Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Bonnyrigg Rose

Saturday 26 May 2018, 14.30, Keirs Park

Hill of Beath Hawthorn against Bonnyrigg Rose in the East Super League.

We last saw Hill of Beath in July 2017 in a friendly, at home to Arbroath.  This was their penultimate league game of the season and they sat in seventh place in the East Super League and looked set for a top half finish.

Their last game had seen a 1-1 home draw with Dundonald Bluebell.

The ‘Haws’ are another side to have made the move to the East of Scotland League for next season and were already looking ahead with three trialists listed in their squad for the game.

We’d last seen Rose ten days earlier, when they lost at Penicuik Athletic in the quarter final of the East of Scotland Cup.  They still had much to play for.  A point against Hill of Beath would guarantee them their second Super League title in three years, and they were also in the semi-final of the Fife and Lothians Cup.

Most expected Rose to secure the league title at Sauchie Juniors in midweek, but a 1-1 draw put the champagne on ice.  Linlithgow Rose still had three games left and were nine points behind.  With Bonnyrigg having the superior goal difference, a point would confirm the title for them.

Both sides lined up with three centre halves and the full backs playing as wing backs, with two up front.

Around 250 turned up to see if Rose would get the point they needed.  We found ourselves standing next to Arbroath manager Dick Campbell and former Dunfermline Athletic boss Bert Paton.  Former Hearts and Kilmarnock player and manager Gary Locke was also in attendance, complete with Rose scarf.

Rose won a free kick in the first minute and Currie crossed to the back post where McGachie headed towards goal, but it was an easy save for Hall.

McGachie was involved again in 3 minutes when he showed good strength to hold onto the ball, but he got his shot all wrong, and it went out for a throw-in.

In 5 minutes, Rose struggled to get the ball clear and it eventually fell to the feet of Watt, but his shot came off a team mate.

Rose won a free kick about 20 yards out, in a central position, in 12 minutes.  Currie stepped up to take it but put it high over the bar.

A good burst forward by Leishman for Haws in 15 minutes saw him pass to Cuthbert on the edge of the box.  Brett put in a very heavy tackle before clearing the ball away.

Some good passing by Rose in 17 minutes ended with McGachie feeding the ball through the defence for Wilson, but Hall was quickly out of his goal to smother at his feet.

With 18 minutes gone, the ball broke to Cuthbert on the edge of the Rose area, but he sent his snap shot wide.

There was a bit of head tennis outside the Rose box in 19 minutes before Kellichan headed to Harrower on the left hand side of the box.  He played the ball across goal where Elder took a touch before seeing his shot well blocked by Moyes.  It fell to Watt whose close-range shot came off the raised hand of Hoskins and Haws had a penalty.

Wright stepped up to take it and although Young went the right way, he couldn’t get there, and Haws had the lead.

Wilson sent a deep cross into the Haws box in 21 minutes and Hoskins headed the ball across goal looking for McGachie, but the defence managed to clear.

A great ball was sent into the Rose area from a Wright free kick in 26 minutes, but nobody was able to get a touch.

McGachie took the ball into the Haws box on the right in 27 minutes, and looked as though he may have been held, before his cross was cut out by Hall.

In 29 minutes, Currie struck a good effort at the Haws goal after a pass from Horne, but Hall fisted clear.

Moyes was shown a yellow card in 30 minutes for a foul on Cuthbert as he ran down the right.

Haws swung a corner into the Rose box in 31 minutes which was headed behind by Moyes, but the referee awarded a goal kick.

Currie fired a free kick at the Haws goal in 33 minutes which took a nick off the defensive wall and Hall dived full length to turn the ball around the post with a fine save.

Three Haws players converged on Horne on the right in 36 minutes to win the ball and Kellichan took the ball down the left.  He put a low cross into the middle and Watt slid in to double the home side’s lead.

Rose looked to strike back right away and a cross from Currie in 37 minutes was headed at goal by Wilson, but Hall made another good save to get a hand to it.  McGachie was first to the rebound, but the defence managed to get the ball away.

They fashioned another chance a minute later when Currie lobbed the ball through for Wilson, but Hall was out to block at his feet.  The ball came out to Currie, but Harrower threw himself at the ball to deflect it behind.

Currie crossed to the back post in 42 minutes and McGachie’s shot at goal was blocked.  The ball came to Gray on the edge of the box, but he dragged his effort wide.

Haws’ Watt was booked in 44 minutes for catching Brett late as he played the ball forward.

The hosts two goals to the good at the break and it didn’t look like Rose’s day.

