Due to the webmaster going on a much needed holiday, the website wont be updated for the next three weeks.
However you can keep upto date on our Facebook and Twitter channels, and of course the East of Scotland League website.
The remaining games of the season are listed on the Fixtures & Results and U20 pages.
East of Scotland Premier League – Saturday 23rd April 2022
Dunbar United 2 (Ingram 45, Smith 71)
Blackburn United 2 (Garrad 60, Howe 70)
The first chance came after eight minutes when Laing came for a ball but it wasn’t cleared properly and Richie Hutton stabbed the loose ball over the bar. A minute later there was a lengthy stoppage as Fergus Owens and Darren Handling clashed heads, the latter appearing to have been briefly knocked out and having to leave the field after treatment.
Blackburn had the better of play in the first half but couldn’t create clear many cut chances, the closest Burnie came was in 36 minutes when a Jack Garrad turn and shot was tipped past the post by Laing. Right on the stroke of half-time Jamie Smith spilled a cross and Jamie Devlin saw his goalbound header cleared off the line for a corner. From the kick, the ball eventually fell to Kieran Ingram at the back of the box and he fired a shot across Smith into the far corner to open the scoring in first half injury time, a bit against the run of play.
Two minutes after the restart Dunbar almost doubled the lead when a raking shot from Darren Smith was heading for the top corner but Jamie Smith got up to touch it over the bar.
Blackburn then took a grip of the game in an effort to draw level, a Jack Garrad shot was parried away by Laing for a corner, then Heath’s shot from the set piece deflected over the bar. On the hour mark the equaliser did come when Hutton picked up a loose ball in midfield, before sliding in Garrad free on the left and he made his way into the box before firing a shot from a tight angle high and across Laing into the roof of the net.
Five minutes later and an in-swinging Heath corner had to be tipped over the bar by Laing, and then a curling Hutton shot was tipped round the post by the busy home keeper. The second came 10 minutes after the equaliser when from a throw-in, David Howe gathered, turned and sent an angled shot across Laing into the top corner for another great strike.
However the lead only lasted a minute. A lofted cross into the box wasn’t dealt with and the ball fell to Darren Smith to stabbed it home from close range for an equaliser out of nothing.
The final 20 minutes saw few clear cut chances as both sides tried in vein to find a winner.
Dunbar United: Daniel Laing, Michael McFarlane, Kieran Ingram, Jamie Devlin, Robert Berry, Darren Handling (Scott Hay 13), Andrew Jones, Fraser Neave, Evan Fleming, Darren Smith, Dean Whitson. Unused subs: Declan Hannan, Fraser McLaren.
Blackburn United: Jamie Smith, Jack Sayers, Kyle McClung, Fergus Owens, James Mildren (Laurie Devine 79), Daryl Meikle, Richard Hutton, Dominic Kane, Jack Garrad, David Howe (Michael Browne 79), Calum Heath. Unused subs: David McKeon, Baley Ferris, David Wilson, Craig Saunders, Gavin King.
East of Scotland Premier League – Saturday 16th April 2022
Broxburn Athletic 0
Blackburn United 1 (Heath 87)
The West Lothian derby took a little while to settle down and the first real chance wasn’t created until 15 minutes in when good work by Richie Hutton on the left wing tied his marker in knots and his cross into the box fell to Calum Heath who’s shot was blocked and Dominic Kane’s follow up crept past.
Six minutes later it was Hutton again on the left and his cross was begging to be converted but Jack Garrad just failed to get his head to the ball. Moments later at the other end, the homesters created their first chance when Donaldson got free on the right and crossed for Gary Brass to glance a header wide.
Nearing the half hour mark, Andrew Mair floated a cross in which caught in the wind and Jamie Smith had to be alert to tip it over the bar, then right on the half time whistle, Heath got on the end of yet another Hutton cross but his diving header went wide.
Three minutes after the re-start Blackburn almost took the lead when, from a corner, David Howe cut inside his marker and curled in a shot from the edge of the box which Wallace did well to tip round the post. On 57 minutes Adam Murray flashed a shot over from a corner as Broxburn struggled to create any clear cut chances.
With 12 minutes remaining Richie Hutton was in the thick of the action again, letting fly from 25 yards which Wallace managed to tip over the bar, two minutes later from a corner, Marcus Millar went down amidst claims of shirt pulling but referee Gamble waved away the claims.
