Blackburn United 4 (Millar 44mins, Heath 65mins, Garrad 80mins & 120mins)

Stoneyburn 3 (Hendry 7mins, Scott 24mins & 87mins)

Stoneyburn got off to a bright start in the seventh minute when a defensive mix-up allowed HENDRY to nip in ahead of his marker and knock the ball out of goalkeeper Craig Saunders’ hand to give the Fulshie the lead. With Stoneyburn continuing to impose themselves on the game, Blackburn pressed forward to try and nab a goal and won a corner-kick despite protestations that they felt a stonewall penalty should have been awarded in the twenty fourth minute. It was the Fulshie who capitalised on the set piece though by breaking forward on the counter from the corner with Robertson drawing Saunders out before squaring to SCOTT for the centre forward to tap into an empty net. In fact, the closest United came to scoring arrived from Stoneyburn’s ex-Blackburn man McConnell when his clearance came too close to the net for Craig’s liking with the goalkeeper forced to parry it over the bar just to be safe. The Burnie eventually reduced the arrears just before half-time when a free-kick was lifted onto the head of Marcus MILLAR who nodded back across the face of goal and home to grant Blackburn the momentum a minute before the break.

The hosts were much improved from then on, but Stoneyburn were resolute in their defending, sensing the opportunity to cause a cup shock. However, United deservedly drew level after an unfortunate error from Craig which saw the ball fall at the feet of Calum HEATH who scooped the ball past the despairing goalkeeper in the sixty fifth minute. Inside the final twenty minutes Blackburn had the ball in the net twice more, first when Richie Hutton rounded the ‘keeper to slot home and then when Andy McQuillan lashed into the roof of the net, but were denied by the offside flag on each occasion. With ten minutes to go though, GARRAD believed he had snatched the winner for Blackburn after his low strike from the edge of the box found the bottom left hand corner of Craig’s net to seemingly complete the comeback. However, there was another twist in the eighty seventh minute. Determined play saw Lyall Cameron lose out on the Blackburn right and when a near post ball arrived at the feet of SCOTT he tapped it home to send the game into extra-time.

With the cold weather beginning to bite, the tension was palpable as the clock ticked closer to what seemed to be an inevitable penalty shoot-out but GARRAD flipped the script in the final moments when the ball fell to him from a free-kick and his half-volley was whacked firmly over the line with the aid of a deflection to send Blackburn into the third round of the South Challenge Cup.

Blackburn United line-up: Saunders, Cameron, Millar, Mildren, Drummond, Meikle, Heath (Devine 92), Howe (Browne 66), Sweeney (McQuillan 61), Garrad, Smith (Hutton 56)  Subs (not used): McClung, Kane, Kidd

Stoneyburn line-up: Craig, Calvey, Guatella, McConnell, Gallagher, Hendry, Brady, Brown, Scott, Donaldson, Robertson  Subs: Hislop, McLay, Mooney, Wilson, Young, Mackie

Referee: Mr. Robert Thomson

Assistants: Mr. Boise Allan & Mr. Jack Leslie

Blackburn United 1 (Garrad 87mins)

Linlithgow Rose 2 (Docherty 4mins, Stowe 83mins)

United continued an unwanted trend of losing early goals when a corner from the right caused a degree of panic in the centre of the six yard box and when the ball couldn’t be adequately cleared and spun towards DOCHERTY he had the simplest of tasks to clip it past an unsighted Craig Saunders. Despite Rose piling on the pressure and moving the ball quickly in search of a second goal it was Blackburn who came closest next, Dominic Kane firing a twenty yarder just past the right hand post before a back post cross picked out Marcus Millar to head down to the feet of Calum Heath but his shot was saved by Shaw at the bottom right hand corner. Linlithgow, though, were clever and lively and Sneddon set-up Docherty for a snap shot the crept narrowly past.