Four minutes into the second half, Gray was brought down around 20 yards from the Haws goal.  Currie’s free kick was deflected off the wall before going behind.

Kerr Young was the next player to be cautioned with 50 minutes gone, the Rose player late with a tackle.

A clearance by Moyes went deep into the Haws half in 53 minutes and Wright let the ball bounce, leaving it to keeper Hall.  McGachie nipped in between them and knocked the ball past the keeper.  The ball rolled towards goal and came back off the post.  McGachie retrieved the ball but could only shoot wide.

Patrick took a Haws throw-in on the left in 54 minutes which was headed away by Moyes.  It came to Grierson on the edge of the box, but he put his shot wide.

Haws’ Harrower required treatment in 58 minutes after his team had repelled a corner.

Currie took a Rose free kick on the right in 60 minutes which saw McGachie send a glancing header towards goal, but it was the wrong side of the post for his side.

Rose continued to look for a way back into the game and in 62 minutes Gray squared the ball to Brett on the edge of the box.  He hit a well struck shot with the outside of his foot, but it was straight at Hall.

Almost immediately after Turner was almost through on the Haws goal, but Hall was out quickly to smother.

Hoskins collected the ball on the left for Rose in 66 minutes after Currie’s cross from the other side was headed away.  He chipped into the box for Lough, but his header was off target.

Rose won a corner in 67 minutes and Turner took it short to Currie.  His ball into the box was met by a firm McGachie header which went into the corner of the net to give Rose a lifeline.

There was a huge stramash in the back of the net as Rose looked to get the ball back.

A Haws player was shown a yellow card once the referee had gained control, but I didn’t see who it was.

It had been all Rose since the beginning of the second half, but Watt took the ball down the left for Haws in 72 minutes and his cross bounced off the woodwork before spinning behind.

Currie sent a free kick into the Haws box in 75 minutes which was touched behind by Hall for another fruitless corner.

Smith passed to Patrick in 76 minutes and he had a shot at the Rose goal from 22 yards, but it was deflected wide.

In 77 minutes, another Currie free kick bounced just in front of Hall, who was unable to gather, but the Haws defence got the ball clear.

Haws’ Schiavone was yellow carded in 81 minutes for throwing the ball away to delay a Rose throw-in.

Wright was penalised for a foul on McGachie in 82 minutes twenty yards from goal.  Currie stepped up and curled the ball around the ball and into the net for the equaliser.

Another Rose free kick in 86 minutes was put into the box by Currie and found the head of Lough, but he nodded wide.

In the final minute, Stewart picked up the ball 20 yards from the Haws goal and curled inches wide.

The final whistle blew, and Rose were champions.

At half time Rose looked as if they had a mountain to climb and really didn’t look as if they could fight their way back into the game, but they completely controlled the second half and Haws couldn’t hold out.  The home side battled well and caused Rose a lot of problems in the first half but couldn’t replicate that in the second period.

Leishman and Patrick were best for the home side, while Currie, McGachie and Stewart were the Rose top players on the day.

There was a nice touch by the Haws players when they told the Rose team to leave the pitch so they could make a guard of honour for them when they returned to lift the trophy, resplendent in ‘Champions’ t-shirts.

Full Time: Hill of Beath Hawthorn 2 Bonnyrigg Rose 2

Admission: £6

Hill of Beath Hawthorn: 1 Stuart Hall, 2 Shaun Leishman, 5 Rory Harrower, 4 Darrin Wright, 6 Jake Mitchell, 3 Lyle Kellichan, 7 Ross Cuthbert [T] (Smith 61), 8 Rikki Patrick, 11 Russell Grierson (Denton 83), 9 Lewis Elder (Schiavone 63), 10 Daniel Watt. Subs: 12 Charlie Denton, 14 Greg Smith, 15 Lee Schiavone, 16 Jay Watson [T], 17 Marco Valente [T]

Bonnyrigg Rose: 1 Bryan Young, 2 Dean Brett, 4 Kerr Young, 5 Ewan Moyes, 6 Alan Horne (Turner 55), 3 Dean Hoskins, 7 Ross Gray, 8 Jonathan Stewart, 11 Lee Currie, 10 Kyle Wilson (Lough 55), 9 Keiran McGachie. Subs: 12 Neil Martynuik, 14 Lewis Turner, 15 Adam Nelson, 16 Keith Lough, 17 Neil Janczyk.

Referee: Stuart Luke

Programme: None.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Arbroath

Saturday 15 July 2017, 13.00, Keirs Park

The friendlies continue with East Super League side Hill of Beath Hawthorn against League One’s Arbroath.

