Coupar Angus v Scone Thistle

Scone travelled to Coupar Angus looking to get back to winning ways after two narrow defeats in their last two games and did so in style with a comfortable win against the McBookie.com North Division’s bottom side. The teams had been scheduled to meet on three previous occasions with the winter’s wet weather making sure that this didn’t happen, however today the match kicked off with blue skies over Strathmore, albeit with a strong wind.

Scone were to take a grip of the game very early and had their first chance after only 1 minute had been played.  Good play up the right hand wing between Scott Ballingall and Callum Robertson allowed Robertson to play a good cross across the Coupar Angus goalmouth which Doig was just unable to reach.

Five minutes later and Scone notched up the first of 9 shots on goal of the game. A Hynd corner from the right was headed back into the middle by Dudek and Doig’s header was well held by Gorton in the Coupar goal.

The Jaggies were to go into the lead after 17 minutes after being awarded a free kick on the edge of the Coupar Angus penalty area after Scott Ballingall was tripped.  Ross Mitchell stepped up and placed a fantastically well weighted chip over the wall and into the back of the net.

For the past couple of week’s the honesty of the Scone players in not seeking penalties when fouled in the box, instead trying to stay on their feet and play on has been mentioned in reports.  It’s great to see that honesty though frustrating for the supporters and again after 28 minutes today Ross Mitchell showed that honesty when put through on goal by a Doig flick on from a Laing free kick.  The big centre forward was clearly being pulled back as he dribbled into the box but stayed upright and tried to get his shot away which went over the bar. On this occasion, given Mitchell was falling backwards from the foul when shooting there was perhaps a case for the referee to award the penalty anyway but it was not to be.

Five minutes before half time Gorton made a great save to keep Coupar Angus in the match when a MacLeod free kick from the half way line into the penalty area was taken first time on the volley by Doig.  Mitchell grabbed the rebound but was crowded out before being able to shoot.

Three minutes later and the Jaggies gave up another chance to double their lead when first Doig and then Lafferty took fresh air swipes at a Ross Mitchell cross from the right, the ball eventually breaking to Ballingall who hit the ball from the edge of the area just past the post.

A moment later and Scone went close again when a Lafferty throw in on the left was crossed by Robertson into the centre and Dudek’s shot was just over the bar. Scott Ballingall has been having a good weekend so far with being part of the winning quiz team in Friday night’s Scone Thistle FC quiz along with winning prizes in the raffle and Bally completed the hat-trick of enjoyable moments after 47 minutes when he scored his second goal of the season.   A Lafferty thrown in on the left was taken to Ross Mitchell who worked his way to the left hand side of the penalty area before crossing to the centre where a defender managed to knock the ball goalwards, Gorton made the block but the ball broke for Ballingall to pounce and smash the ball into the net from 10 yards out.

Five minutes later and Coupar Angus had their best chance to score of the game when a long ball was played over the top to Marc Mackie who may have been a shade offside when heading it goalwards but Matt Curtis made a great block and the ball was cleared.

After 62 minutes Scone extended their lead from the penalty spot after good play from Dudek in midfield allowed the Jaggies veteran to play the ball up to Ross Mitchell who in turn slipped a great pass through to Robertson and get behind the defence.  The Jaggies man had only the keeper to beat when Evans clattered into him.  The referee awarded the spot kick and the Coupar Angus man can perhaps be relieved to have only seen yellow rather than red for his challenge. Doig made no mistake with the penalty for his third goal for his new club.

Scone made it 4-0 after 72 minutes after Lafferty won the ball in midfield and fed it out to Ballingall on the right wing, he cut inside a defender before laying it into the centre to Ross Mitchell who took it past a defender then the keeper before rolling it into the empty net from 10 yards out.

After wowing the crowd with a great bit of skill Mitchy then amazed the watching public with a superb bit of “daft laddie-ness” seconds later when after attacking straight from the kick off Doig managed to hit a long range effort which went just off target.  The ball went past the post and hit the net support at the top of the post before bouncing back into the pitch.  When a defender picked the ball up Ross’s shouts of ‘hand ball’ at least gave even the Coupar fans something to smile about, the Scone man appearing to be the only person at Foxhall Park who hadn’t seen the ball go out of play!

As a club Scone Thistle are fortunate to be supported by some great sponsors but it appears that they not only help with support both in kind and financial but that their products can boost the performance of the players.  This was seen after 78 minutes when sub Derek Angus almost managed a very rare goal after Kyle Ballingall won the ball in midfield before passing to the left to Ross Mitchell, he in turn then managed to cross to the far post where the in rushing Angus showing the pace of his new car from Marques of Scone managed to race into the penalty area and get a great shot on goal, only being bettered by the save from Gorton.  The ball was won again by Kyle Ballingall who was fouled on the right of the Coupar area. Brown made a great delivery from the free kick which forced the Coupar defence into a panicked clearance that only went as far as Lafferty who for the second match in a row saw a powerful shot from the edge of the box crash off the crossbar, going out for a goal kick.

With five minutes to go Scone wrapped up the scoring and it was Richard Doig making it four goals in four games.  A kick out from Gorton was met on the halfway line by Angus with a powerful header that carried up to Doig who turned inside his marker before hitting a low shot past Gorton into the net.

A comfortable win for the Jaggies and one which sets the team up nicely for next weekend’s trip to Thornton Hibs.