2010-11 – Blackburn United Football Club

17-Jul	EQSF	SPARTANS	1-0	Crooks
18-Jul	EQF	KIRKCALDY YM	0-0	(won 5-4 on penalties)
24-Jul	FR	Wishaw	0-5
31-Jul	FR	NEWMAINS UNITED	1-0	A.Brown
03-Aug	FR	LADYWELL AMATEURS	9-0	Stewart, Logan, MacMillan, McLaughlin (3), Todd (2), Clements
07-Aug	LC	Sauchie	0-4
09-Aug	LC	LIVINGSTON UNITED	0-1
11-Aug	LC	Harthill Royal	2-1	McLaughlin, M.Campbell
14-Aug	LC	STONEYBURN	2-1	D.Campbell, Sneddon
16-Aug	LC	Bathgate Thistle	1-3	McLaughlin
18-Aug	LC	CAMELON	1-2	Keir
21-Aug	L	WEST CALDER UNITED	3-1	P.Donnelly (2), A.Brown
28-Aug	L	Haddington Athletic	0-2
31-Aug	FR	STENHOUSEMUIR XI	0-2
04-Sep	L	Tranent	4-0	P.Donnelly, McLaughlin, Sneddon, Miller
11-Sep	EoS1	Livingston United	1-1	Stevenson (won 5-3 on penalties)
18-Sep	L	DALKEITH THISTLE	1-1	Sneddon
25-Sep	L	Dunbar United	4-1	P.Donnelly, D.Campbell, A.Brown, Todd
02-Oct	L	HARTHILL ROYAL	1-1	A.Brown
09-Oct	L	FAULDHOUSE UNITED	0-2
16-Oct	L	LIVINGSTON UNITED	2-1	MacMillan, Todd
23-Oct	L	Sauchie	1-4	Fleming
30-Oct	SJC2	PUMPHERSTON	1-2	P.Donnelly
06-Nov	L	West Calder United	P-P
13-Nov	L	EDINBURGH UNITED	P-P
20-Nov	L	STONEYBURN	4-1	A.Brown, Miller, P.Donnelly, Todd
27-Nov	L	Spartans	P-P
04-Dec	L	Spartans	P-P
11-Dec	L	Spartans	P-P
18-Dec	L	Spartans	P-P
08-Jan	L	Spartans	P-P
15-Jan	L	Spartans	0-1
22-Jan	L	Edinburgh United	P-P
29-Jan	EoS2	ARMADALE THISTLE	2-2	Donnelly, D.Campbell (lost 2-1 on penalties)
05-Feb	L	Edinburgh United	P-P
12-Feb	L	EDINBURGH UNITED	1-0	Gillespie
19-Feb	F&L2	CROSSGATES PRIMROSE	1-0	Miller
26-Feb	L	PUMPHERSTON	3-1	A.Brown, Miller, Sneddon
05-Mar	L	TRANENT	3-0	Cochrane, Donnelly (2)
12-Mar	L	West Calder United	P-P
19-Mar	L	Stoneyburn	0-1
26-Mar	L	West Calder United	1-2	O.G.
02-Apr	L	Dalkeith Thistle	2-0	Ga.Crooks, D.Campbell
06-Apr	L	Livingston United	P-P
09-Apr	F&L3	HILL OF BEATH HAWTHORN	0-2
13-Apr	L	SAUCHIE	1-1	McLaughlin
16-Apr	L	DUNBAR UNITED	3-1	Gr.Crooks, A.Brown, Miller
20-Apr	L	Harthill Royal	3-0	Miller, D.Campbell, P.Donnelly
23-Apr	L	Fauldhouse United	0-3
30-Apr	L	Livingston United	0-1
07-Apr	L	Edinburgh United	0-3
14-Apr	L	HADDINGTON ATHLETIC	0-2
18-Apr	L	Pumpherston	2-1	Miller, Rintoul
21-Apr	L	SPARTANS	4-2	Miller (2), P.Donnelly, O.G.

appearances goes in here

Blackburn V Spartans – Eddie Queen Memorial Tournament Semi-Final.

Saturday 17th July 2010

Blackburn United 1

Crooks 64mins

Spartans 0

An open semi-final between sides who finished second and fourth in the East Region South Division last season saw each ‘keeper keep their side in it with fine first half saves before the game was decided just past the hour mark when United’s Paddy Donnelly tricked his way to the left hand touchline and cut a ball back to the edge of the six yard box from where substitute Greig CROOKS knocked home.

In the other semi-final Fife side Kirkcaldy YM edged out East of Scotland outfit Civil Service Strollers by the odd goal in five in what was, at times, a pretty tetchy match.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Trialist – Hendrie, Keir, R.Brown, R.Miller, Sneddon, Trialist – Stevenson, P.Donnelly, A.Brown, N.Millar, Trialist – Barnes, Trialist – Renwick Subs: Stewart, R.Donnelly, Crooks, Trialist – Derek Campbell, Trialist – McMillan, Trialist – Danny Campbell

Spartans Line-Up: TBA

Referee: Mr. Simon MacLean

Assistant Referees: Mr. Paul Hanlon & Mr. Paul Simmons

Blackburn V Kirkcaldy – Eddie Queen Memorial Tournament Final.

Sunday 18th July 2010

Blackburn United 0

(won 5-4 on pens)

Kirkcaldy YM 0

In a tightly fought contest neither side could take advantage when on top but it was United who laid hands on the shield for the second time in six years when successful spot kicks from Alan Brown, Stevie Barnes, Ricky Miller, Davie Sneddon and Steven McMillan were enough to edge out the men from Fife 5-4 in the penalty shoot out.

In the 3rd/4th Place Play-Off earlier in the afternoon Spartans emerged as 3-0 winners over Civil Service Strollers.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Trialist – Hendrie, R.Brown, Trialist – Graham, R.Miller, Sneddon, Crooks, Stewart, A.Brown, N.Millar, Trialist – Derek Campbell, Trialist – Renwick Subs: Trialist – Kellock, Trialist – McMillan, Trialist – Danny Campbell, Trialist – Barnes, Trialist – McCann

Kirkcaldy YM Line-Up: TBA

Referee: Mr. Dougie Potter

Assistant Referees: Mr. Declan Reid & Mr. Gordon MacVicar

Wishaw V Blackburn – Pre Season Friendly.

Saturday 24th July 2010

Wishaw 5

Kearney 59mins, Airth 80mins & 88mins, Lynch 84mins & 89mins

Blackburn United 0

United started in the ascendency and might have been a goal ahead within fifteen minutes but striker Nicky Miller tried to head Ryan Donnelly’s perfect delivery back across the ‘keeper and the Wishaw custodian managed to block it. This was as close as either side came until just before the hour mark when the Lanarkshire outfit conjured up a very similar opportunity which was different in only one regard – KEARNEY’S header on the end of Muir’s pin point cross ended up in the net. With ten minutes remaining the ceiling then came in as Blackburn inexplicably crumbled and the home side took full advantage when AIRTH and LYNCH both ran in doubles in those closing minutes to earn their side a resounding pre-season victory.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Trialist – Hendrie, Stewart, Keir, R.Brown, Trialist – McMillan, Crooks, P.Donnelly, A.Brown, Trialist – Barnes, N.Miller, R.Donnelly Subs: Stevenson, Trialist – Derek Campbell, Trialist – McLaughlin

Wishaw Line-Up: Gallacher, McIntyre, Ward, Little, Fleming, McBride, Lynch, Sommerville, Morton, McBride, Muir Subs: Coffey, Markey, Nisbet, Juris, Kearney, McMahon, Airth

Referee: Mr. Martin McGuinness

Blackburn V Newmains – Pre Season Friendly.

