match270903

The game started with Ballingry playing down the slope and in two minutes they were a goal up when a shot took a vicious deflection of a defender and spun up over the keeper.

By the time the game was 10 minutes old Ballingry had doubled the lead when a Bristow shot at the near post went in off the cross bar.

Midway through the half and Deans made a brilliant run and laid the ball perfectly to Osborne who deftly chipped McNeely in the Ballingry goal only for the referee to chalk it off for offside. A decision that only he can explain as everyone watching the game, Ballingry and Crossgates fans a like agree that it was never off.

This wasn't the worst of it though, he then gave a goal kick to Ballingry when it was clearly a corner and sent off McKenzie for protesting the decision. Two minutes later and Ballingry scored a third when Bristow bagged his second, a goal as offside as a goal could possibly be.

Then before the end of the half Tillier had to go off when he was struck in the face with the ball re breaking his just healing nose.

Primrose dug deep in the second half pulled two goals back through Sykes and Mullen. Shepherd, in goal for the Primrose made several fine saves and we were lucky that the Ballingry forwards developed a case of the yips as they missed several chances.

Ballingry were awarded a Penalty with around 10 minutes to go which Moody converted. This killed the game off and there was no way back for the Primrose. However the ref had all but killed the game in the first half and the Primrose did well to drag themselves back in to the game.

Primrose:
Shepherd, Burt, Mullen, Tillier, Patrick, Sykes, Deans, Cusick, Osborne, Brown, McKenzie
Subs: Cowbrough, Coull

Ballingry Rovers:
McNeely, Ramsay, Campbell, McMahon, Davies, McInroy, Doig, Innes, Bristow, Moody, Bruce
Subs: Frew, Walker, McKean, Boniface, Anderson

Ref: Mr. Whyte. This was the worst refereeing performance I have seen in the two years I have been watching Junior football.

Man of the match: Steve Patrick, solid as ever.