However a penalty was awarded with three minute remaining, a corner was cleared to Hutton, he lofted the ball back into the box and Wallace came through the back of Fergus Owens attempting to punch it clear and flattened him. Michael Browne had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes but stepped up to take the kick, however Wallace got down well to block it, but the alert Calum Heath got to the rebound ahead of Nimmo and fired it into the back of the net to claim a crucial and deserved three points.
Broxburn Athletic: Conor Wallace, Craig Newall, Gordon Donaldson, Adam Murray (Chris Townsley 84), Daniel Nimmo, Greg Nicol, Joe Tait, Andrew Gillen, Gary Brass, Jackson Barker, Andrew Mair (Greg Binnie 60). Unused subs: Michael Beagley, David Greenhill, Shaun Donoghue.
Blackburn United: Jamie Smith, James Mildren, John Drummond, Fergus Owens, Marcus Millar, Daryl Meikle, Richard Hutton, Dominic Kane, Jack Garrad, David Howe (Michael Browne 84), Calum Heath. Unused subs: Laurie Devine, Kyle McClung, David Wilson, Jack Sayers, Craig Saunders.
Referee: Andy Gamble Assistants: Andrew Brown, Cameron Sanderson.
East of Scotland Premier League – Saturday 9th April 2022
Blackburn United 1 (Devine 52)
Tynecastle 3 (Chesser 10, Cameron 81, Hendry 90+4)
There was a frantic start to the game with Richie Hutton curling a shot off the bar after only six minutes, at the other end Jamie Smith blocked a Hendry shot with his legs and then Chesser fired the rebound past. In the tenth minute the visitors took the lead when a floated free kick saw Jack Chesser get a second chance and this time he made no mistake with a half volley at the back post. Only a minute later Laurie Devine came close to equalising but his effort was turned round the post by Jackson.
The game settled down but on the 20 minute mark Hutton got on the end of a Meikle cross and guided a shot beyond Jackson but was flagged offside. Kyle McClung then fired over from close range a few moments later. With ten minutes of the half left, Laurie Devine got on the end of a long Fergus Owens pass and ran clear but Jackson blocked his shot.
The equaliser eventually came seven minutes after the restart when Hutton made his way to the bye line and crossed into McClung who hooked the ball back to Devine to fire past Jackson, Blackburn were dominating the second period with chance after chance going begging, Hutton saw a shot deflect wide and then Devine again found himself in the clear but again Jackson denied him.
With ten minutes left, Blake Wales was yellow carded for a second time but it took a while, and the help of one of his assistants, to prompt Mr.Bushell to show a red. From the free kick Marcus Millar’s header crept past, but Jacksons long goal kick caught the defence napping and Ryan Cameron raced onto the ball to stab it past Smith for a second completely against the run of play. Blake Wales then ran back onto the pitch and got into a confrontation with the Burnie bench in unsavoury scenes before he was dragged away.
Burnie pressed for a second equaliser but were again caught by a sucker punch almost with the last kick of the ball with Hendry scoring.
Blackburn United: Jamie Smith, James Mildren (Baley Ferris 90), John Drummond, Fergus Owens, Marcus Millar, Daryl Meikle, Kyle McClung (Jack Sayers 69), Dominic Kane, Laurie Devine, David Howe (Craig Young 88), Richard Hutton. Unused subs: Michael Browne, Sam Thomas, David McKeon, Craig Saunders.
Tynecastle: Murray Jackson, Lee Dawson, Conor Power, Nichola Weir (Charlie Thompson 79), Fletcher Hendry, Neil Janczyk (Jamie Carrick 79), Aaran Ponton, Jack Chesser (Joe Kerr 71), Taylor Hendry (Alexander Elliot 40), Ryan Cameron, Blake Wales. Unused subs: Jack Henderson, Jonathan Steel, Jamie Rae.
Referee: Fraxer Bushell Assistants: Cameron Sanderson, Stephen Allan.
East of Scotland Premier League – Tuesday 5th April 2022
Sauchie Juniors 3 (Crawford 6, Smith 23 & 48)
Blackburn United 1 (Heath 61)
This was the re-arranged match after the one last July was abandoned with 7 minutes remaining and Sauchie leading 3-2.