Seven minutes after the resumption a Heath free-kick found the chest of John Drummond but when the ball dropped invitingly for Laurie Devine he could only hook it over the top. At the other end Stowe hit the right hand byeline and cut an inviting ball back into the path of Sneddon but his shot was saved by the feet of Saunders before the same player had a pop from the angle of the box that flew over. With just under twenty minutes remaining a speculative ball over the top found Jack Garrad running onto it at the edge of the Rose area but he was sent flying by an ill-timed thrash at the ball by Shaw, who had rushed from his line, that instead caught the United players ankles and referee Mr. Calder had little option to brandish the red card at the Linlithgow No.1. Blackburn couldn’t make anything from the resultant free-kick though and, despite the mad disadvantage, it was the Prestonfield men who scored again, substitute Tommy Coyne robbing young Jack Sayers of the ball and threading a perfectly weighted pass through to STOWE who made no mistake in picking his spot behind Saunders. However, United were still causing problems and when Saunders long clearance was quickly controlled on the chest of GARRAD the young Hamilton Accies loanee was alert enough to see McMinn had advanced a few yards from his line and brilliantly lobbed him from all of forty yards. Right on time Blackburn had the ball in the net again when Howe’s pin-point cross was expertly thumped home by Richie Hutton but the near side linesman had adjudged him to have strayed marginally offside.

Blackburn United line-up: Saunders, Sayers, Millar, Mildren, Drummond, Kane (Howe 66), Heath (Smith 81), Meikle, Garrad, Devine (Sweeney 75), Hutton  subs (not used): Baillie, Ferris, McClung, Clements

Linlithgow Rose line-up: Shaw, Thomson, Thom, Stowe, Docherty, McKenzie, Hare, Ogilvie, McMullan, Bremner, Sneddon  Subs: McMinn, Lawrie, Coyne, Dublin-Green, Allan

Referee: Mr. George Calder

Assistants: Mr. Calum Doyle & Mr. Gianluca Marini

Blackburn United                  2          (Heath 51, Garrad 64)

Musselburgh Athletic           2          (Jeffries 33, White 71)

Richie Hutton created the first chance of the game on 8 minutes when he flashed a shot goalwards which was deflected wide. From the resulting corner a John Drummond effort from the edge of the area was beaten away by Ross Mccrae in the Musselburgh goal.

On the 19 minute mark a run down the right by Jack Sayers saw him push the ball past Orru and fire in a low cross which just evaded the inrushing Danny Campbell.  It was the latter who then had an attempt a few minutes later which flew just over.

The opening goal came on 33 minutes when a short corner was cleared but fell nicely to Josh Jeffries unmarked on the edge of the box and he fired as tremendous shot into the roof of the net to give the visitors the lead, which remained that way at the half.

Blackburn were on level terms six minutes after the restart when Callum Heath intercepted a loose ball, strode forward and then unleashed a daisycutter from 20 yards which flew into the bottom corner of Mccraes net.  Three minutes later a Daryll Meikle free kick was met by Danny Campbell whose header flew inches wide.

On 64 minutes Blackburn took the lead when Hutton fed Heath wide right who bore down on goal but Mccrae got down well to touch it behind for a corner. From the corner, Mccrae punched the ball clear to Jack Garrad who fired the ball back in through a forrest of legs into the net.

However the lead lasted only seven minutes. A thrown in by Sayers deep in his own half found Dominic Kane but the ball was intercepted by O’Kane who played the ball forward and it eventually fell to Bradley White who curled a shot beyond Saunders.

Musselburgh began to dominate possession without creating any real clear-cut chances and the Blackburn defence held firm. Danny Campbell appeared to have a strong shout for a penalty after Mccrae bundled him over in the six yard box but the claims were waved away by referee Snedden. Deep into injury time a Callum Heath effort from distance flew just over the bar and that brought an end to a very competitive game.

Blackburn United: Craig Saunders, Jack Sayers, Marcus Millar, James Mildren, John Drummond, Dominic Kane, Callum Heath, Daryll Meikle, Jack Garrad (Lyal Cameron 86), Danny Campbell (Laurie Devine 81), Richie Hutton.  Unused subs: Keiran Sweeney, David Howe, Lennon Smith, Baley Ferris, Johnny Clements (GK)

Musselburgh Athletic: Ross Mccrae, Callum Davidson, Jordan Orru, Declan O’Kane, Josh Jeffries (Lloyd Fiddler 69), Conor Thomson (Liam Gregory 69), Bradley Whyte, Liam Reid, Dean Ballantyne, Darren Downie (Jordan Smith 80), Greg Page.  Unused subs: Jackie Myles, John McManus, Joe Hamill, Ethan Wynne

Referee: Iain Snedden

Assistants: Danny Mackinnon, Konrad Spalony

Tynecastle                          2             (Ponton 10, Kennedy 87)

Blackburn United             1             (Heath 32)

It was Blackburn who created chances right from the kick-off when Callum Heath had a 20 yard shot palmed away by Jackson in the opening minute, and then shortly after Dominc Kane tried to find the bottom corner from the edge of the area which squeezed just past.