We haven’t seen Hill of Beath since February 2016 and it’s a first ever visit to Keirs Park.

Hill Of Beath Hawthorn were formed in 1975, taking their name from a previous club that had played at Keirs Park during the 1950’s. They began life in the third division of the Kirkcaldy and District Amateur league.

They quickly got to the top of the First Division procuring several cups along the way before joining the Junior ranks in 1982.  It wasn’t long before they had adjusted to their new status and they won the Dryburgh Cup and Laidlaw Shield in 1986. Their first Fife League title came the following year, a feat they have accomplished on a further eight occasions.

Their greatest triumph came in 1990 when they beat Lesmahagow in the final of the Scottish Junior Cup.  The 1990’s saw many trophies come their way, with the Fife League, the Fife & Lothians Cup, the Fife & Tayside Cup and the Fife Cup all making their way to Keirs Park.

‘The Haws’, as they are affectionately known, were runners-up in their first season in the East Super League in season 2002-03, but were relegated the following season.  That lasted only one year and they were runners-up again in 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Their first manager, Jock Finlayson was at the helm for 40 years before he retired in 2015.  He was succeeded by Bobby Wilson who left at the end of last season.  New manager Kevin Fotheringham has been quick to reshape the side for the new season.

Adam Moffat, Colin Wilson and Dale Allan have left the club, with Lea Schiavone from St Andrews and the returning Michael Lee from Kennoway Star Hearts joining the ranks.

Last season saw them finish tenth in the sixteen team Super League.

We last saw Arbroath in the Angus derby against Forfar Athletic in April, while they were on their way to winning Scottish League Two.

They pipped their opponents that day to the title by two points, despite Forfar having led the league for most of the season, until the penultimate weekend.  Forfar managed to join them in the end, coming up through the play-offs.

Manager Dick Campbell has overseen a number of changes in personnel in preparation for the new season.

Departing were Martin Scott, Josh Thomson, Eddie Ferns and Ryan Stewart.  Coming in were midfielders Jamie Henry from Aberdeen and Blair Yule from Cove Rangers, defender Thomas O’Brien from Forfar Athletic, winger Danny Denholm, also from Forfar, striker Josh Skelly from Dundee, who had been at the club on loan and Gavin Swankie, another joining from Forfar, who is starting his fourth spell at Arbroath.

Arbroath travelled without Ryan McCord, Gavin Swankie, Danny Denholm, and Mark Whatley.

Keirs Park is a very neat and tidy ground, with standing covered terrace down both sides of the pitch and a pavilion at one end.  There is a very large square hedge behind one goal, just beyond the ground, which I expect is in place to protect the houses behind the pitch.  (At least one ball went past it when the teams were warming up.)  A very smart ground.

The legendary Rangers and Scotland star Jim Baxter and the (insert your own word here) Scott Brown of Celtic are both from Hill of Beath.  There is a statue to Baxter near the ground.

Kudos to the home side for not charging to get in, but it was a bit of a blow to have no refreshments on sale, particularly coffee.  There were around 140 who turned up, including a decent contingent from Arbroath.

A persistent spray rain throughout the game made us grateful for the covered terracing.

Straight from kick off Henry played the ball through for Heston in the Haws box, but Lee was across quickly to get the ball away.

Skelly got to the Haw by-line in the second minute and his ball to the back post was perfect for Heston, but Lee saved the home side again, managing to flick the ball behind.

The referee played a good advantage in three minutes as Heston ran in on goal for Arbroath.  He put his shot through the legs of Hall, but it hit the keeper’s heel and spun wide.  Kader’s corner was headed downwards by Little, but Hall smothered.

A great run by Hester in 7 minutes saw him go past a couple of defenders before he was tripped by Haws’ Leishman about 20 yards out.  O’Brien’s low free kick was held by Hall.

A poor pass in 12 minutes elicited a shout from the crowd of “For fuck’s sake.  I paid nothing for this.”

Henry was picking passes well for Arbroath and in 15 minutes he fed a through ball to Hester who was brought down on the edge of the box.  Prunty’s free kick was pushed away by Hall.

Skelly dummied the ball cleverly on the wing in 17 minutes, but was held back by Grierson.

In 20 minutes, Hay won the home side a free kick after being pulled back.  Forbes’ curling effort from 22 yards was held by Brodie.

Hill of Beath won another free kick in 23 minutes when O’Brien had handled.  Hamilton stood in front of the ball to prevent a quick free kick and it looked like Reid went to play it against him but it ended up being a great through ball for Adamson.  His strike to the far corner produced a fine one-handed save by Brodie.

