Recap

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 2 (D.Watt 5mins, Elder 83mins (pen))
Blackburn United 0

In bright sunshine on a playing surface in seemingly pristine condition and with both teams making their Scottish Cup debuts a nervy start might have been expected but the hosts were out of the traps quickly and were ahead in only five minutes, Kellichan getting in behind Keiran Welsh to pull the ball back for Daniel WATT and although it was perhaps a little behind him and not as straight forward as he might have liked the striker managed to twist and get a hitch-kick in that flew past young Jamie Morajda who was making his debut in the United goal thanks to the unavailability of the holidaying Darren Mitchell. With the Haws still on top, a long ball set Adamson clear but his angled shot was saved by Morajda as was Patrick’s follow-up from all but point blank range. Next, Morajda’s right hand post was struck when Elder clipped in an opportunist fifteen yarder. On the half hour mark Blackburn cam close to equalising when Welsh forced a ball out to Danny Campbell but, after tricking his way past Wright, his parting shot crept past the left hand upright. Before the interval the Keirs Park men had another effort at Morajda’s goal, Adamson making a break on the right that allowed Reid a pop that flew past the young ‘keepers right hand post.

Four minutes into the second half and with the rain now coming in torrents and the pitch beginning to get that little bit heavier United’s tough task became tougher still when Elder surged past Michael Browne only for the Blackburn centre-back to tug him back by his shirt. What looked like a routine booking became a straight red card from referee Mr. Williams who decided a clear goalscoring opportunity had been denied, despite several back-tracking United defenders appearing to be in position to cover their captain. Four minutes later though and numbers were evened up when Patrick lunged in on Craig Young with a high boot and flailing studs to earn his own early bath. Young was to depart the scene injured not long thereafter. With the game still in the balance Blackburn then enjoyed their best spell of the afternoon and a Calum McDowall slide rule pass was collected by Campbell and curled just over the junction of post and bar before the same player flighted in a corner that was headed goalwards from James Mildren only for it to be booted clear from the line. The Haws, however, were ever dangerous and when Watt spun past Mildren his shot was only just off target. At the other end Andy McQuillan had an effort at the culmination of some intricate play between David Howe, Campbell and McDowall but Donaldson was able to gather comfortably enough. With thirteen minutes remaining a Lumsden corner was headed over by Elder before, seven minutes later, the tie was ended when Kirby was tripped by Marty Lawrie as the substitute raced to the byeline and from the resultant penalty ELDER picked his spot behind Morajda to ease his side through.

Blackburn United line-up: Morajda, Welsh (Robertson 73), Lawrie, Browne, Drummond, Kane, Cowan (Mildren 51), Young (Howe 62), McQuillan, Campbell, McDowall Subs (not used): L.Devine, S.Devine, Bonnar, Mackay

Hill of Beath Hawthorn line-up: Donaldson, Leishman, Kellichan, Wright, Dair, Patrick, Adamson, Reid, Elder, D.Watt, Lumsden Subs: M.Watt, Harrower, Mitchell, Kirby, Payne

Referee: Mr. Duncan Williams
Assistants: Mr. David Dunne & Mr. Gary Callachan