They didn’t hang around this time and went ahead after six minutes when a cross from the right found Ross Crawford unmarked inside the box and he headed beyond Saunders to open the scoring. Blackburn created their first chance on 12 minutes when a Calum Heath free kick was cleared to Danny Campbell 20 yards out but he pulled his shot wide. However it was Sauchie who were pushing Burnie back and after Danny Smith fired over, he increased the lead on 23 minutes with a bit of luck after his shot deflected off Fergus Owens and into the net.
Nearing the half hour mark, Danny Campbell got on the end of a Daryl Meikle cross and his glancing header was pushed round the post by Charles Clark for a corner. Then a Jack Garrard effort was deflected and Clark again got down will to push it away for a corner. As the half drew to a close, Sauchie looked to increase the lead when Morgan and then Smith had efforts which came to nothing. To compound matter, Danny Campbell limped off to be replaced by Laurie Devine.
The second half was barely three minutes old when the third came. Saunders saved well from a Morgan effort, but the ball was crossed back into the box and Smith headed in from barely 2 yards. Blackburn started to get a foothold in the game and on the hour mark, Laurie Devine was sent clear but he fired his effort wide. A couple of minutes later Jack Garrad broke down the left and slid the ball into Richie Hutton inside the 6yd box, he squared across the goalmouth to Calum Heath who tapped in at the back post to reduce the deficit.
Blackburn started to cause Sauchie problems with the pace of Devine but never really carved out any clear cut chances and Sauchie saw out the game to claim the three points.
Sauchie Juniors: Charles Clark, Scott Davidson, Jon Tully (William Greenhorn 87), Sam Columbine (Kris Kelly 60), Ross Crawford, Danny Smith (Conor Kelly 87), Mark Finlayson, Craig Comrie, Sam Davidson, Jack Doherty, Brain Morgan. Unused subs: Ross Kavanagh, Darren Carroll, Evan Collumbine.
Blackburn United: Craig Saunders, James Mildren, Kyle McClung (David Howe 61), Fergus Owens, John Drummond, Daryl Meikle, Richard Hutton (Jack Sayers 61), Dominic Kane, Jack Garrad (Baley Ferris 75), Danny Campbell (Laurie Devine 40), Calum Heath. Unused subs: Marcus Millar, Chris Ashley, Gavin King.
Referee: Daniel Graves Assistants: Andrew Simmonds, Cameron Doyle.
East of Scotland League Cup Group J – Saturday 2nd April 2022
Luncarty 0
Blackburn United 0
A match of few chances ended in stalemate at Brownlands Park on Burnie’s first ever visit.
With striking options limited, Jack Garrad lead the line and he broke free on 22 minutes but a poor touch saw his shot blocked. Craig Saunders at the other end pulled off a couple of good saves but that was the sum of the first half action.
Unfortunately Fraser Cormack had to be replaced shortly after the restart and the injury turned out to be a season ending broken collarbone.
On the hour mark it was Garrad who hit the post from a free kick, then shortly afterwards saw another shot blocked by Michael Patton in the Luncarty goal, then Daryl Meikle saw an effort drift wide and the game fizzled out into a goalless draw.
Luncarty: Michael Paton, Danny Dobie, Stuart Nicol, Kevin Sinclair, Lewis Mackie, Callum Kirkcaldy, Daniel Walker, Aaron Carlon, Keith Dewar, Oliver Hamilton, Kyle Green (Sean Fergus 74). Unused subs: Jack Bain,,Robbie Holden, Alex Whytock.
Blackburn United: Craig Saunders, David Wilson (Jack Sayers 74), Kyle McClung, Fergus Owens (James Mildren 45), John Drummond, Fraser Cormack (Daryl Meikle 53), Calum Heath, Dominic Kane, Jack Garrad (Kieran Sweeney 74), David Howe, Richard Hutton. Unused subs: Marcus Millar, Gavin King.
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East of Scotland Premier League – Saturday 26th March 2022
Blackburn United 1 (Devine 36)
Sauchie Juniors 0
West Lothian Courier report
A good crowd took advantage of Blackburn United opening the gates for free to watch as United recorded a 1-0 win over Sauchie to put themselves a point behind 14th placed Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale in the East of Scotland Premier Division. Laurie Devine’s first half header proved to be the difference between the two sides at the Purdie Worldwide Community Stadium.