There was a slight delay in 27 minutes after the linesman broke his flag.

Haws broke forward in 32 minutes and Hay found Adamson on the left.  He got to the by-line, but his cross was too close to Brodie.

Henry hit a fine ball to Skelly on the right in 34 minutes.  He fired the ball across the face of the Haws goal, but nobody could get there.

Adamson crossed from the right in 36 minutes and Hamilton miskicked towards his own goal, which forced Brodie into a good reaction save between the Arbroath posts.

A lovely moment in 37 minutes when Arbroath’s David Gold had to retrieve the ball from the gent’s toilet before he took a throw-in.

In 42 minutes, Kader seemed to get a bang in the face, but was ok to continue.

All square at the break and Hill of Beath had managed to weather the storm in the opening minutes as Arbroath came on strong.  As the game progressed the hosts were becoming more of a feature, but the visitors still had the edge.

A through ball by Arbroath’s Skelly picked out Heston in 48 minutes, but Hall was out quickly to block.

Reid put a great delivery into the Arbroath box from a Haws free kick in 51 minutes, but Little managed to get the ball over his own bar.

A long ball forward by Grierson in 53 minutes sent Adamson clean through on the Arbroath goal, but he shot straight at Brodie.

Arbroath broke in 57 minutes with Skelly playing the ball to Prunty, he took it forward and struck at goal from 22 yards, but it was easy for Hall.  He probably had better options than going for goal himself.

With 67 minutes gone, Linn showed some good skill before releasing Doris who rattled the ball off the Haws post.  The ball was played back out to Linn who fired across the face of goal with two players inches from making contact in the middle.

A Hill of Beath corner in 69 minutes was cleared by Arbroath to Linn.  He took the ball into the Haws half and released Doris who ran into the box before squaring to Kader who put the ball into the empty net to give Arbroath the lead.

Almost immediately after the opener Adamson got a sight of the Arbroath goal but fired off target from the edge of the box.

Smith went down in 71 minutes after chasing after Arbroath’s Henry and seeming to get a hand in the face, but there was no lasting damage.

Arbroath were forced to go down to ten men in 72 minutes with Hamilton having to come off and the referee not allowing one of the substituted players back on.

There were claims that Gomes had handled outside the Arbroath box in 73 minutes, just three minutes after he came on, and it looked like he may well have, but nothing was given.

Arbroath won a corner in 76 minutes after Linn’s cross was blocked by the Haws baws of Annandale, who was struggling afterwards.

Annandale had recovered sufficiently in 78 minutes to break into the Arbroath box, but Brodie got out to block his effort.

Doris went down injured in 79 minutes after landing awkwardly on his shoulder.  The Hill of Beath physio went on to treat the Arbroath player as Ian Campbell explained to the Haws’ bench that their physio was “on his holidays”.

Yule set Malin up for a strike at the Haws goal in 80 minutes, but Hall tipped his effort over the bar.

Some controversy in 82 minutes as the linesman seemed to flag for a Haws goal kick, but they were allowed to play on and Smith went on to set up Adamson in the Arbroath box, but Gomes saved well.

With three minutes left Adamson found Smith on the right who shot for goal, but Gomes held.

A battling performance by Hill of Beath who were sharp in the tackle and fought hard.  Some of the tackling wasn’t legal, but they certainly seemed fired up for the contest.  Arbroath had some good spells of possession and started the game very well, but would have been hoping for a bit more penetration than they had.

Haws’ Leishman, Lee and Reid were best for them, while Henry, Skelly and Heston looked bright in the first half for the visitors, with Little and Yule more prominent in the second half.  Certainly a ground I will look to revisit.

Full Time: Hill of Beath Hawthorn 0 Arbroath 1.

Admission: Free.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn: 1 Stuart Hall, 2 Shaun Leishman, 4 Michael Lee, 5 Rikki Dair, 3 Russell Grierson, 10 Calum Adamson, 6 Lee Reid, 8 Stephen Forbes (Gray 62), 7 Lea Schiavonie (Annandale 62), 9 Aaron Hay (Smith 45), 11 Lee Bryce (Muir 45).  Subs: 12 Gray, 14 Greig Smith, 15 Muir, 16 Callum Annandale, 17 Trialist.

