Current Season's Reports
Whitburn win the Alex Jack Cup!
Whitburn travelled to Whitehill Welfare’s ground to take on Kirkcaldy and Dysart on Sunday hoping for their second cup in the Senior era. Last season’s game at Kirkcaldy had been a hard one with Whitburn winning by the odd goal in three thanks to a Darren Liddell injury time goal and this game proved to be equally tight. The first goal attempt came in the fifth minute when Ross Crawford, put in by Cammy Graham forced a corner from which Sammy Watson headed well over the bar. With 12 minutes gone Callum Bremner got free on the left and fired in a great cross that Graham got to at the back post but couldn’t get on target. Just after a great move saw Graham pick up the ball in his own half and he drove up the wing before crossing to Crawford who squared to Bremner who set up Liddell but he fire just wide. In the 15thminute another good move almost brought the opener as Stevie Clark found Liddell on the right wing and his cross found Graham but his shot was well blocked by keeper Dion Gear. Midway through the half a great through ball by Stephane Murray was raced on to by Bremner but his shot was cleared off the line by a defender. Another good move up the right this time saw a great cross from Liddell reached the back post where Graham awaited but a defender got in the way and the ball went out for a corner. In the 38th minute possession was surrendered deep in the Kirkcaldy half and Logan King raced away down the left but he seemed to slice the ball, with a two on one in the middle, allowing Danny Farrell to make the save at his post. Four minutes later Whitburn won a free kick on the left corner of the box but Watson again headed over Graham’s pinpoint delivery. A minute into injury time Graham got himself into a good position in the box but his shot was again blocked by Gear. Just before the half time whistle another corner was headed over, this time by Clark.
Two minutes into the second half Finlay Shearer got in on goal but Murray made a great last ditch tackle to deny him a shot. Just after a Graham cross found Crawford at the back post but he sliced his shot and it went well wide. After a scrappy period of play it was Shearer who had the next effort as he went down the right wing but he shot wide of Farrell’s near post. With twenty minutes gone Ali Croall fired in a cross from the left which Graham headed just over. Midway through the half another corner brought another miss, this time Crawford being just unable to turn the ball in at the back post. Just a minute later great interpassing out of defence ended in a Crawford cross that eventually found Croall but his shot was blocked by a defender. From another corner near the 75th minute a Watson header was blocked by a defender. Four minutes later a Graham free kick from the right was punched out by Gear just as Liddell appeared to be making contact. In the 83rdminute a Crawford cross was met on the full by Liddell but Gear pulled off a remarkable save to deny him. Just after Crawford put in a deep cross which a defender headed out for a corner, this just wide of the post. From the Graham corner Watson fired the ball into the net at the near post to open the scoring. The relief round the ground (and at Home!) was palpable and the celebration probably added at least a minute to injury time! As expected Kirkcaldy threw everything into attack but were fairly easily kept at bay by the Whitburn rearguard. The last action saw Whitburn win a corner four minutes into injury time which they kept in the there until the referee blew the final whistle. In the end a nervy affair which Whitburn totally dominated and fully deserved to win, though K&D deserved a lot of credit for their spirited defending. This win takes Whitburn through to the South, East & West of Scotland Cup-Winners’ Shield where they will play St Cadocs at home and Lochar Thistle away at dates to be decided. The winner of this will play in the Scottish Cup next season.
Whitburn suffer disappointing 4-2 defeat at Dundonald
Whitburn travelled over the Forth to take on Dundonald Bluebell in a game, given their respective league positions, that Whitburn were favourites to win. The game, however didn’t go as expected. The first real chance came from the visitors around 10 minutes when Stevie Clark fired in a shot that was comfortably saved by home keeper Owain Clark. In the 12thminute a shot came in from a tight right hand area which Danny Farrell was unable to gather and the ball broke to Barry Sibanda who had an easy tap in. Two minutes later from a corner the ball fell to Sammy Watson on the edge of the box and his shot found the bottom corner. Just beyond the midpoint of the half Dundonald retook the lead with a shot from Finn Graham similar to Sammy’s, the ball also finding the bottom corner. A break three minutes later saw a 3 cross from the left reach Finn Graham in a great position but he shot over. In the 32nd minute Ross Drummond had a shot on goal which Farrell saved as Dundonald continued their domination. Whitburn had a let off in the 40th minute as a last ditch tackle thwarted another tap in after good build up play but just a minute later Brodie Strang beat a couple of men and fired into the bottom corner to take the teams in with a 3-1 home advantage.
The early going in the second half produced nothing of note till the 53rd minute when another great strike from a tight angle found the back of the Whitburn net but it was flagged offside. A minute later a throw in found Darren Liddell who cross from the right and Whitburn’s trialist volleyed a great goal to cut the deficit to one. Four minutes later Cammy Graham, on as a sub, set up Liddell 15 yards out but he shot wide. The next 27 minutes produced nothing of note but it was the home side that scored the next goal with a scrappy effort by Joe Kininmouth when Whitburn couldn’t clear their lines. Minutes later Dundonald hit the post and the ball was cleared. After four minutes of added time the referee brought the proceedings to an end to the relief of the visiting fans. In truth this was by far Whitburn’s worst performance in the Premier Division, but full credit to Dundonald who had one of those games where just about everything came off. Whitburn had players missing it is true but this is a game to simply forget and move on with the visit of Dunipaice. Despite the loss Whitburn remain fourth in the league.
