Grove win away

Oct 19 2012 by Lynn Duke, Strathearn Herald

Strathearn Grove travelled to Pitlochry last Saturday to take on Vale of Atholl and finally got that first league win of the season.

With the kick off delayed due to the late arrival of the referee (apparently you have to change at Ballinluig when on the bus to Pitlochry from Perth) the game finally got under way with young Graham Duncan starting at centre half, Ross Walker on the left and John McLean on the right hand side of midfield.

From the start Grove took the game to Vale and created a number of chances with Walker twice driving into the box but, with both on his right foot, passed the chance up by opting to play in the forwards. Mark Fyfe then played in a pin point cross from the right but McLean headed over from 10 yards.

This was then followed by two chances for Campbell Dewar when first he tried to side foot the ball from 12 yards then headed past from a Del Mathieson corner. The deadlock was finally broken when Stuart Young pulled off a fantastic save at the feet of the on rushing Vale forward before playing the ball up the park where Dave McKay was played in and as he turned the defender in the box he was brought down.

The penalty was converted by Fyfe. Into the second half and the Grove defence marshalled by Graeme Walker dealt well with the threat and continued to create chances.

McLean was getting in good positions and had another decent chance before a throw in found Dewar who drove into the box where his shot hit the post. The rebound landed at his feet and his follow up shot was saved by the keeper but again the ball presented itself and this time he hit the back of the net.

Stevie Douglas was winning his own personal battle in the centre with the Vale number seven with Fraser Deacon assisting well. Dewar scored his second when he shot low into the corner from the edge of the box. Martin McGougan replaced the injured McKay before Andy Welsh and Graham Walker took the place of McLean and Ross Walker.

The goal of the game was left to last when Del Mathieson took the ball in the left back position before beating three players in his own half, played a one two with Walker then rounded the keeper before finally beating the covering defender and scoring from a yard.

Team: Young, Fyfe, Mathieson, Duncan, Graeme Walker, McLean, Deacon, Douglas, Ross Walker, Dewar, McKay. Subs: Welsh, McGougan, Graham Walker, Webster.