Saturday 31st July 2010

Blackburn United 1

A.Brown 29mins

Newmains United 0

A weak clearance from the visiting ‘keeper fell kindly for Alan BROWN some forty yards from goal and the United midfielder controlled it well to stride forward a few yards and unleash a stinging shot that opened the scoring just before the half hour mark. A terrific Rab Brown pass then set up substitute Danny Campbell with around fifteen minutes remaining but the Newmains custodian was equal to the young strikers shot, as he was moments later to beat away a similar effort after Derek Campbell had picked out his namesake.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Trialist – Hendrie, R.Brown, Keir, Sneddon, Trialist – MacMillan, Crooks (Trialist – Logan 74), Trialist – Clements (Stewart 50), Stevenson (R.Donnelly 61), P.Donnelly (Trialist – Danny Campbell 61), A.Brown, Trialist – McLaughlin (Trialist – Derek Campbell 61)

Newmains United Line-Up: TBA

Referee: Mr. John Weir

Blackburn V Ladywell Amateurs – Pre Season Friendly.

Tuesday 3rd August 2010

Blackburn United 9

Stewart 2mins, Logan 10mins, MacMillan 22mins, McLaughlin

29mins, 31mins & 86mins, Todd 66mins & 82mins, Clements 81mins

Ladywell Amateurs 0

In this final warm up game, United opened the scoring against Livingston amateur side Ladywell in the second minute when Martin STEWART found the roof of the net from wide on the left and when the second was added only eight minutes later by Stuart LOGAN after Alan Brown had hit the face of the crossbar the writing was on the wall for the visitors. Centre-half Steven MacMILLAN also had time to venture forward and find the net with a header before young Anthony McLAUGHLIN then weighed in with a hat-trick, one each side of the half hour mark and one four minutes from time. Striker Chris TODD was also sharp in grabbing a second half double and fellow substitute Dean CLEMENTS smashed home his own counter as the side eased to a comfortable win against a hard working local outfit who, admirably, kept their discipline from beginning to end despite the game running away from them right from the outset.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Trialist – Logan (Trialist – Derek Campbell 51), Stewart, Sneddon (Trialist – Clements 51), MacMillan, Stevenson, P.Donnelly (R.Donnelly 60), Trialist – Gary Crooks (Greig Crooks 60), A.Brown, Trialist – McRitchie (Trialist – Todd 20), McLaughlin

Ladywell Amateurs Line-Up: Blanche, Mackin, Muir, MacKenzie, Robertson, Carmichael, M.Bradshaw, McNeil, Porteous, McRory, J.Bradshaw Subs: Smith, Whelan, Thomson, Cockburn, Chandler

Referee: Mr. Jim McCunnie

Sauchie V Blackburn – League Cup Section two

Saturday 7th August 2010

Sauchie 4

Donaldson 7mins, Bell 44mins, Cummings 57mins & 81mins

Blackburn United 0

United travelled to Clackmannanshire for the first of six League Cup group games in just twelve days and went behind early before crumbling in the face of incessant pressure from the home side with young Danny Campbell up front perhaps the only Blackburn player to emerge with pass marks.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, R.Brown (Gillespie 46), Stewart, Sneddon, MacMillan, Greig Crooks, Trialist – Gary Crooks (Stevenson 63), A.Brown, McLaughlin (Trialist – Derek Campbell 68), Trialist – Danny Campbell, Trialist – Clements Sub (not used): Trialist – Todd

Sauchie Line-Up: Hardie, Morgan, Learmonth, Burns, Feaks, Purdie, Donaldson, Comrie, Bell, Cummings, Gardiner Subs: O’Hara, McKeown, Bonar, Tully, Drew, Duncan, McEwan

Referee: Mr. Ralph Gordon

Blackburn v Livingston – League Cup Section two

Monday 9th August 2010

Blackburn United 0

Livingston United 1

McQuillan 71mins

After a pretty uneventful first half in which the visitors came closest when Ian Griffin got past Alan Keir to whip in a shot that Ross Hendrie held well, United stepped up the pace after the interval and arguably held the whip hand for most of the second half with Scott Cochrane’s stinging twenty two yarder being perhaps the most troublesome effort for Greening to deal with in the Livi goal. However, as is often the case, Blackburn fell to a sucker punch and it was the excellence of striker Andy McQUILLAN, who had made the short journey from Murrayfield Park to Station Park in the close season, that was ultimately to be the difference as he netted a first time effort from the edge of the box nineteen minutes from time.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Stewart, Keir (Carter 84), Sneddon, MacMillan, Trialist – Gary Crooks (McLaughlin 20), Trialist – Derek Campbell (Trialist – Cochrane 60), A.Brown, P.Donnelly, Trialist – Danny Campbell, Trialist – Shaw Sub (not used): Spence

Livingston United Line-Up: Greening, McGrath, Byle, Docherty, Halliday, Russell, I.Griffin, Frame, McQuillan, A.Griffin, Jaconelli Subs: Santi, Frater, Lawrie, Crawford, Lehman, Currie

Referee: Mr. Gianluca Marini

Harthill V Blackburn – League Cup Section two

Wednesday 11th August 2010

Harthill Royal 1

O.G. 60mins

Blackburn United 2

McLaughlin 12mins, M.Campbell 70mins

After an Alan Keir own goal had levelled Anthony McLAUGHLIN’S early opener for Blackburn, player manager Mark CAMPBELL showed the younger members of the United side how it’s done by heading home the decisive goal from son Danny’s back post cross to point his side in the direction of all three points. Right at the death McLaughlin almost doubled his own tally with a twenty yarder that smacked the crossbar.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Tugman, Keir, Stewart, Sneddon, A.Brown, P.Donnelly (Logan 44), Trialist – Derek Campbell, McLaughlin, Trialist – Todd, Trialist – Danny Campbell, Trialist – Shaw (M.Campbell 66) Subs (not used): Spence, Hendrie

Harthill Royal Line-Up: Wilson, C.Robertson, Whitelaw, Clark, Ireland, Redmond, Beattie, Gunnes, Riley, Ogilvie, Stewart Subs: Yeats, G.Robertson, Van Nuil, McGuinness, Miller, Burns

Referee: Mr. Gordon MacVicar

League Cup Section Two

Saturday 14th August 2010

Blackburn United 2

Danny Campbell 80mins, Sneddon 88mins

Stoneyburn 1

McCormack 28mins

After being a goal behind within half an hour, a long range Danny CAMPBELL free-kick and a late Davie SNEDDON penalty earned United full points and their second successive victory in League Cup Group Two.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Stewart, Keir, Sneddon, A.Brown, Trialist – Cochrane, Trialist – Clements, Stevenson, Trialist – Derek Campbell, Danny Campbell, McLaughlin Subs: Trialist – Shaw, Spence, Trialist – Swan, Gillespie, Tugman

Stoneyburn Line-Up: West, Greig, Carmichael, Ross, McMeechan, Callaghan, McCormack, Doonan, King, Bonnes, Rodgers Subs: Matonti, C.Gilhouley, T.Gilhouley, Woods

Referee: Mr. Jim Ramage

League Cup Section Two

Monday 16th August 2010

Bathgate Thistle 3

Payne 13mins, McLaren 23mins, Johnstone 49mins

Blackburn United 1

McLaughlin 86mins

The Super League side were off the mark quickly and when PAYNE found himself just eight yards out with his back to goal his acrobatic, over head kick fairly fizzed past Michael Tugman for the opening goal. Ten minutes later the home lead was two when McLAREN raced clear and arrowed a daisy cutter across Tugman and into the bottom right hand corner from the left angle of the eighteen yard box. United’s only real reply then came a minute from the break when Anthony McLaughlin stepped past Hunter and whipped a twenty yarder into the hands of Carlin in the Thistle goal.