Whitburn share points with a 1-1 draw v Haddington
After three games away Whitburn welcomed Haddington to Central Park for the first time since 21 October 2017. Whitburn had the first effort on goal when Callum Bremner was fouled 22 yards out and Harrison Edwards fired in a good curling shot that went just wide. Around five minutes later after possession was lost in midfield eventually had a shot from the edge of the box but it went well wide. The deadlock was broken thirteen minutes in when Callum Hambrook won the ball on the edge of his box and passed to Ross Crawford who found Ali Croall whose through ball was raced onto by Darren Liddell who, in turn delivered the ball to Hambrook and he calmly slotted the ball into the net past the advancing keeper. The next effort on goal came around the 17th minute from a corner that fell to Luke Kennedy and his powerful shot came back off the post and the follow up shot was blocked by Crawford. Haddington were becoming dominant with their midfield overpowering Whitburn’s – both regulars Andy Thomson and Stevie Clark were missing. Around the 25th minute Andy Gillan had to go off injured and he was replaced by Thomas Penker. Despite their dominance Haddington were only creating half chances and, combined with fine defending Danny Farrell only had one save to make around the 31st minute from a strike by Aaron Ewins. In all honesty Whitburn were likewise unable to mount serious pressure on the away goal and so we went into the half with a slender one goal lead.
Whitburn came out with a much more positive approach in the second half taking the game to their opponents. Yet four minutes in Corey Robertson overlapped on the left and fired in a good shot that was blocked away for a corner. Just after a Haddington player went for a high ball with Farrell and the loose ball was cleared by Crawford. 51 minutes in a great Bremner through ball wide left put in Edwards who took the ball into the box and elected to shoot across Stirling but it went narrowly wide. Three minutes later following good build up play Stirling made a great double save, first from a Kevin Fotheringham header that he blocked out to Darren Liddell whose shot of the rebound he also got down to. On the hour Haddington got another let off when Crawford put Hambrook in wide on the left and his superb cross found Edwards at the back post whose shot was saved by the keeper then bobbled out of his hands and hit the post. Meanwhile Haddington were continuing to huff and puff yet midway through the half they were level, totally against the run of play at that point. An overlap was created on the left in the 68th minute and Ross King cut the ball from the byeline to Joe Tait who netted from close in, Whitburn alleging offside but the goal stood. From the kick off Whitburn almost retook the lead when a cross by Edwards came off a defender’s leg and went narrowly wide. From the corner the ball fell to Bremner on the edge of the box but he couldn’t keep his shot down and it flew over. With almost 75 minutes gone Farrell made a good save from a shot from the right edge of the box. The game looked odds on a draw from this point as defences were on top, however, from the left with four minutes to go sub Cammy Graham had a good shot pushed up by Stirling which went out for a corner. Just after Mick McGarahan seemed to have headed in the winner from the corner but, for some reason the referee disallowed it for a pull of Stirling’s jersey yet he seemed to accept he had been beaten. In the end Whitburn can consider themselves unlucky (again) not to take more from the game as they had the better chances. However, the defeat of the top two meant that both teams may be not unhappy to take a point each and Whitburn remain third.
Whitburn ease past plucky Oakley
The third away game on October 26th saw Whitburn visit Oakley United in the semi final of the Alex Jack Cup, a game which highly favoured higher ranked Whitburn but it proved to be a really difficult tie. The home side almost took an early lead but Danny Farrell made a great save and not long after in the 8th minute Calum Bremner netted from the left. At this point watching Facebook we thought this might be a cakewalk – how wrong were we! Indeed after just three minutes the home side were level and went on to dominate much of the first half. At the other end Whitburn couldn’t get enough quality to trouble the home keeper.
Into the second half Oakley were in front in the 61st minute with a shot from a tight angle on the left. This lead was again short lived as in the 67th minute Harrison Edwards was bundled off the ball in the box and Ross Crawford converted the spot kick. Whitburn then had a spell of dominance in which Crawford might have added to his tally and Edwards struck the bar from point blank range but other attacks kind of petered out. Meanwhile Oakley were less effective but still brought out a couple of good saves from Farrell.
And so the game drifted into extra time which Whitburn totally dominated but wayward finishing prevented what would have been the winning goal and so the game went to penalties.
Even this was not as routine as usual and ended in a 6-5 win to the Burnie with Farrell being the hero saving three of the home sided spot kicks. In the end few could deny brave Oakley deserved to take it to the lottery of penalties and we wish them well for the rest of the season. Whitburn will face Kirkcaldy and Dysart in the final on Sunday 1 December.
Whitburn win narrowly at Luncarty
On Saturday 19 October Whitburn travelled to Luncarty, a side close to the relegation slots. As with all games in this league every game is hard and so this proved. The first half was end to end though the home side looked more in control and won a penalty which Danny Farrell again saved and then saved the rebound. The second half saw Whitburn become much more dominant and they eventually too the lead in the the 65th minute when Ross Crawford converted an Andy Gillen right wing cross with a fine strike. Neither side was able to score during the remainder of the game though Whitburn looked more likely with at least three good attempts.
Whitburn lose narrowly at Musselburgh
Whitburn came to Olive Bank to take on Musselburgh on a wet Wednesday and were unlucky to leave with a 3-2 defeat having pushed their hosts throughout. The game was potentially ruined by an early red card for Mick McGarahan in which he fouled his man and was adjudged last man. It looked more like a coming together as his man seemed to run in front of him and Sammy Watson was in close proximity – a yellow looked the correct outcome. Despite this Darren Liddell headed Whitburn ahead in the 26th minute. Sadly the lead would only last 3 minutes as the home side equalised. Shortly afterwards Musselburgh were awarded a penalty (which looked quite soft) but Danny Farrell made a fine double save to keep the scores level. Just before the interval team numbers were equalised as a Mussleburgh player saw red. Early in the second half Musselburgh took the lead and the game became end to end with chances at both. Not long into added time Whitburn struck the cross bar and Harrison Edwards dispatched the rebound powerfuly into the net to secure a possible point. However another goal came for the home side three minutes later to give them a narrow 3-2 win.