Arbroath: 1 Calum Brodie (Gomes 70), 2 David Gold, 4 Ricky Little, 5 Thomas O’Brien (Malin 28), 3 Colin Hamillton, 7 Josh Skelly, 6 Jamie Henry, 8 Blair Yule, 11 Omar Kader, 15 Bryan Prunty (Linn 60), 10 Kane Heston (Doris 60). Subs: 21 Ricky Gomes, 12 Bobby Linn,14 Gavin Malin, 9 Steven Doris.

Referee: Jonathan Bell

Programme: None.

Follow me on Twitter @blowyfootball

Football in Fife?

Saturday 4 February 2017, Fife Fiasco

I’ve witnessed many teams from Fife play in the East Juniors over the years, but had never been to one of the grounds in Fife at that level, so we had decided to rectify that.  With a hotel booked in Dunfermline for the Saturday night, we had a number of options which we narrowed down to:

Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Linlithgow Rose

Crossgates Primrose v Edinburgh United

Kirkcaldy YM v Craigroyston

Lochgelly Albert v Livingston United

Rosyth v Dunbar United

While there were a few other options, these were the ones we settled on.  Hill of Beath had originally been scheduled to play Bonnyrigg Rose, but their Junior Cup replay meant that the other Rose would be the visitors.

While frost is often the problem at this time of year in Scotland, it was the rain which was causing concern this time.  Scotland is notoriously cold in the early months of the year and visitors shouldn’t be fooled by forecasted temperatures, as it’s the wind chill that gets you.  It wasn’t that long ago that the “ice bucket challenge” swept the world, or as it was known in Scotland “going outside”.

The recent wet weather had me worrying about whether or not the games would survive, but a Saturday morning check only ruled out Lochgelly Albert, which had succumbed to a waterlogged pitch.

The field was further narrowed when we found out that Rosyth would be playing their game on the astroturf at Kelty Hearts’ New Central Park.  We were likely to visit Kelty for one of their own home games, so decided to also rule that one out.  The inclement weather also ruled out Crossgates, as their Humbug Park didn’t seem to have any cover against the elements.

The journey across the Forth Rail Bridge saw the weather deteriorate to the extent that when we got off in Dunfermline, it was torrential rain.  Another check of social media showed there was nothing more to be concerned about.  An overly long wait for a taxi to the hotel followed and once we had checked in, it was already 1.40.  All the games kicked off at 2.

We had decided by now that Hill of Beath would be our destination and were just about to headup to the taxi rank to do the 4 or 5 mile journey when  I checked Twitter again.  Game off.  Twenty minutes before kick-off.  The weather had been bad, but this seemed very late. 

With Crossgates the only option left in the time available, a rethink was required.  Crossgates was very close to Hill of Beath.  That was off.  Crossgates had no cover.

We decided on a change of plan.  Cowdenbeath were at home to Elgin City in a Scottish League Two fixture.  Plenty of cover, a short train journey from Dunfermline and, more importantly, a three o’clock kick off.

We got a taxi back down to the station and went to buy our train tickets.  The next train to Cowdenbeath had been cancelled due to a stray dog on the line.  The following one would have seen us not getting to the ground until about 3.15.  We paused.  Was someone or something trying to tell us something? 

The plan had been to get to a Fife Junior ground.  Central Park Cowdenbeath was not that.  We had been there several times before.  We’d miss the start.  We decided not to bother. 

Back up into the centre I cut a forlorn figure.  No football game on a Saturday! Sacrilege.  We headed for a coffee shop and sat down with some food.  I had a look on my phone.  Sky Sports said the Cowdenbeath game was off.  I checked the Twitter feeds of Cowdenbeath and Elgin City.  Nothing.  Then, at 14.42, Cowdenbeath tweeted that the game was off. 

I accept that many have stories of games they were going to being called off late.  I do too.  But never when I have such a comprehensive list of games that I could have gone to.  I feel in particular for any fans of Elgin City who would have made the long journey down to Fife only to hear of the very late call off.

Crossgates’ game was completed.  As was nearby Oakley United’s which I hadn’t even spotted beforehand. 

Needless to say, the vast majority of games I might have gone to nearer home escaped the weather.  Even Whitehill Welfare survived!

Never mind, not long until the Scottish summer.  And what a day that will be.

 

PS for those who are wondering (ok, perhaps not) we still had a decent night out in Dunfermline – the pubs tend to be located quite close to each other and it’s much cheaper than a night out in the big smoke Edinburgh.  And it’s a friendly crowd (although to be fair we have only been out there twice in the recent past, so maybe we’ve just been lucky!) However, I wasn’t desperate enough for any kind of football fix on Saturday to hang around Lourenzo’s to await the guest appearance of Calum Best.  However good his dad was.