Moments into the second period Bathgate were three ahead and out of sight when Payne lifted a cross onto the back post where JOHNSTONE, newly signed from Armadale Thistle, headed powerfully beyond Tugman. However, Blackburn refused to buckle and began to make inroads into the home defence and half chances fell to both Derek Campbell and Christopher Todd before Danny Campbell turned Wilson first one way and then the other and grazed the crossbar with a curling shot. United though, did manage the consolation goal their second half performance richly deserved when Danny Campbell cleverly turned into space and rolled a pass in front of Ross Carter racing into the left of the box and when his instinctive shot clipped the inside of the near post and spun along the goal line McLAUGHLIN was on hand to guide it behind Carlin.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Tugman, Keir, Stewart, Sneddon, MacMillan (Crooks 19), Stevenson, Danny Campbell, A.Brown, Spence (Trialist – Todd 57), Trialist – Derek Campbell (Carter 63), McLaughlin Subs (not used): Rintoul, M.Campbell, Hendrie

Bathgate Thistle Line-Up: Carlin, W.Wilson, C.Wilson, Hunter, Easton, McCulloch, Payne, F.Love, Johnstone, McLaren, McColligan Subs: Neill, Fallon, G.Love, Lurinsky, Thomson, Lunn

Referee: Mr. A.Hogg

League Cup Section Two

Wednesday 18th August 2010

Blackburn United 1

Keir 37mins

Camelon 2

Myles 46mins, ? 58mins

When Steven MacMillan’s header from a corner on the left smacked against the post and Alan KEIR knocked in the rebound for his first ever United goal Blackburn looked as though they could be on their way to claiming a surprise Super League scalp in this final League Cup group game.

However, some defensive sloppiness early in the second half allowed the visitors back into it ahead of the Carrmuirs men then scoring what proved to be the winning goal just before the hour mark. Young striker Christopher Todd then found himself getting a shot of the showers four minutes before everyone else after being sent-off for a second yellow card offence.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Stewart, Keir, MacMillan (Cochrane 64), A.Brown, Crooks, Spence, Stevenson (Trialist – Duggan 64), Millar (Danny Campbell 60), Todd, Clements Subs (not used): Rintoul, McLaughlin, Sneddon

Camelon Line-Up: TBA

Referee: Mr. Gavin Duncan

East Region South Division

Saturday 21st August 2010

Blackburn United 3

P.Donnelly 57mins & 72mins, A.Brown 75mins

West Calder United 1

McInally 27mins

Ross Hendrie held a Johnston shot at his near post after the West Calder striker was picked out by McKnight before Blackburn replied with a Derek Campbell volley that flew over the junction of left post and bar. A Wolfe near post header from a McInally corner then flew past as the visitors picked up the pace and on their next venture forward their enterprise was rewarded with a goal,

McINALLY firing what had been a contentious free-kick award past the wall and into Hendrie’s bottom right hand corner from some twenty yards. A Paddy Donnelly cross from the right moments later was just out of Nicky Millar’s reach as Blackburn looked to respond quickly and, after McInally dragged a Cauther half chance past the post at the other end, both Alan Brown and Donnelly came closer still but were denied by a fine double save from Clark in the West Calder goal. Minutes from the interval Brown came close again but his sixteen yard shot was hacked clear from the line before, sixty seconds later, Millar skied and angled shot over the top.

On forty six minutes Campbell pulled a ball back from the left and into the path of Alan Keir for the full-back to lift in a cross to the back post but there were no takers for Anthony McLaughlin’s excellent header back down into the six yard box. When Steven MacMillan’s was then harshly adjudged to have passed the ball back to Hendrie for the goalkeeper to pick up McInally stupidly pushed Hendrie to the ground in his headlong rush to retrieve the ball and to no one’s great surprise found himself staring at the referee’s red card. Down to ten men, the Hermand Park side were now hanging onto their narrow lead and Clark ensured it remained intact with a superb save, clawing away Donnelly’s hitch kick after he had been set up by Greig Crooks. However, United and DONNELLY weren’t to be denied much longer and when the equaliser did arrive it arrived in quite spectacular fashion, the Blackburn striker controlling a ball on his chest and turning in one movement to volley a shot across Clark and into the left corner from nearly twent yards out. Indeed, within ten minutes Donnelly really should have had his side in the lead when he headed past an open goal after Millar picked him out with a terrific cross on the end of a barn storming run down the right. That secong goal wasn’t overly delayed though and, little more than two minutes after Johnston had nodded over a Bodel’s mis hit shot on a rare West Calder break, Millar again set off down the right and this time his low one across the face of gaol was pushed out by Clark for DONNELLY to show his predatory instinct to lash the ball back behind the ‘keeper and into the net. Three minutes later Donnelly turned provider for BROWN to rise and float a header into the top corner to put the game beyond the visitors, although they almost reduced their arrears heading into the last ten minutes but Lawrie’s cross was headed against the bar by Reid. Before the end Jordan Rintoul headed a Scott Cochrane cross narrowly past and Hendrie was then forced into a quick fire double save to rubber stamp United’s two goal victory.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Stewart, Keir, Sneddon, MacMillan, Crooks (Stevenson 80), Derek Campbell (Trialist – Cochrane 56), A.Brown, Millar (Rintoul 80), P.Donnelly, McLaughlin Subs (not used): Carter, Gillespie, Todd

West Calder United Line-Up: Clark, Miekle, Mitchell, Paton, Wolfe, McKnight, Bodel, Lorek, Johnston, McInally, AgnewSubs: Reid, McCann, Lawrie, Wardlaw, Watson

Referee: Mr. John Weir

East Region South Division

Saturday 28th August 2010

Haddington Athletic 2

Jamieson 43mins, MacDonald 72mins

Blackburn United 0

Haddington had the better of the opening forty five minutes but were generally wasteful when it came to shots on goal, which more often than not either went wide of the target or were aimed straight at Ross Hendrie. Murray, hit a good low shot on the half hour which brought out a decent save from Hendrie, but as the close of the first half neared United started to assert themselves a bit more. The referee became the centre of attention three minutes before the break, and his decisions infuriated the Blackburn players and bench who felt they might have had a penalty when the ball deflected off Gallagher’s arm but Mr. Reid saw nothing amiss. The ball was immediately cleared upfield where JAMIESON contested possession and the home striker claimed his first competitive goal in Haddington colours with a neatly executed lob over Hendrie. United again complained strongly that he appeared to have used his hand to control the ball but to no avail.

Stung by what they perceived as an injustice, Blackburn came out for the second half with a bee in their bonnet and were twice unfortunate in the first ten minutes not to equalise. Around the midway stage though Haddington were beginning again to resemble the team of the first half and on seventy two minutes MacDONALD controlled the ball expertly just outside the penalty area and delivered what proved a killer blow with a low drive which beat Hendrie to make it 2-0. United never looked like recovering from this and with greater composure in front of goal the Millfield men could’ve added to their tally.

report courtesy of www.haddingtonathletic.co.uk

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Stewart (Spence), Keir, Sneddon, MacMillan, Stevenson (Crooks),Trialist – Clements (Todd), Brown, Millar, P.Donnelly, McLaughlin Subs (not used): Rintoul, Derek Campbell, Fleming, Gillespie

Haddington Athletic Line-Up: Subs:

Referee: Mr. Declan Reid

Friendly

Tuesday 31st August 2010

Blackburn United 0

Stenhousemuir XI 2

69mins, 81mins

A tight first half was notable for the trouble the pace of Plenderleith on the Stenhousemuir right was causing United and on one of the several occasions he managed to get a shot away his angled fifteen yard drive clattered against the junction of post and bar. At the other end an acrobatic Danny Campbell hitch-kick was just off target.