Whitburn earn dramatic last minute point with 2-2 draw v Hill of Beath
Hill of Beath last visited Central Park in late March 2014 and handed us a 5-1 win in the East of Scotland Cup. In this much tighter game they took the lead from a corner in the 6th minute which Whitburn made two attempts to clear before Jake Mitchell knocked the ball over the line from close in. Not a great deal happened till the 29thminute other than Hill of Beath continually punting a long ball and Whitburn being unable to breach the home defence who responded with numerous strong challenges. In the 29th minute Whitburn finally broke down that defence with their best move till then when Ross Crawford was freed down the right and swung in a great cross that Darren Liddell couldn’t quite get on the end of. In most games the ball would have gone out on the opposite flank and that was what the visiting players expected but Harrison Edwards had a different idea as he stopped the ball from going out, drove towards the box and sent in a pinpoint cross that Liddell headed in to equalise. The lead was restored four minutes later when a pass from the right wing put in John Smith, who looked offside but was allowed to continue and he slotted in from 15 yards. In the 42nd minute possession as lost in midfield and Smith drove in on Danny Farrell but he made a good block. Just after Andy Gillen got involved in a bit of petty pushing with Smith which ended in them coming together and the referee spotted what he deemed a head movement by the Whitburn man and red carded him. A minute into added time Smith forced another save from Farrell.
Early in the second half Smith, who obviously plays on the edge, looked offside again and was allowed to continue but this time he attempted a square pass but a home defender got between them to clear the ball. The game then drifted for nearly twenty minutes or so, a bit like in the first half, the difference this time being Whitburn playing with 10 men. With around 25 minutes of the half played Dan Watt had a shot blocked for a corner. In the 73rd minute following a corner the ball was cleared to Cammy Graham, on as a sub, and he fired in a great cross which was met by the boot of Stevie Clark but he shot over. Six minutes later Whitburn were a bit fortunate not to concede as a HoB player had a shot blocked by Farrell but it rebounded back to him and his next effort hit the post. From here the ball was fired in on goal and Sammy Watson cleared off the line. A couple of minutes later sub Kevin Fotheringham had a great shot which deflected wide for a corner from which Liddell shot wide. Near the end 18 appeared to handle the ball as he received the ball which appeared to take a bad bounce but again he was allowed to continue and forced another Farrell save. Two minutes into added time Whitburn earned what looked like a last chance corner which was initially cleared out but only to Watson lurking on the right edge of the box and he swung his foot powerfully through the ball which somehow got through the ruck of players and found the bottom left corner to give Whitburn an unlikely but well deserved point.
Whitburn go nap without reply at Fauldhouse
This Alex Jack Cup quarter final at Fauldhouse always looked like an away banker but it was a derby and a cup tie so an upset was a possibility. However, Whitburn were quick out the blocks and with only two minutes gone Harrison Edwards flew down the left wing and found Ross Crawford who shot over. Ten minutes later the first goal arrived when a good through ball by Crawford was ran on to by Callum Hambrook who chipped advancing keeper Sean Beaton. With 19 minutes gone a cross from the right was dummied by Edwards and reached Kevin Fotheringham whose first shot bounced off Beaton but straight back to him and his open goal shot hit the back of the net. Around the 28th minute both Crawford and Edwards had shots saved by Beaton, the latter from 25 yards. In the 34th minute good work from Hambrook on the right ended in a cross that Edwards mis-hit and the ball came off the post and was recovered. With ten minutes till the half a duet of corners produced a plethora of chances which started with a save from a Fotheringham shot, the first corner ended in another courtesy of a Hambrook saved shot and this ended in another double save from Sammy Watson and Callum Bremner shots. Four minutes later Fotheringham had a shot from all of 30 yards which went just wide. Two minutes on Edwards ran on to a Hambrook cross and hit a powerful shot that Beaton saved. With two till the half Edwards got his goal when, after a good interplay between a number of players he received a pass from Ali Croall and slammed the ball high past Beaton from ten yards.
Whitburn made three substitutions at half time, Watson, Bremner and Croall making way for Mick McGarahan, Jack Hamilton and Cammy Graham with Edwards going to left back. This didn’t appear to slow the Burnies down however as by the tenth minute of the second half Beaton had made three top class saves. The first was a long ranger form wide on the left by Edwards in which he collided with the post and needed treatment to continue. The second was another from Edwards from the edge of the box and the third from Finlay Goodlad from a similar position. Fauldhouse at last started to look a little more dangerous and a minute later Mark Duffy got to the edge of the box but hit his shot wide as Danny Farrell closed him down. A couple of home players also got behind the defence but they both went too quick and were called offside. The fourth goal arrived in the 64th minute when an Edwards cross was converted by Graham with a good shot from the edge of the box which found its way through the ruck of players and hit the back of the net. The game then seemed to peter out as Whitburn seemed content with the four goal margin and Fauldhouse being unable to penetrate their opponent’s defence. The next save came with five minutes to go when sub Dylan McCafferty then with almost five minutes of added time Stevie Clark netted from a close in shot after a corner. This win, another clean sheet for Danny Farrell, sets up a semi final away to Oakley United.
Whitburn beat Sauchie by odd goal in five
This was Whitburn’s first visit to Beechwood Park for a competitive match in a number of years and it was always a hard place to get a result. In the end it turned out to be a game of two halves as Sauchie took the game to Whitburn in the first but the tables were turned in the second and the home side were lucky to escape with a one goal deficit. The first chance came six minutes in when a left wing cross was headed goalwards by Jack Fisher but Danny Farrell leapt to push the ball out for a corner. Sauchie, a very tall team, were winning lots of corners and 50/50 free kicks all of which were dealt with comfortably by the Burnie defence. One, however, around the half hour fell to Stuart McDowell six yards out and, as he was poised to put his side in front, Andy Gillen got a foot in to clear the ball. Our luck would run out 36 minutes in when Mark Smith scored spectacularly at the back post as a corner came off a head, on to the bar to him and he turned it in from a tight angle. The lead would last seven minutes when two of last week’s substitutes, starting this week, justified their starts as a diagonal ball by Harrison Edwards found Kevin Fotheringham wide on the left who controlled the ball before slamming it diagonally across keeper Sean Robertson into the net.
