EAST CRAIGIE v LOCHEE HARP

Reporter:Stephen Durcan

Harp arrived at Craigie Park with the odds stacked firmly against them following a 7-1 defeat at the same venue on the opening day of the league campaign. Buoyant East Craigie, unbeaten this season and in free-scoring mode, faced a Lochee side on a run of three straight defeats which had seen them slump to 2nd bottom of the McBookie East Region Premier Division (North). In the last game of the Summer, atop the Craigie hill, the hosts made one change from the starting XI which beat Forfar Albion 3-0 a week earlier with Euan McIlvenny replacing Adam Brown.

East Craigie started brightly with a low shot from defender Sean Reekie drifting wide from 20 yards out. Minutes later another home attack saw McIlvenny find space following a ball from Finlay Baird but his shot was pushed away by the keeper for a corner. Reekie then fed Jordan Conway in yards of space but his firm effort was superbly blocked on the goal-line by Jonathon Smart with the keeper beaten. Harp's Nathan Degernier impressed with a Strictly Come Dancing performance when under siege in defence. He simply skated and pirouetted his way around a number of players to eventually clear.
The home pressure paid off in the 12th minute when McIlvenny's ball across goal was tapped in by FRASER MCLEOD at the far post. Midway through the half McLeod latched onto a long through ball, beat the out-rushing keeper, but watched agonisingly as his shot trickled wide of the near post. On the half hour the visitors pressed with a ball from Harris finding Scott 12 yards from goal but his shot was parried by the leaping keeper. Harp pushed again with a cross-cum-shot from McVicar looping high then floating like a parachute the wrong side of the crossbar. More pressure from Lochee saw McBrearty, wide on the left, lift a ball over the bar following a neat pass from McCabe. The away side ended the half well with a long ball out of defence finding McBrearty but his pass to Scott was blocked on the line by keeper Liam Dunn.

HALF-TIME: East Craigie 1 Lochee Harp 0

Craigie opened the 2nd half as they did the 1st, on the attack. George Johnston, up until now quiet, rifling over on 47 minutes. The hosts were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out and left of centre which Andrew McDonald played short to Scott Peter Brannan but his low shot was easily claimed by Brown in goal. Lochee Harp enjoyed a good spell of determined and resilient play  which had Craigie chasing shadows for a while.

On 67 minutes Harp's McVicar was booked for a late challenge on McLeod. Minutes later the latter battled his way through the Harp defence before seeing his shot saved. In the 35th minute a neat run on goal by substitute Conan Howett saw his thumping drive well blocked by the Lochee keeper. Brown then held Andrew McDonald's speculative effort seconds later. A home attacking move saw Johnston, McNaughton and McLeod team up nicely but the latter's shot was stopped by the keeper's timely foot. Two minutes from time a 20-yard drive from striker Johnston whistled high and wide over the Harp crossbar. There was injury time drama as the eager Rory Faulkner chased a through ball and Brown came dashing out of his box to clear but the ball caught him on the arm. A little harsh maybe but the referee pulled out a red card, dismissed the keeper, and awarded a free kick. Smart took the gloves and watched with relief as Johnston's shot sailed over.

FINAL SCORE: East Craigie 1 Lochee Harp 0

East Craigie maintain their 100% home record but this was their biggest test to date. Based on chances it was a deserved victory but great credit to Lochee Harp for a battling display which came close to upsetting the Craigie applecart.

Reporter's man of the match: Andrew McDonald

EAST CRAIGIE: Dunn, Reekie, Christie, McDonald, Brannan, Baird, McIlvenny, Conway, R. Faulkner, Johnston, McLeod. Subs: Howett, Paterson, McNaughton, Moran, Malone.

LOCHEE HARP: Brown, McVicar, McCabe, Millar, Degernier, Smart, Irvine, Allan, Scott, McBrearty, Harris. Subs: Stracey, Young, Coutts.