The early moments of the second period were equally as tight but, with United making a host of substitutions, the visitors took more of a stranglehold on the game and a neat back post header with not much more than twenty minutes remaining was quickly followed by a shot underneath the advancing Barrie Hunter some ten minutes later to ensure that the young SFL side emerge as deserved winners.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Tugman (Hunter 45), Logan (McLaughlin 38), Keir (Carter 59), Sneddon, MacMillan (Stevenson 16), Fleming (Stewart 64), Spence, Cochrane, P.Donnelly, Danny Campbell (Millar 55), Rintoul (Trialist – McCarron 81)

Stenhousemuir XI Line-Up: Subs:

Referee: Mr. G. Marini

East Region South Division

Saturday 4th September 2010

Tranent 0

Blackburn United 4

P.Donnelly 12mins, McLaughlin 32mins, Sneddon 68mins, Millar 74mins

The hosts, who had finished third last season after taking over the league leadership from United during the severe winter months before faltering in the closing weeks of the season, were looking to chalk up their first points of the new campaign but were on the back foot from pretty much the outset and it was as early as the twelfth minute when Blackburn opened the scoring, a Davie Sneddon ball being headed on by Nicky Millar into the path of Paddy DONNELLY who needed no second invitation to blast an unstoppable twenty five yarder past Inglis and into the bottom left hand corner. Tranent’s response was muted and only a Stevenson free-kick from distance truly threatened but ultimately ended up too high. However, little more than ten minutes after taking the lead United were reduced to ten men, Scott Cochrane winning a challenge and slipping a pass through to Greig Crooks advancing unhindered into the box only for the young midfielder to get caught up in some off the ball nonsense with ex-Blackburn centre-half Ricky Miller that resulted in Scott receiving his marching orders and Miller being treated rather more leniently with only the yellow card flashed in his direction. After a hefty and ill advised challenge just moments later Miller was then withdrawn from the action by his manager in a move that looked to be designed to ensure that the home side retained their man advantage. Back to the football and Inglis was required to touch an Alan Brown free-kick over his bar just as it seemed destined for the top right hand corner. A second goal was to be United’s though when an angled drive from Martin Stewart was beaten out by Inglis only as far as Millar whose follow up shot was also pushed away by the Tranent ‘keeper but only as far as Anthony McLAUGHLIN who calmly flicked the outside of his right boot at the ball to roll it over the line. A comfortable, backs to the wall performance then ensued for the visitors until the interval, with only Mack’s fine control and firm shot from the left of the box causing any sort of concern to a confident Michael Tugman in goal.

Just as the first period had ended, so the second began with Blackburn resolute in defence and enterprising in attack when the moment allowed. Moriarty’s half volley on the back post that flew well over was the closest the Belters came to dragging themselves back into the game in their early minutes of dominance but a crisp move by United that involved Stewart and Donnelly almost saw Millar increase the lead but the final cross ball was no more than an agonising inch from his head as he arrived in the centre of the six yard box. Stevenson then almost got lucky as Alan Keir’s clearance ricocheted off him and scraped past Tugman’s post and the home striker also got his head to an Ellis cross only to direct it over the top sixty seconds later. That was just about that for Tranent as an attacking threat and when the third goal of the match did arrive it was the short handed Blackburn who again claimed it in a move that also saw parity in numbers restored before the game was restarted. From a clever Millar flick, Donnelly brought the ball under control with a sublime touch and raced clear on the left before cutting across the back tracking Salton and heading for goal. The Tranent defender, though, had seen enough and clipped the heels of a player who had caused him and his defensive colleagues no end of trouble all afternoon. Referee Mr. Scott had no hesitation in awarding a penalty and dismissing Salton for denying a clear goal scoring opportunity and it was left to SNEDDON to send Inglis the wrong way from the spot. Six minutes later United were four in front when McLaughlin broke free on the right and drilled in a low one that Inglis fumbled and MILLAR reacted with the speed of thought that characterised his performance all afternoon to drag the ball clear from the grounded ‘keeper and thrash it into the waiting net. Before the end Blackburn substitute Kyle Stevenson saw his fifteen yarder saved at a stretch as the visitors earned a deserved and resounding victory to move back into the top four.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Tugman, Keir, Spence (Gillespie 76), Sneddon, Brown, Crooks, Stewart, Cochrane, Millar (Fleming 78), Donnelly, McLaughlin (Stevenson 80) Subs (not used): Todd, Hendrie

Tranent Line-Up: Inglis, Munro, Moriarty, Miller, Salton, Anderson, Mack, Horne, Stevenson, Lawrie, McPartlin Subs: Fairnie, Ellis, Dunlop, Lally

Referee: Mr. Michael Scott

East of Scotland Cup First Round

Saturday 11th September 2010

Livingston United 1

Jaconelli 12mins

Blackburn United 1 (won 5-3 on pens)

Stevenson 39mins

Blackburn made the short journey to Station Park hoping to secure safe passage to the second round of the East of Scotland Cup and, after quite a delay waiting for referee Mr. Ramage to emerge from his dressing room, almost made the perfect start when Nicky Millar was only inches from Greig Crooks cross into the centre of the six yard box, Halliday making it there first to knock the ball out for a fruitless corner. However, it was to be the home side who took an early lead when, barely three minutes later, a ball from right to left was controlled instantly by JACONELLI who earned himself enough space to curl a cracker into Michael Tugman’s top left hand corner from the edge of the area. The sides were almost back on terms some ninety or so seconds later though when Millar’s low delivery from the right picked out Martin Stewart arriving on the back post but, under pressure from McGrath, his shot slid across the face of goal and past. Jaconelli then displayed excellent technique in hitting a fierce volley only just wide as the ball dropped over his left shoulder but it was Blackburn who were beginning to exert more control over the play and Crooks twenty yarder from an Alan Keir pass wasn’t quite as far over the bar as home ‘keeper Gillespie might have thought. The equaliser, however, did arrive before the interval and it was young midfielder Kyle STEVENSON who was quickest to react when a Millar cross was pushed out into a crowded box and he fairly whacked it back past Gillespie and into the net.

Stewart and Crooks linked well in the opening moments of the second period to set up Paddy Donnelly for an angled drive from the left of the area that Gillespie touched over the top as Blackburn took control from the off and, after captain Craig Spence had been upended, Stewart’s stinging free-kick was also diverted over the bar by Gillespie’s fingertips. When Stewart then danced past Lawrie to whip in a cross that was only partly cleared Donnelly’s header was gratefully grasped by the busy home ‘keeper. The best chance of the half then arrived on seventy minutes when Millar tore down the right to lift in a cross that Stewart pulled back from the touchline and into Stevenson’s path but the youngster couldn’t repeat his first half accuracy and his side footer flew past. Indeed, this profligacy in front of goal was almost punished a minute later but Crawford couldn’t quite get his head on Frame’s cross despite throwing himself full length at it. Heading towards full time and the spectre of a penalty shoot out Crooks and Stewart swapped passes for the latter to thump a shot into the side netting before substitute Fraser Gillespie might have done a little better than head Stewart’s free-kick over his namesakes cross bar. However, against the run of play it was the New Town outfit who nearly sneaked into the second round draw when Burns long range, injury time effort deflected off team mate Frater and almost caught out Tugman, but only almost as the Blackburn No.1 quickly adjusted his footing to save.

In the resultant shoot out, a fine Michael Tugman save from Malone’s penalty, Livingston’s fourth, allied to successful spot kicks from Davie Sneddon, Greig Crooks, Kyle Stevenson, Steven McMillan and Fraser Gillespie proved enough to take the visitors into the hat for the second round.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Tugman, Spence (Gillespie 67), Keir, Sneddon, MacMillan, Crooks, Stewart, Stevenson, Millar, Donnelly, McLaughlin Subs (not used): Todd, Rintoul, Clements, Hendrie, Hunter

Livingston United Line-Up: Gillespie, McGrath, Drew, Halliday, Russell, Malone, Frame, Docherty, Crawford, A.Griffen, Jaconelli Subs: Burns, Frater, Lawrie, I.Griffen, McQuillan, Greenan

Referee: Mr. Jim Ramage

East Region South Division

Saturday 18th September 2010

Blackburn United 1

Sneddon 89mins

Dalkeith Thistle 1

87mins

After Paddy Donnelly had been upended in the box Davie SNEDDON, on his 100th appearance for the club, held his nerve to net a late penalty that was enough to earn United a share of the spoils after the visitors had opened the scoring only moments before.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Tugman, Spence, Keir, Sneddon, Brown, Crooks (Rintoul), Stewart (Danny Campbell), Stevenson (Fleming), Millar, Donnelly, McLaughlin Subs (not used): Gillespie, Todd, Clements

Dalkeith Thistle Line-Up: Lennie, Richardson, Murray, McManus, Linton, Pudledski, Kelly, Beattie, Borthwick, Boggie, MacIntosh Subs: Finlayson, Lynch, Fraser

Referee: Mr. Peter Stuart

East Region South Division

Saturday 25th September 2010

Dunbar United 1

Jones 42mins

Blackburn United 4

Donnelly 12mins, D.Campbell 22mins, Brown 39mins (pen), Todd 87mins

Despite Fraser Gillespie and Alan Fleming making their first starts of the season and the central defence being completely rejigged to accommodate the absence of Davie Sneddon and Steven McMillan, Blackburn weren’t long in taking a firm grip on proceedings and fine ball retention by Nicky Millar and Danny Campbell allowed Fleming a pop from around twenty yards that Johnston in the home goal held.

