that was until the 29th minutes of play. The ball was played up the left wing to Ross Mitchell who worked his way to the edge of the Kennoway penalty area before crossing into the centre where Ayton dummied the ball to Robertson at the back post, his shot being blocked for a corner. The corner was swung into the area from the right by Brown and met at the back post by Ayton, who saw his shot go past the post.
There was another chance for Scone four minutes later when Brown headed on a forward ball to Ayton who collided with a defender, the ball breaking to Ross Mitchell who fired the ball over the bar.
Star Hearts were being pinned back into their own half but managed a rare breakout after 35 minutes and should have doubled their lead. The ball was crossed into the box from the left by Byers and Brown headed the ball goalwards from close range only to see Curtis make a clean catch of the ball. A minute later and Ross Mitchell again managed to get a long range effort goalwards but it was an easy one for Kennoway keeper Watson to hold.
Scone were to regret not converting this period of play into goals after 39 minutes when they were the architects of their own misfortune conceding a stone wall penalty. Good play down the Kennoway left between Lornie and Gray saw the former break to the byline and be pulled to the ground by Robertson just as the KSH player tried to cross the ball. From the resultant spot kick Byers made no mistake.
To add to a day to forget for big Callum he was taken off injured after 45 minutes and replaced by Kyle Ballingall for his first game since November.
As the half drew to a close Scone saw possibly their best chance of the half to get back into the game. Firstly Kyle Ballingall saw a long range effort deflected past for a corner, then from the resultant corner the ball was only partially cleared to Lafferty who hit a fantastic shot from outside the box which had top corner written all over it until Watson pulled off an even better save to block the ball, Hynd got on the end of the rebound to send a shot goalwards which was blocked by a defender and the ball was cleared.
So at halftime Scone could think themselves unlucky to be two goals down with the footballing gods almost certainly against them, however in the second half there was no doubt that they were playing catch up to a very good side as Kennoway went on to dominate the half extending their lead after 61 minutes with a real contender for goal of the season.
Byers took the ball into the edge of the penalty area on the Kennoway right before a cheeky back heel laid the ball off to Craig who stepped forward and hit a great shot curling into the top left hand corner from fully seventeen yards out. For the second time this season Craig had managed a cracking goal against the Jags.
Curtis was keeping Scone in the game with great saves from Boylan, Byers, Craig and Lornie and it wasn't until the 78th minute that Scone saw their first real chance of the half when Scott Ballingall moved forward from the right hand touchline into the middle of the Kennoway half and from the centre of the pitch released Michie on the left, he in turn took the ball into the left hand side of the Kennoway penalty area and squared the ball into the middle where it took a slight deflection off a defender which meant the on rushing John Mitchell couldn't make a clean contact and the ball spun past the post for a goal kick.
The game was pettering out but there was just time for two final moments of note and both showed the quality of the respective teams goalkeepers. Firstly Scone had a chance to pull a goal back after 88 minutes when Hynd took a quick free kick on the left to Kyle Ballingall, he managed to beat a couple of defenders before firing a dipping shot towards the top corner of the Kennoway goal and Watson pulled off a great one handed save to keep his clean sheet intact.
Then four minutes into added time it was the turn of Curtis to show that he too is a fantastic goalie when Kennoway were awarded a free kick about 25 yards from goal on the left of centre. Byers took a great kick which was sailing into the goal before Matty managed to twist in midair and push the ball over the bar.
That was it for the action and whilst Scone can look back at perhaps not getting the breaks in key moments in the first half there was no doubt that Kennoway were good for their win and Scone's unbeaten run came to an end.
Perhaps the more superstitious would point to the fact that the last time Scone lost a match it was to Kennoway Star Hearts, it was by three goals to nil, Liam Craig scored a cracker and it didn't rain during the 90 minutes all of which were the case yesterday. Hopefully the omens are good for the Jags and another unbeaten run awaits, with only nine matches left to play that would certainly secure a top half finish.
Scone Thistle: Matt Curtis, Scott Balligall, Scott Lafferty, Willie Laing, Gav McLeod, Callum Robertson (Kyle Ballingall 45 mins), Craig Mitchell, Kenny Hynd, Jamie Ayton (John Mitchell 71 mins), Ross Mitchell and Jordan Brown (Graham Michie 67min).
Unused subs: Derek Angus and Derek Keir
