Recap

Blackburn United 1 (Campbell 69mins, pen)
Newtongrange Star 4 (Paterson 20mins & 63mins, Thomson 54mins, Hume 81mins)

Despite the impressive 1-0 victory at league leaders Bo’ness United the previous week United went looking for their fourth win in five league games in front of their smallest competitive crowd of the season and in dull, dreich conditions that necessitated the Purdie Worldwide Community Stadium floodlights being on from the start James Mildren had to be alert to clear a dangerous delivery from Porteous in the opening few minutes. At the other end Blackburn then came mighty close to finding the net but when David Taylor brought Calum McDowall’s corner kick under control and clipped an outside of the right boot shot towards the top corner Cherrie was there to clear off his own line. However, three minutes later it was the visitors who were in front when a Nelson corner from the right was missed by United ‘keeper Darren Mitchell to leave PATERSON with a free header into an empty net. Dominic Kane almost responded quickly but his dipping half volley from distance was wide of the target before McDowall and Richie Hutton carved out a great chance for Danny Campbell but, after taking a touch to steady himself, the striker couldn’t squeeze the ball past Mack from plumb in front of goal. Seven minutes from the interval a raking move down the Blackburn right involving Campbell and Kane ended when McDowall darted into the box to get onto the latter’s cross but he couldn’t quite find the accuracy necessary to beat Mack.

Nine minutes into the second half calamity befell United when Marty Lawrie missed a tackle in midfield to expose the Blackburn right flank and then, when the backtracking Taylor took a tumble, Paterson took full advantage to cleverly advance on goal, draw Mitchell and roll a square ball into the path of the supporting THOMSON who stroked his shot into the waiting net. Thomson then had a pop from long range that Mitchell did brilliantly to tip onto his crossbar as the Star sensed frailty in the United rearguard and their sense was proven correct just minutes later when a terrific reverse pass released PATERSON on the right of the area and he clipped an effort across Mitchell and into the bottom left hand corner. With just over twenty minutes remaining Blackburn momentarily got back into the game when Hutton was fouled in the box for CAMPBELL to slam home the resultant penalty but despite McDowall coming close to reducing the arrears further with a free-kick that crept just over it was the New Victoria Park men who finished on the front foot, a Paterson half-volley landing on the roof of the net before, with just nine minutes left, HUME found himself free inside the six yard box to head a cross from the left behind a badly exposed Mitchell.

Blackburn United line-up: Mitchell, Welsh (Mbewe 71), Lawrie, Mildren, Taylor, Browne, McDowall, Young (Donnelly-Kay 59), Campbell, Kane, Hutton (Cowan 79) Subs (not used): Anderson, McIntosh, S.Devine, Morajda

Newtongrange Star line-up: Mack, Swaney, Christie, Cherrie, Nelson, Paterson, Porteous, Hume, Thomson, Reid, Jamieson Subs: Smith, McIntosh, Hastie, Tait, Bracks, Dyet, Gillon

Referee: Mr. George Calder
Assistants: Mr. Cameron Doyle & Mr. Jordan Kelly