Saturday 22 February 2020, 14.30, New Murrayfield Park
Blackburn United v Sauchie Juniors in the East of Scotland Premier Division.
Another week of Scottish winter and a raft of games postponed. Indeed, a raft would have been required at some grounds to get from the dressing rooms to the pitch.
Whatever your opinions on artificial pitches, this was the kind of Saturday when they were a godsend if you wanted to see some football. The Juniors card was pretty much a complete washout of grass pitches, although a few games did go ahead in the North Region. All the grass pitches in the Lowland League and all of the East of Scotland Leagues were postponed apart from one, and that wasn’t even in Scotland (Berwick Rangers).
It was the first time we’d seen either of these sides this season, although we had been to New Murrayfield Park (currently named The Purdie Worldwide Community Stadium) in January, to see the South/East Cup Winners Shield.
Blackburn United’s fifth placed finish in the East of Scotland League Conference C last season saw them qualify for the Premier League this season.
One of the many East Junior sides to move to the East of Scotland League for season 2018/19, they would have been happy to secure a place in the top league this time around, although it’s proving to be a challenging season for the men from West Lothian.
With three teams going down, Blackburn sat third from bottom coming into this game and had only won 5 of their 19 league games. Notably, these included victories at Camelon, league leaders Bo’ness United and at home to Penicuik Athletic, proving that they could pick up results against the teams at the top end of the table.
Their last league outing had seen them draw 0-0 at Dunbar United, who sat two points in front of them, having played a game less.
It’s a similar story for Sauchie Juniors in their recent history. Another team who departed the Juniors for the East of Scotland League at the end of 2017/18. Their place in the East of Scotland Premier Division this season was secured by way of a sixth place finish in Conference B at the end of last year.
Sauchie had won 6 of their league games, although they had played two more than Blackburn. They were 5th from bottom, with three points more than their opponents.
Since losing 6-1 at Hill of Beath Hawthorn at the end of last year, Sauchie are unbeaten. Two wins and two draws, including a 4-1 win in their last game against bottom of the table Newtongrange Star, mean that they are pulling themselves away from the relegation area. They’d have been looking to continue their unbeaten start to 2020 at Blackburn.
The sides met in December at Sauchie with the hosts running out the victors by three goals to nil.
A big game for both sides in the battle to avoid the drop.
Although it was very cold and windy, it was reasonably bright as the game kicked off.
With 5 minutes gone, Houston got down the right for Sauchie and was fouled by McClung. Donaldson’s free kick found the head of Wright, but he put it well wide.
A cross into the Blackburn box in 12 minutes was headed away by Watson. It came to Sharp on the edge of the box who sent a half volley at goal, but it was just too high.
Donaldson latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the Blackburn box a minute later, but his low shot was wide of the post.
A Blackburn cross from the right in 20 minutes saw Wright stretch to stop the cross, but he only managed to deflect it towards his own goal. The ball came back off the post and straight to keeper Dolan, who gratefully dived on the ball.
Hutton had a shot at the Sauchie goal from distance in 22 minutes, but Dolan got across to push the ball away. The resultant corner was headed away to the edge of the box where Smith shot at goal, but his effort was too high.
In 27 minutes, Watson crossed from the right into the Sauchie area and the ball came all the way to Hutton at the back post, but he lost his footing, and the chance was gone.
Sauchie’s Finlayson put a ball into the box from the right in 28 minutes and Browne put his foot out to block. The ball came off his heel and spun up in the air to the back post, where it landed at the feet of Donaldson, who volleyed low into the net from close range to give the visitors the lead.
McCaughie got to the bye-line in 31 minutes and cut the ball back for Crawford, but the Sauchie striker didn’t make good contact with his shot, and the opportunity was missed.
The weather had turned by now, with the snow turning to hail and the players were having to deal with blizzard conditions.
Blackburn’s Hutton required treatment before he could continue after taking a knock.
Saunders went down to gather the ball in 36 minutes and it slipped from his grasp, but he was able to recover the ball before Donaldson could get to it.
A marauding run down the right by Blackburn’s Watson in 43 minutes saw him break through a couple of tackles before playing the ball to McDowall. His cross/shot took a deflection and went wide of the goal.
In first half injury time, Donaldson clipped the ball into the Blackburn box for Crawford, but a fine challenge by Drummond got the ball away.
After the teams had got back to the warmth of the dressing rooms at half time, Blackburn had people out sweeping the lines, to try and make them visible again, with the snow and hail taking a break.
The referee and his two assistants came back out with a ball and went around the pitch looking at the snow and hail on it, before speaking to club officials.
Opposing fans shouted out to the officials their thoughts. As you can imagine those supporting the team behind wanted the game off, while the opposite was true for the ones whose side were in front.
The Sauchie fans (and the neutrals) were pleased to see the teams return for the second half.
Howe had the first attempt of the second half, a low shot at the Sauchie goal which Dolan got down to block. The ball spun behind him, but he was able to smother it before it could cause any more problems.
A fine strike by Comrie in 49 minutes beat Saunders in the home goal but came crashing off the post before a defender could clear the ball to safety.
Sauchie’s Donaldson took the ball down the left in 50 minutes and had teammates in the middle, but his cross was deflected behind.
The snow had returned by now, and the referee had already stopped the game to speak to both managers and the players, but on we went.
Comrie took a short corner for Sauchie in 53 minutes and Donaldson curled the ball into the box where an unmarked Finlayson headed into the net to double the lead.
The referee spoke to both captains again before play resumed, with the home fans even more vociferous about the need to call the game off.
Just after Blackburn made the first substitution of the afternoon in 57 minutes, the ref was over speaking to the managers again, and then the captains, and with 61 minutes gone he called the game off.
The snow had been off for a good few minutes when the game was abandoned, but the referee seemed to be concerned with the build-up of ice on the bottom of the players’ boots.
Conditions actually seemed to have improved in the second half and had looked a lot worse in the first half. There hadn’t really been any sign of the ball holding up, or players slipping on the surface.
That’s not a criticism of the referee. He clearly wanted the game to be completed, but was becoming increasingly concerned, and it was impossible to tell what it was like out on the pitch.
Opinions on whether the game should have carried on appeared to depend on which side you supported, but you had to feel sorry for Sauchie, who looked like they were getting a big three points. Blackburn will be pleased to get another shot.
Credit to both sets of players who served up some decent fare in what must have been horrible conditions to play in. Watson and Hutton were best for Blackburn, while Comrie and Donaldson stood out for Sauchie.
Thanks to both sides’ official Twitter accounts for help with the team names and numbers. ( @BlackburnUnited @sauchieofficial )
Full Time: Blackburn United 0 Sauchie Juniors 2 (abandoned after 59 minutes).
Admission: £6
Blackburn United: 1 Craig Saunders, 2 Justin Watson, 4 Michael Browne, 5 John Drummond, 3 Kyle McClung (18 57), 7 Calum McDowall, 6 Marc Smith, 8 Dominic Kane, 10 David Howe, 11 Richard Hutton, 9 Danny Campbell. Subs: ? 18
Sauchie Juniors: 24 Darren Dolan, 2 Stewart Houston, 4 Jordan Wright, 5 David Cross, 3 Iain Syme, 7 David McCaughie, 6 Mark Sharp, 8 Alan Comrie, 11 Mark Finlayson, 10 Craig Donaldson, 9 Ross Crawford. Subs: Brett Young, Stevie Dolan, Lee Dawson, Ant McTaggart, Arron Bryson, Daz Cummins, Ross Cameron.
Referee: Ryan Lee
Programme: £2
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