Tynecastle created their first chance on 9 minutes when Cameron latched onto a through ball but Saunders got down to block the shot, but the opening goal was only delayed by a minute when after a quick free kick the ball found its way to Arran Ponton who fired in a shot from just outside the box which flew past Saunders.

On the 20 minute mark, Sawyers slid in Richie Hutton and he let loose a shot from a tight angle which Jackson touched past for a corner. Just after the half hour the scores were level when a move down the right found Callum Heath just inside the area and he curled his shot past Jackson.  The last chance of the half saw Heath’s free-kick fly the wrong side of the post.

The second half saw another quick opening, Danny Campbell long range effort was held by Jackson and play then moved up the other end when an effort from Hendry sailed over. Kennedy then had a run into the left-hand edge of the box and chipped the ball to the back post but the two strikers just failed to connect.

It was Kennedy moments later who tested Saunders, his shot took a deflection but Saunders managed to get down and block the shot. As Tynecastle began to dominate possession, Cameron again tested Saunders just past the hour mark, and then it was the same player who got the ball past Saunders but Jack Sayers cleared off the line.

At the other end Heath tried his luck from distance which crept over. With 15 minutes remaining, substitute David Howe fed a through ball to fellow sub Kieran Sweeney running clear, but Jackson got his hand to the shot to push it away.

Tynecastle pushed for a winner and this time Chesser had a shot blocked on the line by Saunders who gathered gratefully but with three minutes remaining, a Cameron cross from the right was well cut out by Miller but the ball fell straight back to Cameron and he fired the ball across goal again and this time the ball was stabbed goalwards but it seemed to be stopped on the line before Kennedy bundled it over for the winner.

Tynecastle: Jackson, Pennycuik, Hendry, Combe, Kennedy, Ponton, Chesser (Fisher 78), Hendry (Wolczynski 84), Cameron, Wales, Jardine.  Unused subs: Power, Moffat, Craighead, Deya, Rae.

Blackburn United: Saunders, Sayers, Millar, Browne (Ferris 84), Drummond, Meikle. Heath (Mildren 84), Cameron, Campbell (Sweeney 72), Kane (Howe 72), Hutton (Devine 68). Unused subs: Smith, Clements.

Referee: Chris Newman

Assistant Referees: Kieran Whalen, Ewan Pow

Blackburn United 1 (Millar 57mins)

Crossgates Primrose 4 (Aitken 9mins, McDonald 44mins, Muirhead 80mins, Ritchie 84mins)

The first real opening of the match for either side brought the first goal of the game when a delivery from the left found Lawrie lurking at the back post and when his shot drew a great double save from Craig Saunders in the United goal the ball could only be subsequently half cleared and when it fell to AITKEN on the edge of the area he fired into the bottom right hand corner. Lawrie then had a curling effort held as the visitors pushed for a second. At the other end a Danny Campbell cross was headed onto the roof of the net by John Drummond before, a minute from the break, Primrose doubled their advantage, McDONALD finding just enough time and space inside the six yard box to turn and hit a loose ball past Saunders.

Lawrie had a pop from distance early in the second half and Archie Campbell was denied by a Drummond block but it was blackburn who found the net moments later when, after Marcus Millar had nodded against the bar from a Danny Campbell corner, a second successive corner, this time taken by Calum Heath, saw Drummond outjump his marker to head down for MILLAR to bundle over the line. Graham then set up Muirhead for a shot that crept past the right hand post as the visitors re-established themselves in the game and, with only ten minutes remaining, they restored their two goal lead when a long ball launched forward saw Saunders advance too far off his line and MUIRHEAD took full advantage to place the ball beyond him and into the net. With the points secure, Crossgates added further to the scoreline when a Muirhead mishit fell perfectly for RITCHIE to slam home from point blank range.

