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Joint
Whyte and Mackay East Super League leaders Kelty Hearts welcomed Tayport
to Central Park Today. Kelty being
newcomers to the Super league soon put anybody who had any doubts as to
how they would perform firmly in their place. Kelty bounced back last
weekend with a fine result against Oakley after previously going down to
Lochee in a close encounter. Defensively Kelty look solid looking at the
latest League tables with only two goals against from eight encounters.
Port who haven’t lost away from home in the league, know they will
have to pull out one of their better performances to get a result today.
Joint leaders Arniston are on OVD cup duty today giving Kelty the
opportunity to go clear leaders providing they managed some sort of
result today. The matchday programme recognised the threat Port brought
to that possibility and made for some interesting reading. The final
part being “ I only hope that their revival does not start until after
today” Today’s match referee was Mr Tom Robertson. I don’t
normally mention the referee but will today as he played such an
important part in the direction of the match and have to be careful what
is reported. From the kick off the match looked like it was going to be
a close encounter with both teams testing each other in the middle. The
opening ten minutes brought very little as far as any opportunities go
but four minutes later and a major change was about to happen. Kelty
were on the attack down the middle heading for the 18 yard line with J
Ward heading for the challenge. Nothing out of the ordinary so far. The
striker goes to Wards left sending the ball out right and both players
tumble to the ground. The ball is met and sent across goal by the Kelty
winger resulting in Frazer
Fitzpatrick diving and the ball going very close to the opening goal.
What happened next? The big central defender was given a yellow followed
by a red. Why? I don’t know. Maybe words were exchanged but I don’t think
it was for the tackle. Minutes later Brian Craik broke down the left
inside the area going down after a challenge from Baillie, his resulting
protest with the referee ended up with his name joining others who had
fallen foul of the official pencil. Both teams continued to work hard
and on the 20 minute mark a Port cross was back headed by the tall Brian
Craik. The resulting clearance fell to John Elliot’s left foot 20
yards out. On the volley John let it fly for a spectacular strike
straight into the upper right of the Kelty goal. The final 20 minutes if
the opening period had both teams still working very hard probing each
others defences. Many decisions were being questioned by both the
visiting and home support. The
second period opened similar to the first. Again both teams had their
chances. Kelty switched on the after burner, running in on the Port goal
like terriers. With the Port strikers helping out in defence Kelty’s
Scott Lawrie struck with a superb right foot lob from 25 yards which had
keeper Fitzpatrick diving backwards unable to get a touch on a ball
heading for his left hand corner. Two goals and both spectacular wetting
the appetite for the closing 25 minutes. The equiliser gave Port the
jolt they needed to get back into the match but Kelty were equal to it.
Both teams continued to probe each others defences with Port getting the
winner from Steven Stewart who struck from four yards after a corner
from the right was sent back across the area. It was easy to see why the
Jam Tarts are joint top leaders as the closing ten minutes had them once
again running in on the Port goal constantly threatening. Ten man Port
held out well breaking down the Right with John Elliot and left with
Gareth Dailly. The gaffer sent on Kevin Heenan with minutes to go. Tayport
- F Fitzpatrick, R Gunnion, G Paterson, J Ward, R Morris, S Stewart, J
Elliot, G Dailly, B Craik, R Hunter, B McNaughton.
Sub used K Heenan. Where were all the officials? in fairness to the home club they tried up until 2200 Friday to confirm assistant referees. With Scotland at Hampden and no senior football except one match. That left Div 1, Div2 and Div 3 officials doing what? Must also mention the Matchday programme, full of interesting reading and great quiz. |
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