The second half was only two minutes old when Fotheringham had another shot at goal from the edge of the box after good work from Steph Murray and Edwards but it flew just wide. Six minutes later history was made and Whitburn took the lead when Darren Liddell hit his 100th goal for the club when he tapped in the ball that came to him after a Ross Crawford shot hit the post. The lead would only last three minutes as Jack Fisher got his goal from a throw in which reached him on the edge of the box and he found the back of the net with a fine strike. Amazingly parity lasted about forty seconds as a clearance from defence after the restart was intercepted by Callum Bremner who sent the ball back to the home box where Crawford was and he beat Robertson to the ball and chipped it into the net. In the 18thand 20th minute of the half Liddell played in great left wing crosses which were met by the head of Crawford – the first went narrowly wide and the second forced a save from Robertson. Sauchie responded to being under the cosh by their visitors but were not really creating anything from open play and they had fewer set pieces to trouble Whitburn who were defending manfully and (in retrospect thinking about the game) comfortably. Whitburn had a chance to seal the game with nine minutes to go when sub Callum Hambrook was played in and rounded Robertson but was pushed too wide to get a shot away though he was able to cross but somehow Bremner right in front of goal was unable to get a good connection on the ball under pressure from a defender. Whitburn managed to see out the remainder of the game, including four minutes of added time, pretty easily and (I may be wrong here) don’t actually recall Danny having another direct save to make. The win sees Whitburn go third, level on points with Musselburgh but with an inferior goal difference and sent the travelling support home happy with the three points!
Whitburn beat Tynecastle on cup business 4-1 with late goals
Whitburn once again showed their resilience to come from a goal down and beat Tynecastle in the EOS Qualifying Cup by 4-1 with two late goals securing the win. The visitors almost got off to a dream start as from a free kick Conor Power at the back post headed back over to Scott Jardine at the near and he headed the ball onto the bar and over, in the third minute. Whitburn’s first real chance came in the 17th minute when a good break saw Callum Hambrook released and, from a wide right position, shoot but it lacked power to trouble keeper Jamie Rae. Five minutes later Hambrook was in again more centrally having been released by Callum Bremner but again Rae made the save. Two minutes later from a corner Darren Liddell headed the ball at the near post but somehow it went out at the back without anyone getting a touch. With 29 gone Ross Crawford headed the ball wide to Hambrook whose cross found Cammy Graham who tried a first time shot but it went just wide. With eight minutes till the half a long Steph Murray ball found Hambrook who cut in but again his shot was saved. Would Whitburn come to rue all the missed chances?
It began to look as though they would as, after a tame start to the second half, in the 58th minute from a long ball Sam Nicolson got in and forced a good save from Danny Farrell. From the corner with good pressure a minute later a winger drove along the byeline and put a dangerous cross in which went into the home goal off a player, perhaps a Whitburn one there were so many players in the vicinity. This spurred the management team into a triple substitution on the hour in which Graham, Liddell and Bremner were replaced by Harrison Edwards, Kevin Fotheringham and Stevie Clark. All might have been in vain as just three minutes later Power looking suspiciously offside forced a save from Farrell at the expense of a corner. Midway through the half the substitution paid off when Edwards was fouled on the edge of the box and Crawford converted the spot kick to level the scores. Five minutes later Whitburn were ahead when a good cross from the left was miss hit by Edwards attempting a volley and the ball found Crawford who set up Fotheringham on the edge of the box and his strike went in off the post. In the 77th minute Crawford passed to Fotheringham just outside the box and his first time half volley went narrowly over. In the 90th minute Clark, after good work found Andy Thomson in a similar position and his shot could only be parried out by Rae and Edwards reacted quickest to slam the rebound home. Then, three minutes into added time a Tynecastle corner was cleared into their half and Edwards ran onto the ball outpacing his man and fired the ball across the goal with his trusty left foot and the ball found the net. Another late goal as the referee drew proceedings to a close just after the kick off.
Whitburn ease comfortably into third place with 2-0 v Edinburgh University
The score may look a little underwhelming against Edinburgh University, the bottom team in the league and recently relegated from the Lowland League, but there was a gulf in class between the two teams. To their credit the students have generally been losing by the odd goal and have proved stuffy opponents able to defend but a little toothless up front. This game reflected this though the deficit today was two goals but they proved difficult to break down. With around five minutes gone Whitburn won two corners with saves by the feet of keeper Marc Anderson sending the ball out. Despite Whitburn dominating it took till the 25th minute for the first goal when Jacob Taylor headed out another corner but the ball came straight to Ali Croall 15 yards out and he slammed the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal. A great move in the 37th minute added a second when Darren Liddell netted an Andy Gillen right wing cross after he had been released by a great Callum Bremner pass.
The second half was just as one sided as the first but, though a few chances were created the opposing defence was steadfast and we couldn’t add a third. It should really have been two in the second minute of the half when a ball over the left back freed Callum Hambrook who cut in and had a shot which was saved. Four minutes later Cammy Graham beat a couple of men in the box before hitting a shot but it was also saved. In both these cases in retrospect the players might think they had hit their shots with more power. Edinburgh’s first and only shot on target came in the 62nd minute from outside the box by Matthew Dick but Danny Farrell did the expected and saved it. Midway through the half a great run along the line by Croall ended with a pass to Graham whose shot seemed to cross the line before Struan McLean managed to scoop it out but the linesman didn’t agree and waved play on. Five minutes later another great move saw Liddell put Graham in and his pass fell to Bremner who tried a shot from the edge but it went just wide. Graham had another mazy run on the left with fourteen minutes to go that ended with another shot saved. The final effort fell to Andy Thomson who made space for a long range shot but this also went just wide. The students ended the game playing their best football but never looked like threatening the Whitburn goal so Danny Farrell ended the game with a second consecutive clean sheet.
