match270903

A good end to end game with the Superleague team showing a bit more poise and composure on the ball. However some good defence by the Primrose (despite severe injury problems at the back) kept the half time score at 0 v 0. Westgarth, Baillie and Hobbs were all worthy of a mention at the back with Hobbs particularly effective going forward.

The second half continued with the Haws on the push and Primrose keeper Smith was called on to make two excellent saves. However 15 minutes into the second half he was called up for carrying the ball out his box and Lee Dair scored from the resulting free kick with a well struck shot.

So many times this season this is when the Primrose' collective head would have went down but today they dug deep and put some good pressure on the Haws, one whipped in cross saw the Haws keeper pull off a good save that was fortunate not to have any Primrose player steaming in at the back.

With less than 10 minutes to go Gary Osborne was brought down at the side of the park and a superb free kick by Graeme "Dixie" Deans cut straight through the defence and Matt Sykes was on hand to slot the ball home.

Haws pushed hard for the last five minutes but the Primrose had no problems holding on.

Primrose:
Rushford (Smith), Baillie (Nicholson), Millar, Hobbs, McLeod, Laing, Ash (Patrick), Sykes, Osborne, Foster (Deans), Westgarth

Hill of Beath:
Harrower, Noble, Gray, Dempster, MacBride, Haddow, Smith, Dair, Thomson, Balfour, Gilfillan, Courts, Ross, Cunningham

Man of the Match: John Paul Hobbs.

Ref: Andrew Aird ** Hill of Beaths 12th man. Seemed far stricter with Crossgates. Booked McLeod for a challenge that was tame compared with the one received by Gary Osborne that only warranted a wee word.