Crossgates Primrose Junior Football Club Saturday 18th February - Fife League Divison 1 Crossgates Primrose 2 v 3 Ballingry Rovers Match Report - Dave Moody |
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Primrose today, minus several key players, welcomed a full strength Rover's team.
Both teams needed to win this encounter. Again Primrose started well and dominated the early exchanges with Robertson hitting the side stanchion after only 4 minutes. Surely Primrose would score soon as Rover's never got going and were struggling to contain Moody, Brown & Robertson. Eventually the breakthrough came, Lejman winning the ball in midfield and slid the ball through to Moody who coolly drilled it past the advancing Harrower. Unusually Primrose found themselves scoring first and piled on the pressure looking for the second, Moody again forced the keeper to a good save at the near post. Rover's had their first real attempt in the 15th minute with Sutherland trying a long rang effort which Gillespie saved comfortably. Brown then fired a shot over after another good move. Rover's pulled level when Ferguson scored from a speculative long range effort. That goal drove Primrose on even more with Brown & Robertson both going close. After 30 minutes Robertson sent a terrific cross over to a free Brown who somehow managed to hit the bar with his header. Some minutes later Primrose regained the lead when Brown latched onto a through ball from Haggett to drill the ball under Harrower. Moody then laid the ball off to Brown who blazed the ball over. Rover's then went close when Campbell headed wide. Rover's at this point were beginning to become a force of their own and in the 40th minute after a good move Ferguson slid the ball home from 10 yards. Primrose continued to attack & Moody headed the ball to Brown who shot wide. HALFTIME 2 - 2 Primrose were forced to start the second half with a substitution Raymond Brown coming on for Moody. The football for the next 20 minutes can only be described as scrappy with both teams failing to keep possession. Rover's threatened most and in the 70th minute Johnston sent in a terrific free kick which Ferguson flicked on but no Rover's player gambled and the chance went begging. Then Johnston went close with a volley for Rover's. Primrose then sent on McNeely for Neil Ferguson to try and have more of an attacking threat. In the 76th minute Brown fired over from 20 yards. Straight away Sutherland for Rover's tried his luck from long range, which Gillespie saved comfortably. Rover's then brought on Sykes for MacInroy. Another dull period followed with Rover's just about being the better side. They managed to force a corner in the 80th minute which Primrose failed to clear properly and Campbell hit a hopeful cross in, and the unmarked Johnston rose to score easily. Rover's then substituted Campbell for Hardie. Primrose threw everything at Rover's who were defending well, and then the ball fell to NcNeely who poked the ball wide to miss a good chance. Time ran out and again Primrose loses 2 - 3 at home. Primrose missed their injured players but should have had this game tied up by halftime, and sorely missed Moody in the second half. Referee Willy Conquer. Man of the Match: Joint award this week with Karl Lejman & Brett Haggett who both giving everything. |