Whitburn win three more points with 2-0 win at Dunbar
Whitburn’s seeming never ending run of away games concluded with a convincing 2-0 win at Dunbar though the game was a hard fought one. Whitburn were out the blocks quick and with 3 minutes gone a good break down the right involving Callum Bremner and Darren Liddell ended with a Harrison Edwards shot but he made poor contact and the ball flew past. Seven minutes later Edwards from a corner spotted Andy Thomson on the edge of the box and delivered, the captain’s curving shot just missed the top corner. Dunbar’s Kyle Somers got in on the left and forced a low save by Danny Farrell. From the resulting corner Mark McConnell peeled off at the back post and hit it, the ball eventually being cleared. With 25 minutes gone Ross Crawford headed on a long Liddell throw which found Callum Hambrook who turned and shot from close in but keeper Sean Brennan made the save. With two minutes to the half from a corner Grant Thomson headed goalwards but Farrell made the save to allow the teams to go in level.
Once again Whitburn started well and three minutes in Hambrook tried a shot from the edge that forced Brennan to stretch to make a good save. On the hour a free kick was given for hand ball 20 yards out and Edwards curved the ball around the wall but Brennan made a comfortable save. The deadlock was broken in the 59th minute when an effort from Darren Liddell from a corner went in off the underside of bar. The Seasiders stepped it up at this point and were twice unlucky not to level. First, midway through a great shot from a tight angle was cleared off the line by Sammy Watson, the ball breaking to the edge of the box where Sean Stewart blasted over with the goal at his mercy. Seven minutes later Farrell made a great point blank block to deny a good close in shot and just after a good Robert Berry free kick from 25 yards was shepherded out by Farrell. Immediately up the other end through a great break Edwards scored at the back post from a Crawford cross from the right and, like Saturday he played a one two with the keeper as his first shot bounced back off Brennan to him and he buried the rebound. Whitburn saw out the remainder of the game with ease and looked more likely to add to their lead. Tonight’s result sees the team go fourth in the league!
Whitburn put Crossgates out of Alex Jack Cup with 3-1 victory
Another trip over the Forth and another 30 minutes in slow traffic so we arrived maybe five minutes late to the game and were unaware that we were already one up through Callum Bremner who headed a deep midfield cross over advancing keeper Matthew Rollo. With seven minutes gone Darren Liddell volleyed a right wing Ross Crawford cross but it came back off the post. Just after the midway point of the half Ali Croall made a good interception and, after a good run, passed to Callum Hambrook who played in Bremner on the left and he forced a block with the ball eventually coming back to him and this time his shot deflected wide for a corner. On the half hour we were level when Jaxson Lawrie scored from the edge after the ball wasn’t properly cleared. Straight from the kickoff the ball was at the feet of Liddell just outside the box and his shot deflected over. Just after the same fate befell a Hambrook long ranger as Whitburn piled on the pressure. About five minutes later Crawford had two efforts go over - the first a shot after great work down the right off of an Andy Thomsom pass and the second a headerfrom an Andy Gillen cross. With three minutes to go possession was lost deep in the Burnie half and Craig Watt was able to shoot from distance but fired just wide of Danny Farrell’s right post.
The first chance of the second half came seven minutes in when a long Liddell through was headed back by Sammy Watson to Hambrook but he was not expecting it and screwed his shot wide. Whitburn continued to press to regain the lead but took till the 67th minute to produce a good chance and it came from another right wing cross which was headed by a diving Liddell but keeper Matthew Rollo made a great diving stop to keep it out. Just a minute later Gillen did great work with a long pass and played in Hambrook on the right whose cross found recent sub Harrison Edwards who forced a good save from Rollo but the ball came straight back to the youngster and this time he buried it in the back of the net. An identical move followed around two minutes later with Crawford the recipient and he found the net first time with a powerful strike. With a quarter hour to go the traditional multiple substitutions were made with Crawford, Watson and Thomson being replaced by Kevin Fotheringham, Mick McGarahan and Stevie Clark. Eight minutes later Bremner and Fotheringham performed at least four one two wide to centre passes which began in their own half and ended in a fine strike by the latter that came back off the post – this would have been another nailed on goal of the season had it gone in! Near the end Blair Patterson went on a good run and shot but Farrell had it covered and then Rollo again denied Liddell his goal with another fine save to keep the score at 3-1 where it remained till the end. Another classy away win in their fourth consecutive one with only Dunbar away on Wednesday to come.
Whitburn win at Tynecastle by the odd goal in three
This was Whitburn’s first league game against Tynecastle which was played at the impressive Meggetland Facility and ended in a hard fought victory. After a nervy ten minutes Whitburn had the first real chance in the twelfth when a great diagonal Andy Thomson ball found Darren Liddell wide on the right and his cross found Ross Crawford at the back post but he fired wide. Four minutes later a thirty yard free kick by Jack Henderson was deflected wide for a corner which resulted in another and from this a further cross came in which Sammy Watson headed and was pushed over by keeper Mikotaj Komocki. Just after a break up the other end resulted in Aaron Ponton getting a good right wing cross in that the visiting defence couldn’t get cleared and the ball was eventually forced over the line by Sam Nicolson. Two minutes later Liddell went wide again but this time cut in and tried a shot but it was easily saved. With 34 minutes played Ryan Cameron chased a long ball, beating Watson for pace and got a good shot away which Danny Farrell saved. A minute later a Mick McGarahan diagonal pass found Any Gillen whose cross Callum Bremner headed over. Almost on the half time whistle Cammy Graham, who had been quiet till then was freed by a through ball but was bundled to the ground about five yards into the home half, his opponent being the last man but he was only awarded a yellow.
Tynecastle had the first chance in the second half three minutes in when Nicolson had a shot well saved. Two minutes later Graham overlapped well, crossed the ball into the box and Crawford dummied allowing the ball to run to Liddell who couldn’t get a shot on goal. The next thirty minutes were totally eventless as neither side could seriously trouble the opposing keeper though a quadruple substitution happened with sixteen minutes to go. This saw McGarahan, Henderson, Graham and Thomson make way for Steph Murray, Kevin Fotheringham, Callum Hambrook and Harrison Edwards. The substitutions worked five minutes later as Hambrook went wide on the left and squared to Ali Croall who touched the ball onto Crawford and he fired the ball across Komocki and into the net. A minute later Nicolson replied with a shot after he got behind the defence but he fired wide with the ball deflecting out. With seven minutes to go a long Liddell throw was headed on and then headed goalwards by Watson forcing a decent save. Two minutes after Crawford got away from his man and fired in a great cross that Liddell couldn’t quite reach and the ball went out. The Whitburn pressure would eventually pay in the 45th minute when a right wing Gillen cross was headed on by a stooping Edwards to Crawford and he got to the ball before Komocki and scored, taking a hard knock in the process. In injury time all the good work was almost nullified as a high long ball resulted in confusion between the defence and Farrell as the ball looped over his head and had to be cleared for a corner. From this 8 had a shot from the edge of the box which flew wide and Whitburn had secured a third win which took them to fifth in the league!
