EAST CRAIGIE v BLAIRGOWRIE
Reporter: Stephen Durcan
A battle of the top two sides in the North Premier League and one (or both) of them would have to relinquish a perfect record. East Craigie with a 100% home account made up of five wins and Blairgowrie with three wins out of three on their travels. A 2-2 draw in Perthshire in August pointed to another possible tight affair on a cold and dull day in Bonnie Dundee. The Shipbuilders, getting used to a strong and settled line-up, made just one change from the previous match with James Malone replacing Andrew McDonald in the heart of defence.
It was the visitors who began the brightest with Craigie's Cameron Christie on hand to head clear from a deep corner into the area inside the opening minute. Further pressure saw home keeper Liam Dunn tested with a curling 20-yard effort from Axworthy. The hosts responded with McIlvenny running through on goal, slipping defender Simpson, before firing low into the keeper's arms. Seconds later a good cross from George Johnston found McIlvenny in space but the Craigie man nodded well wide. A perfect corner from Axworthy looked to be dropping under the crossbar but Dunn managed to flick out an arm and propel the ball to safety. Midway through the half the ever-dangerous Axworthy tried a shot which deflected off the foot of Malone and spun towards goal but Dunn rose high to claim. The unrelenting Blairgowrie pressure paid off in the 27th minute as, first Adam on the right thumped a shot against the post, then AXWORTHY drove the loose ball into the corner of the net. It was exactly what the Perthshire side deserved following a series of defence-splitting moves which left East Craigie at sixes and sevens.
A brief reply from the hosts saw Johnston shoot on goal from 20-yards but the ball was always rising and sailed over the bar. On 34 minutes the away support thought their side had scored a second but the referee chalked out Mcmanus's effort for offside though it was very marginal. It would have tested a VAR system to it's limit but turned out to be a blessing for the under-siege hosts. Respite for East Craigie as a low shot from Johnston was saved by the diving keeper before Malone rose high to head wide following a corner from Johnston. In a blistering end to end, blink and you'll miss it half, Blairgowrie's Adam found the cabbage patch in allotment no.3 with a high shot. In first half injury time Brannan took two home free kicks, the first was thumped wide and the second was stopped by O'Brien in the visiting goal.
Phew! A deserved interval for all concerned and for a match reporter with writer's cramp.
HALF-TIME: East Craigie 0 Blairgowrie 1
The half time chat on the terraces was about how clinical Blairgowrie had been and how they attacked at speed, with special mention given to the unstoppable Axworthy. Nobody then could predict what was to come. The home management duo made a tactical substitution, replacing McIlvenny with the lively Adam Brown and the result was instantaneous. He carved a channel down the right flank splitting the visiting defence wide open. A corner was forced within 5 minutes of the restart which Johnston lifted deep into the crowded box and MALONE leapt high to nod home the equaliser. Two minutes later JOHNSTON himself side-footed beyond O'Brien when in yards of space to give East Craigie a surprising lead. The Nairn cup match seven days earlier was put on repeat as the rampant hosts made it three goals in a crazy five minute spell, this time neat play from Brown and Reekie opened up space for RORY FAULKNER to slide beyond the shell-shocked keeper. 3-1 Craigie and on fire.
Another attacking move on 59 minutes saw BROWN drive across goal and wide of the far post before the super sub got on the score-sheet himself a minute later, placing well out of the reach of the despairing visiting keeper.
It proved impossible to carry on this attacking blitz at the pace it was and, with victory virtually assured for East Craigie, a lull ensued. The game came alive again on 75 minutes with Blairgowrie's Adam pulling his shot wide of the near post, before Johnston did the same at the other end moments later. The Shipbuilders made it 5-1 in the 80th minute with FINLAY BAIRD latching onto a loose ball inside the box and steering home. There was still time for Brannan to curl over from the 18-yard line and for Johnston to see a shot saved as Craigie finished with a flourish.
Absolutely speechless with the way East Craigie shot out of the stalls in the second half and credit must go to the management team for stoking up the hunger and passion and instilling confidence in their side. Adam Brown's entry proved to be the key as he exposed the weaker side of Blairgowrie's play. It was definitely a game of two halves and was scintillating to watch. Fortress Craigie Park holds it's walls intact and Blairgowrie taste defeat for the first time this season. The result leapfrogs East Craigie over their Perthshire rivals to the top of the table.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Adam Brown
EAST CRAIGIE: Dunn, Reekie, Christie, Malone, Brannan, Howett, Baird, McIlvenny, R. Faulkner, Johnston, McLeod. SUBS: Conway, Moran, Paterson, Brown, McNaughton.
BLAIRGOWRIE: O'Brien, Gray, Middleton, Beedie, Simpson, Axworthy, Brown, Plenderleith, McManus, Adam, McPherson. SUBS: Kelly, Findlay, Neave, Madoc-Jones, Pirie.