Campbell himself then had a go from similar distance after Craig Spence and Anthony McLaughlin linked well but Johnston tipped it over the top. However, with the pressure mounting, a further eight minutes was all it took for the opening goal to eventually arrive and it was a strike from the very top drawer, Paddy DONNELLY volleying the ball over the head of Johnston and into the roof of the net from the left corner of the eighteen yard box after play had raged on in the aftermath of McLaughlin being scythed to the ground in the build up. The Seasiders then showed briefly as Blackburn’s attacking ambitions lulled momentarily and Michael Tugman had to be alert in cutting out two teasing, near post deliveries by Grant and Purves before Purves lifted a ball in front of Weir who hit his shot across the face of goal and past. The Dunbar revival, though, was to be short lived and Blackburn surged two ahead when Spence slipped a pass down the right for Millar to race onto and whip in an inch perfect cross that CAMPBELL rose to plant his head on and steer beyond Johnston and into the net. Although Weir’s cross from the right was then headed back by Purves into the path of Jones the home strikers header didn’t genuinely test Tugman and the third goal of the game came just five minutes later and it was the visitors who again claimed it, Donnelly twisting and turning his way into the box and laying the ball off to McLaughlin who was sent flying by a rash Thomson challenge that was penalised immediately by referee Mr. Hogg who pointed to the spot from where Alan BROWN made no mistake. The three goal lead lasted no more than three minutes though and when Stewart’s cross from the left arrived in the middle of the Blackburn box JONES thudded a header home to pull his team back to within two, although it was almost three again right on half time when, from a Brown pass, Donnelly clipped a delivery onto the back where Campbell slid in to clatter it against the base of the right hand post.

The second half saw Blackburn’s dominance of possession continue almost unabated and when Donnelly measured a pass into Campbell’s feet on the edge of the area his lay off to Millar was smashed narrowly over the bar before McLaughlin turned Gibb from a Spence throw in and whipped a shot just wide. An even better chance was then scorned barely two minutes later when McLaughlin made space on the right to feed a ball into Donnelly but when he set up Millar arriving plumb in the middle of goal around sixteen yards out he skied his effort high over the top. McLaughlin then picked out Spence whose cross was only just plucked from Campbell’s head as Blackburn continued to cut the Dunbar defence open almost at will while Brown and Gillespie kept the back door firmly shut on the flimsy and increasingly sporadic home attacks. However, it wasn’t until shortly before time that a more realistic gloss was put on the score line, substitute Martin Stewart finding Donnelly in the box and when his close control and quick feet took him past two only to stumble into a third Christopher TODD, also on as a substitute, pounced on the loose ball to curl his effort past Johnston and into the bottom right hand corner. In the dying seconds the Seasiders might have snatched a second but from Aitken’s pass Weir sliced a shot from good position wildly past.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Tugman, Spence, Keir, Brown, Gillespie, Crooks, Donnelly, Fleming (Stevenson 76), Millar (Todd 78), D.Campbell (Stewart 76), McLaughlin Subs (not used): M.Campbell, Hendrie

Dunbar United Line-Up: Johnston, Thomson, Gibb, Lothian, McHoul, Morgan, Weir, Grant, Jones, Stewart, Purves Subs: Gardiner, Aitken, Johnstone, Brown, Nicholson

Referee: Mr. Alan Hogg

East Region South Division

Saturday 2nd October 2010

Blackburn United 1

Brown 68mins

Harthill Royal 1

Ireland 18mins

When the visitors opened the scoring with what was their first away league goal of the season it looked as though United were once more going to be guilty of severely under estimating opponents they were strong favourites to beat. However, a much improved second half brought a stunning Alan BROWN equaliser and really should have yielded a winner, but Scott Cochrane’s late, curling right foot effort struck the underside of the bar, bounced down onto the line and was hastily booted clear.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Tugman, Spence, Keir, Brown, Gillespie, Crooks (Todd 88), McLaughlin (Rutherford 57), Stewart (Cochrane 51), Millar, D.Campbell, Donnelly Subs (not used): Stevenson, Sneddon, MacMillan, Hendrie

Harthill Royal Line-Up: Ross, Thompson, Clark, Robertson, Halliday, Stuart, McDowell, Ireland, Robertson, Ogilvie, Dowds Subs: McEachan, G.Beattie, Redmond, S.Beattie, McGuinness, Wilson

Referee: Mr. Martin McGuinness

East Region South Division

Saturday 9th October 2010,

Blackburn United 0

Fauldhouse United 2

Baird 52mins, Wilkins 83mins

A tight first half that had as it’s highlight a thumping Halford effort for the visitors that came off the underside of Ross Hendrie’s bar ended without either goal being breached but, despite Blackburn dominating both second half possession and territory, the Park View men were the side who looked more dangerous and a BAIRD strike from the edge of the area and a close range WILKINS header were enough to take the points back to Fauldhouse.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Spence, Keir, MacMillan, Brown, Greig Crooks, Gary Crooks, Fleming, Millar, Todd (Rutherford 64), McLaughlin (D.Campbell 67) Subs (not used): Stewart, Gillespie, Tugman

Fauldhouse United Line-Up: Brunton, Cunningham, Meekison, Deans, Gallacher, Baird, Halford, McLenoghan, Wilkins, Martin, Connelly Subs: Williamson, Bucknell, Barnes, Cooper, Stewart, Halford, McCormack

Referee: Mr. Simon MacLean

East Region South Division

Saturday 16th October 2010

Blackburn United 2

MacMillan 22mins, Todd 90mins

Livingston United 1

McQuillan 72mins

It looked as though a strike by ex-Blackburn front man Andy McQUILLAN was going to be enough to deny United all three points after Steven MaMILLAN had opened the scoring in the first half, but an injury time winner by Christopher TODD earned the home side the victory that eased them above the visitors and into third place in the league.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hunter, Gillespie, Keir, Sneddon, MacMillan (Cochrane 75),Crooks, Stewart (McLaughlin 80), Brown, Millar (Todd 75), Donnelly, D.Campbell Subs (not used): Stevenson, Hendrie

Livingston United Line-Up: Gillespie, Docherty, Drew, Russell, Byle, Burns, I.Griffen, Lejman, McQuillan, Malong, Jaconelli Subs: Crawford, McMahon, A.Griffen, Frame, Lawrie, Greennham

Referee: Mr. Peter Peace

East Region South Division

Saturday 23rd October 2010

Sauchie 4

Gardiner 17mins & 56mins, Morgan 31mins, Bell 68mins

Blackburn United 1

Fleming 86mins

On an exceptionally heavy Beechwood Park surface that passed a 9am pitch inspection, third placed United faced up to league leaders Sauchie and the home side displayed all the attributes that had already seen them run up several high scoring victories in their ascent to the top of the table, deservedly opening the scoring when GARDINER lashed home Cummings perfect square ball across the six yard box and doubling their lead from a MORGAN penalty after Steven MacMillan had tripped Gardiner. Although Blackburn started the second half in much better fashion and might have pulled a goal back when substitute Scott Cochrane linked well with Greig Crooks for the latter to whip in a cross that James Rutherford headed narrowly offer from great position, the home side were still all pace and energy going forward and terrific finishes from GARDINER and BELL had them in easy street heading into the last twenty minutes. To their credit though, United had a fine goal of their own up their sleeves to end the game, Alan FLEMING linking cleverly with Alan Brown before curling a beauty into Hardie’s top left hand corner from the edge of the box.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hunter, Keir (Cochrane 32), Spence, Sneddon, MacMillan, Crooks (Fleming 69), Gillespie (Rutherford 46), Brown, McLaughlin, Donnelly, Stewart Subs (not used): M.Campbell, Carter, Hendrie

Sauchie Line-Up: Hardie, Russell, Tully, King, Feaks, Purdie, Morgan, Comrie, Bell, Cummings, Gardiner Subs: Burns, Learmonth, O’Hara, McKeown, Dolan, McEwan

Referee: Mr. Alan Spalding

Emirates Scottish Junior Cup Second Round

Saturday 30th October 2010

Blackburn United 1

Donnelly 75mins

Pumpherston 2

Muir 30mins, Somerville 88mins

Behind to a first half penalty, United levelled against their foot of the table near neightbours when Paddy DONNELLY eventually found a way past inspired visiting ‘keeper Peter Alexiou with quarter of an hour remaining but, with just about their only effort of note in the second half, Pumpherston grabbed the games decisive third goal to advance to the third round of the national competition.

