Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 2 (Spence 2mins & 81mins)
Blackburn United 2 (Campbell 22mins, Hutton 69mins)
Like the weekend visit to Camelon, United were behind early when ex-Raith Rovers striker SPENCE took advantage of a remarkable piece of good fortune to sweep the ball past an exposed Craig Saunders after a Lyall Cameron clearance ricocheted off Brough to deflect perfectly into his path and just like that Camelon clash too, scores were almost level when Danny Campbell nodded a Calum Heath cross narrowly over. Swifts then almost doubled their lead when Spence held up a long ball to pull it back for Mauchlen who sidefooted past from good position. Kelly then twisted into space and hit a twenty yarder that Saunders tipped away and the ‘keeper went one better moments later with a fantastic save from a Spence half volley. However, it was United who were next to find the net, a Heath corner from the right being brilliantly headed home by CAMPBELL. Within ten minutes and with Blackburn starting to take a grip on proceedings, the linesman’s flag brought celebrations of a second United goal to an abrupt halt after Richie Hutton slammed a Heath delivery into the roof of the net from a marginally offside position. Before the break, Jack Sayers and Heath linked down the right to set up David Howe for a pop at goal that Kaye saved.
Blackburn came agonisingly close to the lead seven minutes into the second period when Heath picked out Campbell for a swerving cross that clipped the face of the crossbar and fell just out of the reach of an off-balance Hutton with the goal gaping. Hutton then headed another Campbell cross just too high after good work from Howe and the latter too had an effort, his twenty yarder touched away from goal by the diving Kaye. However, five minutes later and it was third time lucky for HUTTON, substitute Laurie Devine showing a blistering turn of pace to race clear on the right and whip a delivery to the back post where he fairly clattered the ball high past Kaye. With the game slowing in pace and chances now at a premium it was perhaps against the run of play when the hosts claimed a share of the spoils with just nine minutes remaining, a wicked, left to right ball deceiving both Saunders and the United back line to land at the feet of SPENCE to guide into the waiting net.
Blackburn United line-up: Saunders, Sayers, Lawrie, Cameron, Millar, Meikle, Heath, Browne (Devine 57), Campbell, Howe, Hutton Subs (not used): Smith, Drummond, McClung, Sweeney, Gribben, King
Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts line-up: Kaye, Paterson, Scullion, Mauchlen, McQueen, Murray, Brough, Hynd, Cowie, Kelly, Spence Subs: C.Simpson, Mitchell, T.Simpson, McLean, Wardlaw, Morris, Graham
Referee: Mr. Daniel Graves
Assistants: Mr. Chris Ashley & Mr. Tayler Martin