Parkview for Palpitations !

Top against bottom in this Premier League clash as Fauldhouse were aiming to get back on track after a couple of poor results recently. The early stages saw both sides trying to find their feet in the windy conditions with not a lot of football being played. First to show after nine minutes were Pumphy when Kevin Ross went into a tackle wide left and came off second best, the ball broke inside to centre forward Shave and he looked up then curled an unstoppable shot past Murphy for an unexpected 1-0 lead. Gary Shanks tried an immediate response but his shot went wide. As United were trying to get back in the game Pumphy struck again, number eight Forret went unchallenged through the middle of our defence and he finished it off with a well taken goal firing past Murphy....2-0 twenty three minutes on the clock. Shortly after Shaun Martin sped down the right wing and put in a tempting cross for brother Kenny Martin to side volley it past Hunter to get us back in the game right away... 2-1. Heading towards the half hour mark another long ball through the middle saw Andy Murphy rush out his box only to miss kick and it fell to Forret to stroke home with the goal gaping making it 3-1 to the visitors. After getting over the initial shock of the first half hour we livened up, Shaun down the right out muscled the Pumpherston defence and shot for Hunter in goal to block but Gary Shanks was on hand to knock in the rebound for 3-2. Five minutes from the interval Shanksy got the equaliser, he pounced on the edge of the 18 yard box and bent in a great shot to make it 3-3. Our tails were up now and it was no surprise when Clark Campbell put us in front for the first time in the match, he ran towards goal and once inside the 18yd box calmly smashed the ball passed Hunter. Half time Fauldhouse United 4 Pumpherston Jnrs 3.

Second half saw United carry on where they had left off in the first forty five, Shanksy flew down the wing and picked out Michael McCormack on the penalty spot and he made no mistake, 5-3 and no way back for Pumphy now. Fauldhouse were well in control of the game now controlling the midfield and pacey forwards Shaun and Kenny Martin along with Gary Shanks were giving the visitors defence no end of problems. Next goal for United saw Shaun Martin head flick on for Gary Shanks and he needed no invitation to round the goalie to slot home... 6-3 and another hat-trick for the maestro. On the hour mark it was seven up as yet another assist from Gary Shanks picked out Kenny Martin who made no mistake getting his second...7-3. The Pumphy defence were out on their feet and going into the last ten minutes Michael McCormack tapped in to make it 8-3. It could have been more with some good chances being missed but it finished, Fauldhouse United 8 Pumpherston Jnrs 3.

After a shaky first twenty five minutes we sorted things out and never looked back, but credit to the Pumphy lads who gave it their best shot and gave us a real fright early doors.

Fauldhouse United: Murphy, Scott, S.Martin, Ross, Gallagher, Campbell, Shanks, Fallon, K.Martin, McCormack, Deans.- subs: Peace (gk), Smith, Wardlaw, L.Brown.

Pumpherston Jnrs: Hunter, Coulter, A.Campell, Mannifield, Adam, Martin, Benson, Forret, Shave, Downie, McCloud.-subs: McQuillan, McMath, Stewart, Scott.

                                               "The Parkview"