Pumpherston line-up to follow….

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hunter, Spence, Keir, Sneddon, Brown, Cochrane, Fleming, Da.Campbell, Rutherford, Donnelly, Stewart Subs: Crooks, McLaughlin, Todd, M.Campbell, Hendrie

Pumpherston Line-Up: Subs:

Referee: Mr. Duncan Smith

East Region South Division

Saturday 20th November 2010

Blackburn United 4

Brown 16mins, Millar 43mins, Donnelly 60mins, Todd 89mins

Stoneyburn 1

Pritchard 88mins

United brought to an end Stoneyburn’s unbeaten start to the league season with a resounding win that really could have been by a far bigger margin, although the visitors will be looking inwards to apportion at least some of the blame after suffering a dismissal in each half.

full report to follow…..

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hunter, Keir, Sneddon, Spence, Crooks, Cochrane (Fleming 62), Stewart, Brown, Millar (Todd 73), Donnelly, Da.Campbell (McLaughlin 71) Subs (not used): De.Campbell, Gillespie

Stoneyburn Line-Up: Wood, Greig, P.Callaghan, Ross, McMeechan, S.Callaghan, Lynch, Rogers, C.Gilhouley, McCormack, King Subs: T.Gilhouley, Carmichael, Bonnes, Matonti, Pritchard, Fleming

Referee: Mr. Peter Stewart

East Region South Division

Saturday 15th January 2011

Spartans 1

Bannon 75mins

Blackburn United 0

A stunning overhead effort on goal from the corner of the 18 yard box by Alan Brown in the last minute of injury time almost earned United a share of the spoils at Ainslie Park but a Paterek save at full stretch was enough to ensure that BANNON’S goal for the home side would split the teams and earn his side all three points.

full report to follow…..

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Sneddon, Keir, Spence, Crooks, Cochrane (Fleming 68), Da.Campbell (McGlaughlin 83), Brown, Millar, Donnelly, Stewart (Todd 80) Subs (not used): Trialist – Easton, Rintoul, Tugman

Spartans Line-Up: Paterek, Bannon, Smith, Cruikshank, McKibben, Scott, Moffat, Campbell, Roberts, Young, Shanks Subs: Reid, Stewart, Middlemass, Hair, Cowan

Referee: Mr. Scott Millar

East of Scotland Cup Second Round

Saturday 29th January 2011

Blackburn United 2

Donnelly 27mins, D.Campbell 80mins

Armadale Thistle 2 (won 2-1 on penalties)

Brown 5mins & 15mins

United welcomed their Premier League neighbours to Murrayfield Park for this second round East of Scotland Cup tie and gifted them the opener within five minutes when Alan Fleming was caught in possession inside the ‘Dale half and the visitors sprung forward to work Johnstone free on the right and he fired low across the face of goal for BROWN to slam the ball high past Ross Hendrie. Shortly thereafter Brown knocked the ball into the path of Meechan but he fired well over. However, just before the quarter hour mark the lively Thistle striker claimed his and his sides second goal in an almost carbon copy of the first, this time Bonnar skipping free on the right to drill across goal for BROWN to slide in and score. A Valentine free-kick after an Anthony McLaughlin trip then scraped past without unduly troubling Hendrie before the ‘keeper was called into action to touch away a Mauchline twenty yarder. Blackburn, though, were gradually finding their way forward and were back in the game on twenty seven minutes when Nicky Millar found space on the right to put McLaughlin in on goal and, although his shot was saved at a stretch by Walker, Paddy DONNELLY was on hand to knock in the rebound. Ninety seconds later McLaughlin had another effort, but this one took a deflection which took it onto the base of the right hand post and past. A sweeping left to right pass by Alan Brown then picked out McLaughlin galloping down the right and his sweeping cross was headed narrowly over by Millar. Minutes from the break Millar showed great tenacity in tracking back to dispossess Mauchline and slip a pass to Brown who, in turn, sliced a pass through the visitors rearguard to the advancing Donnelly who strode clear but, in the act of lifting a shot over the advancing ‘keeper, he was sent crashing by a desperate Buchanan tackle. The ball sneaked past the right hand post as all three players ended in a heap and it was left to referee Mr. Marini to flash a deserved red card at Buchanan and award United a free-kick that came to nothing.

Early in the second half United took a grip on proceedings and utilised the space created by Buchanan’s dismissal well, McLaughlin creating the first chance in setting up Donnelly to slide a shot just wide before, a minute later, he was on the end of a move instigated by Brown and Fleming to flick the ball into the path of Millar who clipped it past Walker and into the net but the referee decreed that Millar had strayed marginally offside and chalked off the goal. Scott Cochrane was next to find space in the box to curl in a shot from sixteen yards that Walker clutched to his chest. However, the game was back to ten v ten soon thereafter when Donnelly mistimed his challenge on Valentine on the half way line to find himself staring at the second red card of the game. The evening up of the numbers did little to effect the flow of the game though as Blackburn continued to press their more illustrious opponents back towards there own eighteen yard box and a fine Brown pass inside Morrison allowed Millar to trick his way across the area before unleashing a shot that flew only just too high. Another sweeping move that began with Cochrane and ended with Brown slipping another pass inside the full back saw substitute Grant Easton whip in a cross that Millar could only head weakly past under considerable pressure from Steel and Roberts. However, a thoroughly merited equaliser did arrive ten minutes from time when Danny CAMPBELL took a touch on Cochrane’s pass to turn his man on the edge of the box and steady himself to smack the ball beyond Walker and high into the net. Against the run of play Thistle almost sneaked the win in injury time but Hendrie was equal to Mauchline’s snap shot from Johnstone’s unselfish head down.

Remarkably in the penalty shoot-out, once BROWN and STEEL netted Armadale’s first and second kicks respectively and United’s Brown had missed his before COCHRANE netted confidently to make the score 2-1 to the visitors with three penalties each left to take, there were to be no more goals. Despite Hendrie making three successive saves, Thistle squeezed into the third round when Walker saved Campbell’s penalty after Davie Sneddon’s had also been saved and Jordan Rintoul had skied his one over the bar.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Spence, Keir, Sneddon, Brown, Cochrane, Stewart (Easton 71), Fleming (D.Campbell 76), Millar, Donnelly, McLaughlin (Rintoul 66) Subs (not used): Gillespie, M.Campbell

Armadale Thistle Line-Up: Walker, Morrison, Steel, Buchanan, Roberts, Johnstone, Meechan, Mauchline, Brown, Valentine, Bonnar Subs: Wardlaw, Manson, Connelly, Barnes, Brown, Wortley

Referee: Mr. Gianluca Marini

East Region South Division

Saturday 12th February 2011

Blackburn United 1

Gillespie 13mins

Edinburgh United 0

An early header from Fraser GILLESPIE was enough to earn Blackburn all three points and keep the side in touch at the top of the table.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Keir, Gillespie, Sneddon, Brown, Gr.Crooks, Fleming, Rintoul, Millar, D.Campbell, (M.Campbell) McLaughlin Subs (not used): Easton, Stewart, Trialist – Kellock, Ga.Crooks, Carter, Tugman

Referee: Mr. Simon MacLean

Fife & Lothian’s Cup Second Round

Saturday 19th February 2011

Blackburn United 1

Millar 90mins

Crossgates Primrose 0

This second round Fife & Lothian’s Cup tie kicked off on a Murrayfield Park surface which had held up well under the preceding weeks rain and sprang to life when Nicky Millar turned Baxter on the left and new signing Gary Crooks’ near post shot was deflected just past. However, at the other end, Ross Hendrie had to be quick from his line to prevent the pacy Clark from taking full advantage of a Watson pass. On the half hour mark it was then Fraser Gillespie’s turn to come to United’s rescue and clear McIntosh’s shot off the line after the visiting attacker had slipped past Alan Keir. Three chances then came and went in as many minutes just before half time when first Primrose’s Miller scooped a Watson cut-back over the bar from the edge of the area and Jordan Rintoul replied for Blackburn only to see Wotherspoon hold his twenty yarder before the best effort of all from McIntosh rattled the underside of Hendrie’s bar and bounced clear as the sides went in goal less at the break.