From the offset, both teams set a frantic pace in the late March heat, but the early exchanges were devoid of clear-cut chances. On 16 minutes, Sauchie’s Chic Clark would be the first of the goalkeepers to be called into action. Jack Garrard found himself free in the Sauchie box and was able to get his shot away. Clark, however, reacted magnificently to deny the Blackburn man. In any case, Garrard would see himself flagged for offside in the build-up.
Both teams continued to take turns to put pressure on each other without really bothering either keeper. In the opening half hour, both Callum Heath and Sam Davidson would each try their luck from distance for Blackburn and Sauchie respectively. But neither effort looked likely to open the scoring.
However, with nine minutes of the first half remaining, Blackburn would find their opening. Right back James Mildren had spent much of the first half producing his typical combative display and it was his determination to keep, what seemed like, a long lost cause in play that led to the goal. His cross from the byline found the head of Devine who was able to guide it high into the net.
This seemed to give United the impetus to kick on and as the early the second half unfolded, they would push for a second. But not before Sauchie would have a penalty claim turned down. Six minutes into the second half, the Sauchie players felt that Lyall Cameron’s clearance took more of Connor Kelly than the ball but the officials disagreed and allowed play to continue.
Devine in particular seemed spurred on by his goal and would produce two chances in as many minutes. First, on 65 minutes he would pick up Heath’s cross field ball and, cutting inside, force a good save from Clark. A minute later, Garrard’s skillful spin away in the centre of the park allowed him to play Devine through. He looked certain to have doubled United’s lead but he could only see his effort cleared off the line after navigating a crowded penalty area.
As the game entered its last quarter, Garrard and Danny Campbell would each have chances to see the game off. First, Garrard looked to be clean through on goal but Sauchie’s Will Greenhorn reacted with a last ditch tackle to deny him. Then, Devine’s good running found him in a position to lay the ball back to Campbell at the edge of the box. Campbell, however, saw his tame shot saved.
In the end, a resounding defensive display saw Blackburn hold on to record a deserved victory.
These two sides will meet again on the 5th of April in Clackmannanshire, with United knowing a second victory over Sauchie will see them leapfrog Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale and into safety.
Blackburn United: Gavin King, James Mildren, Kyle McClung, Fergus Owens, Lyall Cameron, Daryl Meikle, Laurie Devine (Dominic Kane 76), Richie Hutton, Danny Campbell (Fraser Cormack 81), Jack Garrad (David Howe 89), Calum Heath. Unused subs: Joe Osborne, Chris Ashley.
Sauchie Juniors: Charles Clark, William Greenhorn, Ross Hutchison (Grant Dickie 40), Scott Davidson, Sam Davidson (Ross Kavanagh 64), Jack Docherty (Ross Crawford 64), Sam Collumbine, Darren Carroll (Jon Tully 76), Conor Kelly (Kris Kelly 76), Danny Smith, Brian Morgan. Unused subs: Iain Syme, Evan Collumbine.
Referee: Keith Maskell Assistants: Andrew Simmonds, Cameron Doyle. Att 154.
East of Scotland League Cup Group J – Saturday 19th March 2022
West Calder United 1 (Chiwara 44)
Blackburn United 0
West Lothian Courier report
West Calder United recorded a 1-0 win over East of Scotland top flight side Blackburn United in a League Cup shock at Hermand Park, writes Callum McCormack. Leon Chiwara’s 44th minute goal proved the difference between the two sides in a game that saw almost all of its intrigue in the final moments of both halves.
Blackburn had the better of the early chances. On five minutes, Richard Hutton saw his powerful effort from distance well saved by Darren Mitchell in the West Calder goal while Danny Campbell couldn’t do more with his header when left unmarked at the back post.
West Calder would continue to try to impose themselves on the game but struggled to see the ball stick in the Burnie half. Lennon Smith was impressive and he would play a part in the only goal just before the break. He was brought down forcefully as he looked to cut inside with Gary Fallon’s free-kick looking to be a chance missed only for Smith’s good feet seeing him get the shot away.
