It was the late late show on Saturday with goals in 87, 90 and 90+3 to seal a spectacular comeback win. Report to follow.

The match was abandoned with 7 minutes remaining after torrential rain flooded the pitch. Report to follow.

Blackburn United            3             (Lawrie pen 22, McQuillan 44, Garrad 88)

Hill of Beath Hawthorn  1             (Galloway 49)

On a warm and sunny day at the Purdie Worldwide Community Stadium, both teams started quickly with the visitors going close with a header before Burnie’s first chance came on 12 minutes when a Darren Gribben corner appeared to be headed off the line and cleared for a second corner. This was taken short and David Howe’s shot seemed to take a deflection and nestle into the net but the referee blew for offside.

However ten minutes later Jack Garrad collected the ball inside the box from another corner which wasn’t properly cleared and was bundled over by Scott Gibson and the referee pointed to the spot.  Marty Lawrie stepped up to slot home the penalty.

From a Hill of Beath corner on 35 minutes which was cleared, the ball was recycled and crossed back in where Bradley Grieve headed just wide.  Then at the other end Darren Gribben’s 20 yard free-kick was clawed away by James Donaldson for a corner.

As half time approached Burnie went further ahead, Jack Sayers and Danny Campbell combined on the right, the ball was squared into Andy McQuillan just inside the box and he deceived Leishman before slotting past Donaldson, who got a hand to it but couldn’t keep it out.

It was the visitors who started the second half on the front foot and four minutes in John Galloway stroked the ball into the net from close range after a breakaway exposed the Burnie defence.  A couple of minutes later Marcus Millar almost cleared a dangerous looking cross into his own net as Hill of Beath pressed home their attacks.

Burnie’s first real chance of the second period came in the 64^th minute when Richie Hutton failed to connect properly with a Campbell cross and diverted the ball into Donaldson’s grateful arms.  Ten minutes later a near identical chance, with Gribben and Campbell combining saw a low cross met by McQuillan 6 yards out but he managed to screw the shot wide.

With a few minutes remaining Hill of Beath continued to press for an equaliser without creating too many clear cut chances. An attack broke down but Russell Grierson stumbled on halfway when trying to gather a clearance, allowing Jack Garrard to collect and feed Gribben running away inside the Hill of Beath half before he played Garrad back in who ran into the box and calmly slotted the ball beyond Donaldson to seal the three points.  In injury time Grierson’s bad day got worse when he saw a second yellow for hand ball and was sent packing.

Blackburn United: Saunders, Sayers, Lawrie, Browne (Mildren 81), Millar, Garrad, Campbell (Kane 76), Howe (McClung 81), McQuillan (Sweeney 85), Gribben, Hutton.  Subs: Shaw, McKeon, Clements (SG)

Hill of Beath Hawthorn: Jams Donaldson, Shaun Leishman, Russell Grierson, Jake Mitchell, Bradley Grieve, Scott Gibson, John Galloway, Lee Reid, Daniel Watt, Brandon Luke, Calum Adamson. Subs: Joe Kinninmonth, Mark Wilkie, Michael Watt, Rory Harrower, Ryan Connelly, Lyle Kellichan, Lee Wilson.

Referee: Mr. Stewart Luke

Assistants: Mr. Cameron Sanderson & Mr. Luke Quinton                             att 71

Report to follow…….

Tonights match against Dundonald Bluebell sees us host fans at a competitive match for the first time since February 2020.

Can we remind everyone of the following protocols for the match, will be the same for all home matches until at least 9th August when the SFA’s hopes for some further relaxations;

Please ensure you scan the Check In Scotland QR code OR sign the register with name and phone number. every adult should do this. One or the other.

Please wear a mask

Please have exact change ready if at all possible (£6/£3)

Please remember social distancing rules

The kitchen will be open, but only after the start of the match. Please wear a mask when approaching the serving hatch, and maintain social distancing.

We can’t wait to see you all back, and if everyone follows the rules it makes the match as safe place to be. Hopefully normality beckons soon.