Blackburn United line-up: Saunders, Sayers, Drummond, Cameron, Millar, Howe, Heath, Browne, McQuillan (Sweeney 70), Campbell, Hutton (Devine 70)  Subs (not used): Mildren, Smith, Ferris, King

Crossgates Primrose line-up: Robertson, Muirhead, Brown, Graham, McAteer, McDonald, Ritchie, Aitken, S.Lawrie, Campbell, Graham  Subs: Sawers, McGuire, Hunter, Breeze, McKenzie, N.Lawrie

Referee: Mr. Jordan Curran

Assistants: Mr. Dale Kerr & Mr. Keiran Martin

Blackburn United 1 (McQuillan 16mins)

Rothes 2 (Robertson 62mins, Hyde 90mins)

United got off to a fast start against their opponents, who had opened the Highland League season with an eight game unbeaten run and almost took the lead seven minutes in when a Laurie Devine cross was deflected onto the bar by Rothes defender Finnis with Andy McQuillan heading over the bar from the resulting corner-kick. McQUILLAN would make no mistake less than ten minutes later though when he made the most of some poor defending to fire across McCarthy and into the bottom corner for the opening goal. Rothes settled into the game following the slow start but a resolute United defensive display limited them to half-chances in the first-half with a McRitchie header from a corner that went wide being the closest they came to levelling things up. At the other end, McQuillan broke clear but lacked the pace to outrun the defence while both David Howe and Calum Heath fired straight at the keeper from distance.

The second-half was near total one-way traffic in favour of the away side. Craig Saunders produced a tremendous save on fifty four minutes to deny Stark when he raced through on the right while the dangerous Cormack and Milne both went close. It appeared to be just a matter of time before the equaliser would come and it duly arrived on sixty two minutes when Cormack’s great play on the left flank led to ROBERTSON rolling the ball into the net from close range. Cormack almost headed the Highlanders in front three minutes later from a corner-kick while Gunn also went close when firing just wide moments later. Having been under the cosh for some time, Blackburn began to get a foothold back into the game with the pattern of play being two resolute defences with chances now at a premium. A goalmouth scramble nine minutes from time could easily have seen United turn the ball home for the lead but it wasn’t to be and with a replay seeming certain, Rothes struck with HYDE, on the park a mere five minutes, proving to be the match-winner as he tapped home at the back post.

Blackburn United line-up: Saunders, Sayers, Lawrie, Drummond, Millar, Meikle, Heath (Kane 78), Browne, McQuillan, Howe (Gribben 85), Devine (Smith 72)  Subs (not used): McClung, Sweeney, Ferris, King

Rothes line-up: McCarthy, Stark, Finnis, McRitchie, Milne, Robertson, Gunn, Pollock, Harkness, Cormack, A.MacKenzie  Subs: Johnstone, Browne, Davies, Wilson, Hyde, I.MacKenzie

Referee: Mr. Steven Reid

Assistants: Mr. Steven McLelland & Mr. James Taylor

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

Camelon 3 (Wallace 2mins, Cowan 40mins, Baird 51mins)

Blackburn United 4 (Heath 30mins & 58mins, Hutton 68mins, McQuillan 81mins)

The quickest of starts by the hosts saw the Carmuirs men ahead inside two minutes when WALLACE was sharp to react to a ball arriving at his feet inside the box to lash it across Craig Saunders and in at the left hand post. However, United might have been level not too long thereafter when James Mildren won possession out on the right and whipped in a cross, but Andy McQuillan could only head it past the upright. Another glorious chance then came and went for the equaliser when Calum Heath made space to clip a ball into the feet of McQuillan who was duly upended as he maneuvered for space inside the box. Marty Lawrie saw his resultant penalty brush against the outside of the right hand post on its way past. McQuillan’s close control caused all sorts of problems for the Camelon backline again moments later and when he was once more brought crashing to the ground, the free-kick awarded some twenty yards from goal was guided around the wall and in at the bottom left hand corner by HEATH. On top of the game and looking for the lead, Blackburn were then reduced to ten men when Mildren caught Taylor high in front of the home dugout, although the Camelon man too was a little robust in his lunge for the ball, and the hosts made their man advantage count five minutes from the break when ex-United youth player Jackson COWAN curled a free-kick past Saunders.