Whitburn earn a point at Glenrothes
Whitburn last visited the Warout Stadium in March 2018 and lost 3-1 on that occasion when both teams were Juniors. This time the game was much more even with both teams midtable in the Seniors as they played out a 2-2 draw. Whitburn started well, creating a couple of half chances in the opening minutes and Harrison Edwards almost gave them the lead when he raced in on keeper Riley Laing but his shot from just on the edge of the box was well parried. Five minutes later Darren Liddell drove down the right wing and cut in but delayed the shot enough to allow a defender to block his shot. Despite all the pressure it was Glenrothes that took the lead in the twentieth minute when a free kick from the left was headed on towards the back post where Stuart Cargill headed the ball into the net. Two minutes later Danny Farrell had to be alert to save a long range shot. 29 minutes in Edwards chased a long ball to the corner and got a good cross to the back post which Liddell passed to Ross Crawford but he shot wide. Two minutes later possession was lost just outside the box and the ball was played wide where a player sent in a cross which Colin Wilson shot goalwards but Farrell made another save. In the 38th minute Cargill got in wide right and Farrell made a superb one handed block which took enough pace off the ball to allow Sammy Watson to clear off the line. No more than 30 seconds elapsed before the ball found Jack Henderson on the half way line who squared to Andy Thomson who went on an amazing mazy run beating a number of players before unleashing a shot from the edge that found the bottom corner – surely a contender for goal of the season!
The opening ten minutes saw Whitburn penned back in their own half though the home side didn’t create anything. The first shot in anger came twelve minutes in when Thomas Penker hit in a loose ball from at least 30 yards but it deflected off a defender for a corner. Six minutes later a good Thomson through ball found Callum Bremner who squared to sub Cammy Graham on the edge of the box who fired in a great shot but it came off the underside of the bar and out. In the 66th minute Glens took the lead again from a well struck long range effort from Cargill which Farrell got hands to but couldn’t keep out. Straight back up the other end Graham got in on Laing who forced him wide and was deemed to have brought him down. To be fair the award looked just a little harsh but Crawford kept up his scoring record by dispatching it to the keeper’s right. Three minutes later Graham went wide on the left and hit in a great low cross which Laing knocked out to Liddell just outside the box and he hit in a great shot which was well saved at the penalty spot. With fourteen minutes to go a deep corner was headed by Glen’s Wilson and it came off the bar then landed at Henderson’s feet but he hit over from a tight angle. In the 84th minute Ali Croall, overlapping squared to Crawford who cut inside and hit a lovely looking shot that seemed top corner bound but a defender deflected it wide for a corner. Both teams went for the win from that point but neither was able to the decisive chance to gain it so the end result was a draw which, on balance of play, seemed fair enough.
Whitburn lose by the odd goal in five at Lanark
This Challenge Cup tie ended in a disappointing 3-2 defeat at Moor Park in Lanark. Yet it started well for Whitburn playing with a strong wind as Ross Crawford converted a penalty in the 16th minute after a home defender hand balled a goalbound Grant Hamilton header of a Harrison Edwards’ corner. However, just two minutes later from a home corner Keigan Lang shot wide and on the half hour Graham Gracie closed down Sean Brown quickly as he received a backpass and bundled the ball into the net. Up the other end a minute later from another corner both Stevie Clark and Hamilton had shots blocked. With two minutes till the end of the half Callum Bremner played in Edwards but his shot went just wide.
A minute into the second half a high punt up the park saw Gracie challenge Brown for the ball which nine times out of ten would have resulted in a free kick but the referee played on and Lang slammed the loose ball into the net to give his side an unexpected lead. With 50 minutes played a Crawford through ball was handled on the edge of the box and Edwards’ hit beat the wall but was saved by the keeper. As the half wore on Whitburn were being closed down by their opponents which rushed passes that often went astray and they barely threatened the home goal whilst Lanark were gaining confidence as they were breaking quite effectively. One such break came in the 71st minute when Jack Turley crossed from the left and Luke Meikle headed in off the underside of the bar at the back post. Six minutes later a similar move saw Gracie cross to Meikle who shot this time but Brown saved. Just a minute after this in a better move a cross came in from the Whitburn right and got through to Edwards about 12 yards out but he elected to hit it first time so it lacked power and was easily saved at the base of the post. A further minute in Edwards made amends as he drove in from the left and netted with affine strike from a tight angle. Despite a lot of huffing and puffing, including a couple of corners, the closest Whitburn came to forcing extra time came with four minutes to go when sub Darren Liddell headed one of these over the bar. To my knowledge this is the first time Whitburn have played Lanark and it felt exactly like an old Scottish Junior cup tie in which the home underdog came out on top. Good luck to Lanark who go to Cumnock in the next round.
Whitburn go nap against Kinnoull without reply!