Jeanfield Swifts 0

Blackburn United 4 (Millar 71mins & 81mins, Devine 73mins, Hutton 84mins)

United played their first competitive match in front of fans since 7^th March 2020 at a sweltering Riverside Park in Perth against a Jeanfield Swifts side who were unbeaten and at the top of the league when hostilities were abruptly brought to a Covid imposed stop last season and the home side started the match amongst the favourites for promotion this time out. However, it was Blackburn who nonetheless came closest in the opening exchanges, first when a Marcus Millar diving header from a Danny Campbell corner was cleared off the line and in the moments that followed when Campbell himself had a curling effort held by Mitchell in the home goal.  The hosts themselves were not shy in coming forward and when Dodd came in off the right and past Millar his shot too was on target but was clutched to the chest of Craig Saunders. Dodd was also at the heart of the next Swifts move but when he set up Struthers his shot was also saved by Saunders. The best move of the opening twenty five minutes then followed when David Howe won possession for United and found Andy McQuillan who, after a neat twist and turn, slipped in Jack Garrad who, instead of shooting, set-up Calum Heath in a more promising position but his pop at goal was denied by the diving Mitchell. McQuillan then saw a back post header blocked as United began to stretch the opposition. Just before the half hour mark Jeanfied were reduced to ten men when Garrad knocked the ball into the space behind Dolzanski but he himself couldn’t get past the big centre half whose lunging tackle brought the young midfielder crashing earthward and deservedly earned him a red card. Before the interval Howe had the ball in the Swifts net but was correctly ruled offside.

With Lennon Smith on for Heath early in the second half the youngster was quick into the action to set-up McQuillan but his lob over Mitchell from the edge of the area lacked for accuracy and drifted past the left hand upright. With the home side beginning to exert a degree of control in the middle of the park despite their man disadvantage there was perhaps an indication as to why they had been tagged as amongst the early favourites for the title, but very little in the way of clear cut chances came their way. Indeed, with nineteen minutes remaining it was Blackburn who eventually opened the scoring, MILLAR getting on the end of a Campbell corner to head past Mitchell before, ninety seconds later, substitute Laurie DEVINE sent a scintillating, dipping volley on the run past the ‘keeper from distance to double the lead. Inside the last ten minutes MILLAR was again on the end of a corner kick, this time from the right and from the boot of Darren Gribben, to nod past an exposed Mitchell from almost on the line and three minutes later the scoring was complete when HOWE matched Devine’s earlier effort for both accuracy and distance to thrash the ball high into Mitchell’s net.

Blackburn United line-up: Saunders, Sayers, Lawrie (McClung 85), Browne, Millar, Garrad, Hutton (Kane 76), Howe, McQuillan (Devine 68), Campbell (Gribben 76), Heath (L.Smith 50)  Subs (not used): Shaw, Clements

Jeanfield Swifts line-up: Mitchell, Dodd, Struthers, Whitehead, Dolzanski, Ramsay, Scott, McLaren, F.Smith, Simpson, Fergus  Subs: McLeish, M.Smith, Sweeney, Honeyman, Gunnion

Referee: Mr. Alan Budd

Assistants: Mr. Archibald Finnigan & Mr. Mark Findlay

The final pre-season didn’t go the way we wanted against a good Rosyth side on a tight pitch. Our goal came via Lennon Smith in the first half to open the scoring.

All attention now turns to Saturday where the opening match of the new season takes place at the Riverside Stadium in Perth against Jeanfield Swifts. Spectators are allowed, and the sun will be shining, so come along and support the Burnie!

Due to unforeseen issues, Burntisland Shipyard have withdrawn from tomorrows match. We will now face Rosyth at the Fleet Grounds in Rosyth. Address is Wilson Way, KY11 2AW.

A John Drummond goal on the hour mark settled a tight game against Preston Athletic tonight. Referee issues delayed the start, with striker Laurie Devine taking the first 12 minutes with the whistle before a replacement referee arrived. Next up, Burntisland on Saturday to finish our pre-season.

An exciting opportunity is being offered by the Community Sports Club as they look to grow and expand what they bring to our local community. Please see the attached details.