It took only six minutes of second half play for the hosts to stretch their lead, BAIRD finding himself free inside the middle of the six yard box to sweep a cross from the right past an exposed Saunders. However, Blackburn still looked more than capable of breaching the Carmuirs Park sides defence and before the hour mark HEATH had halved the deficit with a beauty, cutting in from the right and curling an unstoppable effort past the flailing hands of Welna. Seven minutes later Heath was the provider for the deserved equaliser when he took advantage of McQuillan harrying Boyle into a mistake to deliver a pinpoint cross onto the head of Richie HUTTON to nod into Welna’s net. The hosts, though, were almost back ahead but for Saunders touching over a fine strike by Stevenson from the edge of the area. Jack Sayers then made a surging run on the right but couldn’t get his shot away as he might have liked, the ball falling for McQuillan whose effort was held. However, United were not to be denied and the fight back was complete when McQUILLAN refused to give up on a ball down the left channel, bullying his man out of possession and hairing in on goal to brilliantly fire past Welna from a tight angle for what proved to be the winner.

Blackburn United line-up: Saunders, Mildren, Lawrie, Cameron, Millar, Browne, Heath (Devine 77), Meikle, McQuillan (Sweeney 88), Howe (Sayers 35), Hutton  Subs (not used): Drummond, McClung, Smith, King

Camelon line-up: Welna, Sandison, Lemetti, Boyle, Macisaac, Baird, Cowan, Wallace, Stewart, Taylor, Stevenson  Subs: Mowat, Forrest, McDonald, McCafferty, Canavan, Gould

Referee: Mr. Craig Wilson

Assistants: Mr. Steven Adair & Mr. Derryn Brogan

In todays First Round draw, Scottish Rugby Head Coach Gregor Townsend paired us with Highland League side Rothes, with the match taking place at the Purdie Worldwide Community Stadium on Saturday 18th September with a 15.00 kick-off.

Blackburn United 2 (Heath 19mins, Campbell 44mins)

Easthouses Lily 1 (Russell 21mins)

A third appearance in the Scottish Cup for United began in positive fashion when Danny Campbell did well with a piece of hold up play that allowed him to lay the ball off to the supporting James Mildren but his shot was held easily enough by Hay in the visiting goal. Shortly thereafter Campbell was again the creator, slipping in Richie Hutton on the right but his pop was saved by Hay down low to his left. At the other end Russell got his head on a cross to set up Beattie but he couldn’t get his own header on target. The opening goal then duly arrived on nineteen minutes and it was Campbell who once more was at the heart of it, taking a long clearance down brilliantly and playing in Callum HEATH on the right who chopped his stride to create the space to curl an absolute beauty past Hay and into the left corner of the net. However, the lead was short lived and RUSSELL was strong to hold off a challenge as he barrelled into the box to pick his spot in the bottom right hand corner. A looped Campbell header from a Hutton cross was touched over as Blackburn looked to re-establish the lead but it was a terrific one on one black by Craig Saunders that prevented McBeth squeezing the visitors in front. However, just before the interval the United lead was indeed restored, Keiran Sweeney setting off on a run down the left from inside his own half and sliding a pass across the face of the box to CAMPBELL who took a touch and thumped a shot across Hay and into the bottom left.

The second half was more of a tame affair with Blackburn happy to allow the men from East Lothian possession without too much in the way of clear cut chances arriving, other than Russell curling an effort wide of the left hand post. Substitute Darren Gribben then presented the Lily rearguard with some problems without testing Hay too much. With some six minutes remaining both sides were reduced to ten men when Beattie lunged in on James Mildren with his boot up and studs showing, catching the full back high on the shin and causing a bit of heated pushing and shoving in the aftermath. Once referee Mr. Soutar was able to calm matters, his red card was deservedly brandished at original culprit Beattie as well as Campbell who had been first to take exception to his tackle. Once play resumed the final minutes were negotiated easily enough by Blackburn to progress into the first round proper of the national cup competition for the first time.

Blackburn United line-up: Saunders, Mildren, Lawrie, Cameron, Millar, Browne, Heath (Gribben 82), Howe, Sweeney (McClung 86), Campbell, Hutton  Subs (not used): Young, Ferris, Baillie, King, Clements

Easthouses Lily line-up: Hay, Smith, Whyte, McQueenie, Meikle, Russell, McBeth, Hunter, Elliot, Janczyk, Beattie  Subs: Sives, Kearney, Lennie, Connell, Brown, Currie, McDermott, Amos

Referee: Mr. Greg Soutar

Assistants: Mr. Ralph Gordon & Mr. Sean Duff