United midfielder Alan Brown hobbled off injured four minutes into the second period to force an early reshuffle for the home side and the visitors almost took advantage when Clark’s head met Baxter’s corner from the left but Hendrie pulled off a comfortable save. The Crossgates ‘keeper then proved himself equally as adept at judging the flight of a header when he hung onto Danny Campbell’s effort from a Craig Spence cross as sixty minutes were reached with little between the sides. However, goalmouth action was becoming just that little bit more plentiful and Watson came close with a spin and shot that slipped across the face of the Blackburn goal unaccosted before Millar and Rintoul swapped passes to set up the latter’s back post cross that picked out Anthony McLaughlin for a header gratefully gathered by Wotherspoon. With barely five minutes remaining United came closer still when Scott Cochrane, Gillespie and Crooks linked to put Campbell through on goal but although his clever flick from sixteen yards slipped past the out rushing goalkeeper it also slipped past the far post. Just when it seemed the game was destined for penalties though, Blackburn came up with one last foray forward and when Crooks’ corner was cleared back out to him on the right he shuffled the ball towards substitute Martin Stewart arriving on the edge of the box and when he helped it onto MILLAR loitering with intent six yards from goal the little front man had no hesitation in blasting it beyond Wotherspoon to secure his sides passage to the third round.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Keir, Gillespie, Brown (Spence 49), Sneddon, Ga.Crooks, McLaughlin (Stewart 72), Rintoul, Millar, D.Campbell, Easton (Cochrane 54) Subs (not used): Fleming, Carter

Crossgates Primrose Line-Up: Wotherspoon, Baxter, Finlayson, Paterson, MacFarlane, Sneddon, Clark, Miller, Watson, McIntosh, Aitken Subs: Spark, Pennycook

Referee: Mr. Michael McIlvenny

East Region South Division

Saturday 26th February 2011

Blackburn United 3

Brown 51mins, Miller 65mins, Sneddon 82mins

Pumpherston 1

Muir 38mins

United were looking for revenge against South Division strugglers Pumpherston who had knocked them out of the Scottish Junior Cup at the second round stage earlier in the season and almost found themselves a goal behind within the opening ten minutes, but Ross Hendrie’s safe hands prevented Morris’s header on Sommerville’s high ball from deep finding the net. At the culmination of an incisive passing move Alan Brown produced a probing pass at the other end which Paddy Donnelly took one touch to control before hitting a shot that was deflected past for a fruitless corner. A long ball forward from returning captain Craig Spence was then headed on by Fraser Gillespie into the path of Nicky Miller who picked out Donnelly on the right but his swerving cross was cut out by Alexiou in the Pumpherston goal. Five minutes later the visitors gave warning that their lowly league position wouldn’t prevent them from being ambitious and a sweeping move down the right resulted in Hendrie saving Morris’s shot at a stretch and being relieved when Muir knocked the rebound past the left hand upright. However, the warning wasn’t heeded by the United backline and three minutes later Pumphy were ahead, Adam sliding MUIR through the middle of the Blackburn defence to draw Hendrie and pass the ball beyond him and into the waiting net. Just before the interval Muir had the chance to double his account but after Adam and Sommerville combined to set him up he lashed the ball over from a tightening twelve yard angle.

With the words of manager Mark Campbell no doubt ringing in their ears United started the second half with plenty of energy and invention and that vigour paid dividends on fifty one minutes when Gillespie delivered from the right and a perfectly executed BROWN hitch kick from fourteen yards left Alexiou flat footed and found the bottom left hand corner of the net. On the hour mark Vine had a free header from a Wales corner that he might have done better with than head tamely over the top and he was to regret it moments later when Blackburn produced a flowing move that was capped with the fine finish it merited when MILLER stroked home Donnelly’s square ball across the six yard box from a perfectly weighted Brown ball inside the right full back. After several other half chances then came and went for United, interrupted only by McCann’s twenty five yarder that flew high and wide for the visitors, the third and clinching goal came in elementary fashion when Grant Easton’s whipped corner from the right was headed powerfully beyond Alexiou by Davie SNEDDON with a little over eight minutes remaining. A clever Danny Campbell pass then set Miller dancing along the eighteen yard line and past a couple of challenges, but when he steadied himself his vicious shot clattered off the underside of the bar and down onto the line where Jordan Rintoul just couldn’t stretch enough sinews to reach it for an easy tap in. Anthony McLaughlin too came close to adding a fourth for Blackburn but after manufacturing himself some space on the back post his shot was saved by Alexiou.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Sneddon, Keir, Spence, Ga.Crooks (Easton 75), Cochrane, Gillespie (McLaughlin 60), Brown, Miller, Donnelly (D.Campbell 83), Rintoul Subs (not used): Fleming, M.Campbell, Tugman

Pumpherston Line-Up: Alexiou, S.Morris, P.Leckie, C.Morris, Vine, McCann, Adam, Sommerville, Wales, Muir, Douglas Subs: Morrice, Stewart, C.Leckie, Anderson, MacDonald

Referee: Mr. Mark Doyle

East Region South Division

Saturday 5th March 2011

Blackburn United 3

Cochrane 14mins, Donnelly 36mins & 77mins

Tranent 0

Fourth placed Tranent arrived at Murrayfield Park with new, big money signing Mark Cowan filling the No.10 shirt but it was Danny Campbell, a graduate of United’s own Youth Academy, who created the games first opportunity when his free-kick was headed down by Alan Brown to the feet of Paddy Donnelly whose instinctive shot was tipped away by Inglis in the visiting goal. An early goal for Blackburn was to be forthcoming none the less and when Nicky Miller’s electrifying pace saw him burst past Salton onto a long through ball the only answer the Belters centre-half could come up with was to bundle the striker to the ground just as he was steadying himself to shoot. A cut and dried denial of a clear goal scoring opportunity was the unavoidable conclusion of referee Mr. McCunnie and, after he sent the miscreant packing, Scott COCHRANE stepped up to find the bottom left hand corner of the net with a well struck penalty. Shortly thereafter a weak clearance allowed McPartlin a sight of goal from twenty yards but his half volley zipped past the left hand upright with Ross Hendrie in the United goal untroubled. Before the half hour was reached Cochrane the displayed some deft footwork to dance past several challenges on the edge of the area but at the vital moment his control wasn’t quite perfect and he had to stretch for a shot that was blocked past for an ultimately fruitless corner. When that half hour was reached, the second calamity of the afternoon befell the visitors when Inglis, who had pulled up moments earlier with what looked like a hamstring injury before soldiering on, was forced to hobble from the action to be replaced by Lawrie, with a less than enthusiastic Mack taking over his teams goalkeeping duties. Within five minutes Blackburn came up with the stand-in ‘keeper’s first test when Campbell’s ball forward bounced invitingly in front of DONNELLY sixteen or so yards from goal and as Mack bore down on him he neatly lifted it over his head and into the waiting net. With some stout defending in front of him there was to be no real second test for Mack before the interval.