Craig Saunders could only palm it back into his six yard box with Chiwara being the quickest to react as he poked home from close range.
Looking for an equaliser, Blackburn pressed forward and were awarded a penalty when Campbell was brought down despite protestations from the home side that the whistle should have been blown long before for a head knock. Laurie Devine took the penalty but Mitchell saved well with the striker then hitting the post from the resulting corner – but not before West Calder’s claims of a punch from the Blackburn man were waved away.
The hosts dominated much of the second half before a frantic finish saw Blackburn create numerous chances. Fergus Owen went close when he rose well to meet Hutton’s free-kick, while Baley Ferris saw his effort hit the side-netting.
The game had one final moment of controversy on 88 minutes when Lyall Cameron’s high floated ball sailed over Mitchell’s head for an apparent equaliser.
However, the celebrations turned into anger as the referee blew for a foul on the keeper with Burnie gaffer Mark Campbell being sent-off for his reaction as his side’s hopes of progressing from the competition were ended with the loss.
West Calder United: Darren Mitchell, Gordon Wilson (James Miller 50), Gary Shanks (Stephen Easton 46), Craig Johnston (Michael Adams 50), Scott Hay, Lennon Smith (Brennen Foy 90), Graham Baird, Ryan Stevenson, Leon Chiwara, Gary Fallon, Kevin Ross. Unused subs: Kieran McDougall, Kallum Macauley
Blackburn United: Craig Saunders, James Mildren (David Wilson 74), Lyall Cameron, Fergus Owens, Dominic Kane, Fraser Cormack (Liam Allison 60), Callum Heath (Jack Garrard 72), David Howe, Laurie Devine (Baley Ferris 72), Danny Campbell, Richie Hutton. Unused subs: Kyle McClung, Gavin King, Chris Ashley
Referee: Evan Cairns
East of Scotland League Cup Group J – Tuesday 15th March 2022
Blackburn United 1 (Devine 75)
Linlithgow Rose 5 (Thom 24, Stowe 26, Ogilvie 44, Sneddon 77 & 88)
Report by John Gilmour
It was with some trepidation that the Rose support travelled over the Bathgate hills to face a Blackburn side still on a high after their recent win at Penicuik. With most of the squad back fit, boss Herd was looking for a response against a side playing much better than their league position would suggest – and he certainly got one.
Blackburn came out of the traps quickly and for the opening 20 minutes looked lively. Eventually though, the Rose settled and after Mark Stowe rattled the Blackburn crossbar with a terrific 30 yard effort, the good football started to flow. In the 24th minute Gary Thom headed home from a Stowe corner then, only a couple of minutes later, Stowe himself ran onto a super long ball from Dan Baur to lob the keeper and double the Rose lead. The lads grabbed a decisive third before the break when a good decision by the referee to allow play to go on after a foul gave Jack Ogilvie a well deserved return to the scoresheet.
Now with a 3 goal half-time lead the Rose’s confidence returned big time. They picked up the pace of the game and Blackburn were finding it tough to keep the score down. However with 15 minutes remaining the home side were awarded a penalty which could have given them a lifeline back into the game, Laurie Devine converting. The Rose response was almost immediate though as sub Alan Sneddon slammed home a flick on by fellow sub Nicky Riley following a corner. Then with the full time whistle fast approaching Nicky Riley’s quick thinking saw his superb lob crash off the Blackburn crossbar only for Sneddon to pounce and head home to complete the scoring.
Blackburn United: Gavin King, James Mildren, Kyle McClung, Fergus Owens, Marcus Millar (Dominic Kane 46), Daryl Meikle (Lyall Cameron 55), Laurie Devine, Michael Browne (Fraser Cormack 55), Danny Campbell (Callum Heath 55), Jack Garrad (David Howe 67), Richie Hutton. Unused subs: Baley Ferris, Chris Ashley.
Linlithgow Rose: Lewis McMinn, Willis Hare, Cameron Thomson, Gary Thom, Daniel Baur, Jack Ogilvie (Thomas Halleran 61), Callum Bremner (Sean Heaver 61), Jamie Allan (Connor McMullan 61), Conor McKenzie (Alan Sneddon 61), Mark Stowe (Nick Riley 61), Lewis Payne. Unused subs: Martin Lawrie, Dean Shaw.