Disappointing defeat at Ferguson Park. Full report to follow.
Whitehill Welfare 2 (Wright 66mins, Sproule 86mins)
Blackburn United 0
United travelled east to Rosewell for their first ever visit to Ferguson Park searching for their third successive league victory and on a heavy pitch, water sodden pitch looked by far the more likely in the opening stages, coming closest when Laurie Devine slipped in Danny Campbell on the right of the box, although when he guided his shot past the advancing Bejaoui it clattered against the inside of the right hand post and flew clear. Four minutes later Calum McDowall was the creator, sending Devine in on goal but his shot from the edge of the area was too high. Before the half hour was reached two chances in quick succession were created and scorned, McDowall spraying a pass from right to left for Richie Hutton whose shot was blocked and then Campbell hitting an effort on target that Bejaoui touched past for a fruitless corner. At the other end a Devlin corner was punched clear by Darren Mitchell but only as far as Wright whose hitch-kick flew over. Six minutes from the interval Devine found himself through one on one with Bejaoui but his shot was straight at the Welfare No.1 and when the ball broke to Campbell Bejaoui was equal to his effort too and, although he couldn’t hold onto it, the final follow-up effort from Hutton was deflected wide.
When the second half got underway the tide was perhaps turned with the Ferguson Park men holding sway with both territory and possession without really testing a resolute United rearguard. However, midway through the half a simple, route one play was enough to undo that defensive hard work, Bejaoui launching a long ball forward that left ex-Blackburn man WRIGHT racing through on goal and he made no mistake picking his spot behind an exposed Mitchell. McCallum then headed down a cross into the path of Wright but his half volley was saved by Mitchell. Seven minutes from the end substitute Craig Young picked out Campbell in the box and when his neat turn earned space to set-up Michael Browne for a pop at goal that shot was dragged past. Three minutes later the game was put to bed in almost exactly the same fashion as the opening goal was crafted, Bejaoui again firing a long one forward that this time SPROULE was onto to roll under Mitchell and into the waiting net.
Blackburn United line-up: Mitchell, Mildren (Kane 68), Drummond, Lawrie, Taylor, McLeod (Young 75), McDowall, Browne, L.Devine (Donnelly-Kay 72), Campbell, Hutton Subs (not used): Robertson, Welsh, Howe, Clements
Whitehill Welfare line-up: Bejaoui, Murray, Hamilton, Meikle, Connell, Muir, Dowie, Devlin, McCallum, Wright, Sommerville Subs: Connor, Wales, Janczyk, Hunter, Sproule
Referee: Mr. John Stewart
Assistants: Mr. Andy Brown & Mr. Kyle Charles