Today’s game was an Alex Jack cup tie against Kinnoull with an away tie v Crossgates the prize and Whitburn won through 5-0. But for the visiting keeper Sam Townsley it could have been much worse for the First Division side. In the fifth minute Ross Crawford was played in by Callum Hambrook wide on the left and he chose to shoot, his effort went high and wide. A minute later from a similar position Crawford had a shot that got a touch off a defender for a corner. Crawford’s opening goal came in the twelfth minute from the opposite wing and this time his shot flew past Townsley into the net. Kinnoull replied with two free kicks in the space of two minutes just after both saved by Danny Farrell – the first from all of 35 yards by Evan Wolecki and the second from 25 yards by Connor Scott. In the 18th minute Darren Liddell headed a Crawford cross from the right over the bar. Six minutes later he hit a shot over after Thomas Penker headed a cross from the left to him from the back post. Three minutes on from this Ali Croall went on a great run up the left and delivered a cross that found Crawford but Townsley made a diving save to thwart him. Then a game of head tennis ensued in the Kinnoull box with the ball eventually faking to Liddell who turned outside his man before unleashing a powerful shot that Townsley also save diving to his right. The next save came on the half hour from a Hambrook shot after he had been freed by Callum Bremner. Six minutes later an Andy Thomson cross was headed by Crawford off the bar, the ball falling to Hambrook but a combination of a defender and Townsley kept the ball from crossing the line. With 39 minutes gone a Hambrook cross gave Bremner a shot at goal but Townsley made another save. Before the end of the half Bremner set up both Crawford and Hambrook but the former fired wide and the latter knocked the ball over.
Whitburn, now playing with the strong wind, found it difficult to get going in the second half but they went two up in comic circumstances in the 10th minute when a shot from Steve Clark, following a long Liddell throw, hit Crawford in the chest and went into the goal. Four minutes later a good move by the visitors ended in a cut back to Scott Middleton who got off a decent shot from the box edge that got a slight touch off Croall and went out for a corner. Crawford probably should have had his third hattrick in the 62nd minute when found by another accurate Hambrook cross but he hit the keeper with his shot. Three minutes later Harrison Edwards, on as a sub went on a great run from deep in his own half and eventually passed to Bremner but his curling shot went narrowly wide. With 73 minutes gone Kinnoull’s Scott Chalmers made a good turn in the box and forced a good save from Farrell. A minute later a superb move saw the ball passed from Clark to Edwards who played in Hambrook and he scored with a powerful shot. A triple substitution a minute later saw Clark, Bremner and Crawford replaced by Jack Henderson, Dewi Taylor and Cammy Graham and six minutes later Graham ran on to a through ball and scored. With six minutes to go Edwards tried a long range shot that Townsley got down to but the ball slipped from his grasp and went to Taylor whose initial close in shot was blocked back out and retrieved by Taylor whose second longer range effort was saved. Four minutes later from a corner Hambrook spotted Graham free 22 yards out and he took a touch before dispatching the ball into the top corner. Into injury time Henderson almost made it six but a header came back off the post. Another convincing win at Central park where the action continues on Tuesday with a league game against Penicuik.
Whitburn put 5 past Hutchison Vale with Crawford hitting hattrick!
Whitburn came from behind tonight to beat Hutchison Vale 5-2 in a game that was as one sided as the result suggests and featured a hattrick from Ross Crawford. Whitburn dominated much of the first quarter hour and Mick McGarahan was unlucky to see a good near post shot well saved by visiting keeper Samuel Owens, this after a Jack Henderson free kick from the right. In the 19thminute in possibly their first attack Luke Paxton tried his luck from 25 yards and his shot beat Danny Farrell having come through a ruck of players. With 28 minutes gone an inwards curving Henderson corner was misjudged and had to be cleared off the line at the back post by a defender. A minute later Ross Crawford drove along the bye line and forced a save at the near post. Crawford’s first goal came in the 38th minute when he knocked in a great Darren Liddell cross after he had been put in wide right by Callum Bremner. Five minutes later Owens hit a bye kick straight at Crawford and he drove wide left before hitting an unstoppable shot into the net. In the final minute of the half a great ball was played into Jake Morrison who got behind the defence but Farrell made the save.
The visitors changed their keeper at half time, presumably for the error but replacement Rudi Clapperton conceded another three goals. Three minutes into the second half a similar pass from Bremner played in Andy Thomson but a miraculous last ditch tackle put the ball out at the instant he went to shoot. A minute later another Henderson corner, to the near post this time, was headed narrowly wide by Bremner. In the 53rd minute Louis Signorini had a good long range shot that went just wide. Goal three would come in the 58th minute when Ali Croall, who started at left back, drove along the line then cut back the ball and found Henderson and he fired home from close in. It was four just four minutes later when Crawford beat Clapperton to a great through ball, rounded him then turned a retreating defender before firing into the net – the big man’s first hattrick of the season! With 69 gone Sam Wringe got in wide on the right having beaten Farrell to the ball but McGarahan was at the near post to clear. Crawford almost got a fourth two minutes later when Bremner put Callum Hambrook, on as a sub, in wide left and he controlled the cross but shot just over. Playing great football, Hutchison Vale were being overrun and it was another sub, Dylan McCafferty who had an audacious half volley that almost found the top corner after good long balls from Stevie Clark and Croall. Crawford had another shot having run on to a wide ball but hit the underside of the bar with seven minutes to go. Another sub, Dewi Taylor did great on the left wing a minute later which culminated in a square ball to Kevin Fotheringham who unselfishly set up Hambrook who cut inside his man and scored. In the 90th minute the visitors got another consolation when a good right wing cross was turned into his own goal by Clark. Overall this was a great team performance against an established Premier Division side and shows that the team can compete at this level. An even better performance than Saturday’s as this team carried more threat but were largely nullified as an attacking force.
Whitburn win first three Premier points with 3-0 triumph over St Andrews
A couple of months ago we travelled to St Andrews seeking second place in Division 1 and we fell short to a controversial late penalty. Today we were looking to get our league campaign underway after last week’s reverse and we did it in style. Andy Thomson got us off to a dream start when in the sixth minute with a fifteen yard strike as he ran on to a loose ball following a cross from the right. Just two minutes later Cammy Graham had the ball in the net but it was ruled offside in a tight call. The second goal was only delayed another three minutes, however when Darren Liddell fired home from the edge of the box. Whitburn were so on top the home side could barely get out their half and when they did in the 28th minute James Collins fired over from the edge of the box. Six minutes further on Liddell might have got his second when he hit the bar with a shot but could only knock the rebound over. With around five minutes to go St Andrews tried to rally with Lewis Payne getting in but his cross found no takers and then Ryan McManus got a shot on goal that Danny Farrell saved.
The home side were out on the pitch at least five minutes before the restart, no doubt having been chastised for their first half showing. Meanwhile it was business as usual for Whitburn as, in the 47th minute a left wing cross from Graham forced a fumble from keeper Logan Halliday but he recovered to thwart any mishaps. Three minutes later Graham put in another great cross which Callum Bremner got a bad touch on and put past with the home side calling for an offside flag that never came. Ross Crawford produced the next cross two minutes later, again from the left which Graham headed towards the bottom left corner but Halliday made a fine diving save. Then Crawford, from the right this time, put in another cross which Graham got to first and forced a corner from which Grant Hamilton attempted an acrobatic over the head lick which went just wide. On the hour St Andrews’ only real chance of the half when a forward wriggled his way to the six yard box where he went down but got a weak shot away which trickled into Farrell’s arms, the ref waving away penalty claims. The game calmed down somewhat after this as if Whitburn seemed happy to take a two goal win though they kept pushing forward. They also seemed confident that they could keep the lacklustre home attack at bay and so it proved. With five minutes to go the third goal came from another right wing cross which Liddell controlled and shot at goal, his shot being parried out to Bremner who scored with a powerful shot. In the end a comfortable win against a St Andrews who were a shadow of their former selves.
Whitburn hit Linton for nine
Whitburn as the Premier Division team were expected to triumph over new boys Linton Hotspur and so it proved as they won 9-0 in a game as one sided as the scoreline suggests. The first came on the quarter hour when a Ross Crawford right wing cross eventually fell to Ali Croall who fired low into the bottom left corner. Two minutes later Crawford turned in a cross from the left to make it two. In a rare attack in the nineteenth minute Linton’s Aiden McKenzie got into the box but a great Sammy Watson tackle prevented the shot and five minutes later Tyron MacLean tested Danny Farrell from 25 yards but a fairly routine save was made. Crawford would get his second when he converted a Jack Henderson pass after Cammy Graham had found him. Crawford would get his hattrick with 34 minutes gone when he converted a penalty following a foul on Graham. Kevin Fotheringham and Watson had chances to add to the lead but a Whitburn player blocked the former’s goal bound shot and the post came to the rescue of Linton from the latter’s effort. Crawford might have had another couple too but missed with a header and a shot.
Six minutes into the second half Thomas Penker overlapped on the right and put in a great cross which Crawford headed at the keeper. Back up the other end Sean Brown, on as a sub, made a save from a long range shot. The fifth goal came in the 55th minute when Graham headed a corner in at the back post. Three minutes later Fotheringham shot over from a good position having received a square ball from Graham. Penker made another overlap eighteen minutes in and squared to sub Callum Hambrook who drove goalwards but shot just wide. A great double save by keeper Rory Panther in the 71st minute to deny two further subs: Dylan McCafferty and Darren Liddell. The sixth goal came with fifteen minutes to go from Finlay Goodlad with a neat finish of a Harrison Edwards cross. Callum Bremner made a great run six minutes later which ended with a great strike from 25 yards that beat Panther. Bremner then robbed an opponent, drove into the box and was tripped on his way, Liddell converted the spot kick for the eighth. The scoring was concluded a minute from time when a superb move saw Fotheringham play in an overlapping Croall whose cross was sent net bound by Hambrook.
Whitburn beaten 3-1 at home by Jeanfield Swifts
An historic day at Central Park as, after a whirlwind three years in the EOSFL, Whitburn played their first game in the Premier Division against fancied Jeanfield Swifts. Sadly for the home side it ended in a 3-1 defeat and showed the upgraded quality of the teams at this level. Unfortunately Whitburn’s top scorer Ross Crawford didn’t start which obviously might blunt their attack. Whitburn started well as within two minutes Cammy Graham intercepted a ball in midfield, drove into the box but shot just wide. Danny Farrell was called into action three minutes later when he pushed out a cross from a Swifts player. Then a cross from James Yates was headed off the outside of the post by Rhys Davies. Then, in the eleventh minute a poor clearance found a visiting player who was fouled left of goal 25 yards out and Yates fired the free kick low into Farrell’s left corner. With fifteen minutes gone a good move up the right ended in a Graham though ball that Darren Liddell couldn’t quite get close enough to trouble the keeper. Three minutes later a soft looking free kick was given on the edge of the box and this time Yates hit the post and the ball was grabbed by Farrell. Whitburn finally settled down after this and started taking the game to Jeanfield. With 27 minutes gone new signing Dylan McCafferty put in a great free kick which Grant Hamilton headed just wide. Then four minutes later Whitburn were level from a long throw in that was headed on at the near post and bundled into the net by Graham at the back. The final goal attempt of the half came from Jeanfield as Davies drove in from wide right but shot wide.
Whitburn again started out well in the second half but a through ball put Christopher Dodds beyond the home defence in the 52nd minute and he calmly rounded Farrell before rolling the ball into the net. Midway through the half Andy Thomson was booked for a foul on the edge of the box but Yates fired wide this time. 69 minutes in there might have been a foul on Stephane Murray (who had required treatment earlier) and Jeanfield moved the ball forward finding a winger who looked suspiciously offside and his cross was turned in by Jordan Northcott. Harrison Edwards, on as a sub, weaved some magic on the edge of the box in the 73rd minute with the ball eventually falling to fellow sub Dewi Taylor but his shot from a tight angle flew wide. A later sub, Kevin Fotheringham, judged a high ball better than his defender and shot from the edge of the box in the 84th minute but his shot went over. A minute later a Swifts sub, Ronan Mc Murchie forced a save from Farrell and the final action was a visiting free kick on the edge of the box that was blocked by the wall in the 90th minute. So, in the end a defeat to start the season but the team competed well for most of the game but were undone by more clinical finishing.