The visitors belied their short handed numbers in the opening moments of the second period though and a good fifteen minutes of one way traffic towards Hendrie’s goal saw Lally thump the base of an upright with a daisy cutter that was then hacked clear off the line before substitute Lawrie also struck woodwork with a fierce effort on the fifty two minute mark. Little more than seven minutes later Cochrane then popped up on the United line to clear McPartlin’s goal bound header. Eventually however, Blackburn were able to make their extra man advantage begin to count and Alan Keir’s pass was good enough to pick out Miller advancing on the right where a short pass inside to Donnelly saw the shaven headed striker take a touch and shoot narrowly past from the edge of the box. A Brown free-kick then afforded Gary Crooks the opportunity to lift a cross onto the back post where a Miller header back across the face of goal that was begging to be hammered home found no takers. Sixty seconds later only a truly tremendous Hendrie save, the ‘keeper having to reverse direction to throw himself across his goal to tip away a deflected Cowan strike from distance, prevented a still more than competitive Tranent from securing a foothold in the game. It was perhaps Hendrie’s heroics that then pushed his side back onto the front foot for the last twenty minutes, Brown driving into the box and curling an effort around the back tracking Moriarty that Mack saved before Jordan Rintoul knocked the rebound agonisingly past. The goal that finally made the points truly safe for United then arrived with less than quarter of an hour remaining, Rintoul collecting the ball on the left and playing in DONNELLY who took advantage of a kind break as he was tackled on the edge of the box to draw Mack and slide a shot underneath him for his second goal of the match. The final effort belonged to a Tranent side admirable in their commitment all afternoon, but Harvey’s free header from a Tait cross was weak and drifted harmlessly past to end a game that saw Blackburn leapfrog their visitors into third spot with the Belters falling back to fifth.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Spence, Keir (Gillespie 75), Sneddon, Brown, Gr.Crooks, D.Campbell (McLaughlin 81), Cochrane (Ga.Crooks 63), Miller, Donnelly, Rintoul Subs (not used): Fleming, Easton, Stewart, Trialist – R.Donnelly

Tranent Line-Up: Inglis, Mack, Moriarty, White, Salton, Tait, McPartlin, Lally, Harvey, Cowan, Horne Subs: Fairnie, Lawrie, Bell

East Region South Division

Saturday 19th March 2011

Stoneyburn 1

Easton 63mins

Blackburn United 0

United travelled to Beechwood Park looking to consolidate third place in the league and, perhaps, take strides towards strengthening their title challenge against a fourth placed Stoneyburn side who had been comfortably brushed aside at Murrayfield Park in November. However, the hosts were in an expectedly hungry mood and were almost ahead by the tenth minute when a low ball across the face of the Blackburn goal deceived everyone and fell to Greig on the corner of the six yard box. As the Fulshie midfielder tried to turn and manoeuvre himself into a shooting position a well timed Davie Sneddon tackle initially looked as though it had cleaned up any lingering danger. This, though, was not quite as referee Mr. Reid saw it and his dramatic pointing to the spot resulted in an unexpected and somewhat harsh penalty that ultimately saw a sense of United injustice salved when Gilhouley was high and wide with his spot kick. A Danny Campbell free-kick sixty seconds later then saw the first action around the Stoneyburn goal when Nicky Miller’s quick feet won him the space to whip in a cross that Carmichael just got to in front of Paddy Donnelly before Sneddon set up the games next opportunity in picking out Martin Stewart to slide Miller through the middle but the off balance striker hit his twelve yard shot past. The home side then had a much better penalty appeal than the one awarded earlier in the afternoon waved away to the disbelief of most in the ground but almost consigned that to meaningless when Callaghan and Gilhouley linked on the edge of the box for the latter to hit a crisp shot which Logan in the Blackburn goal held. Logan’s handling wasn’t quite so assured just before the break when he got hands on Bonnes high free kick only to the let the ball slip from his grasp and be rescued by Craig Spence’s boot clear from the goal line. The goalkeeper had, though, been impeded by Gilhouley jumping alongside him.

The hosts continued in the ascendancy in the second half against a United side still strangely bereft of the fight and ideas that had taken them to four straight wins in recent weeks and when Mulligan stepped in from the left and found Callaghan he probably should have done better than shoot well past. However, within three minutes the Fulshie had eventually and deservedly opened the scoring, although it was Blackburn who had carried the initial threat when Jordan Rintoul’s cut back from an Alan Brown head flick was launched high over the bar by Garry Crooks. Almost straight from the goal kick Stoneyburn mounted an attack that ended when a free-kick was won and, from the dead ball, Mulligan delivered a deep cross that substitute EASTON had time to take a touch on for control before flicking a right foot shot behind Logan. An equaliser really should have been recorded little more than three minutes later though when Wood could only palm Campbell’s corner down into the path of Rintoul but he couldn’t adjust his feet quite quickly enough and scooped his side footed half volley over the top when it looked easier to at least get the ball on target. Stoneyburn, fittingly, had the last say in an attacking sense when Bonnes danced past a couple of challenges on a run along the eighteen yard box before snapping in a shot that flew narrowly past the junction of post and bar. His team, however, had already done enough to claim the victory that their hard working display had earned them.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Trialist – Logan, Gillespie, Sneddon, Spence, Stewart, Cochrane (Brown 57), Rintoul, Ga.Crooks (Trialist – Simpson 73), Miller, P.Donnelly, D.Campbell (Easton 78) Subs (not used): McLaughlin, R.Donnelly, Carter

Stoneyburn Line-Up: Wood, P.Callaghan, Carmichael, Ross, McMeechan, S.Callaghan, Greig, Rodgers, C.Gilhouley, Mulligan, Bonnes Subs: T.Gilhouley, Easton, Matonti, Gallacher

East Region South Division

Saturday 26th March 2011

West Calder United 2

Johnston 53mins, Agnew 87mins

Blackburn United 1

O.G. 46mins

It took some twenty minutes for this game to come to life and when it did it was the home side who put down their marker first, Johnston getting the break of the ball from Alan Brown to set up Tinning to hit a curling effort that Ross Hendrie held comfortably. Blackburn then produced their own first noteworthy effort when Paddy Donnelly held up a Marty Stewart throw and flicked it inside to Anthony McLaughlin to tee up Gary Crooks for a twenty yard daisy cutter that zipped past the right hand post before a Jordan Rintoul cross from the left that was headed over by Donnelly was followed by a Crooks effort from the right edge that was just too high as a ten minute period of pressure came to an end. McLeod got behind the Blackburn defence not long thereafter but hit his shot past from a narrow angle and then came much closer when Hendrie pulled off a quite magnificent save from his header after Meikle’s shot had rattled the crossbar. Right on the break Donnelly then first timed over a right wing cross from Danny Campbell.

The second half opened in a fashion that couldn’t realistically have been bettered by Blackburn when Rintoul, at a stretch, forced the ball down the left hand touchline for the swift of foot Donnelly to race onto and drive to the byeline from where his driven near post cross was diverted past his own keeper by the unfortunate Wolfe for the games opening goal. Four minutes later, a cute Alan Fleming back heel earned McLaughlin the space to spring Campbell goalwards but his first touch took him too wide and his parting strike was high and wide. Disappointingly though, this was to be Blackburn’s last meaningful contribution for some time in an attacking sense and, within a further four minutes, Cauther had clawed their way back into the game, Meikle’s cross from the right catching Hendrie in two minds and brushing off the face of the bar to leave JOHNSTON with the easiest of tasks to head the ball into a completely unguarded net. A Tinning free-kick from a little more than twenty yards out was then touched past by Hendrie for a corner that, when it arrived in the middle of the box, was headed onto the bar by McLeod before it was cleared to safety. A Donnelly turn and hit from a Stewart pass that was saved by Clarke turned the tide momentarily but West Calder continued on the offensive and hit the bar yet again when McLeod lifted Agnew’s head on against the woodwork before Russell’s shot from distance was off target. However, with less than three minutes remaining the home sides pressure was rewarded when Tinning’s long throw found it’s way to AGNEW on the back post where he buried his half volley in Hendrie’s net.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Stewart, Easton, Spence, Brown, Fleming (Cochrane 74), Rintoul, Ga.Crooks, P.Donnelly (R.Donnelly 80), D.Campbell, McLaughlin (Trialist – Caven 71) Subs (not used): Trialist – Simpson, M.Campbell

West Calder United Line-Up: Clarke, Meikle, Russell, Watson, Wolfe, Paton, Bodel, Agnew, Johnston, McLeod, Tinning Subs: McCann, Lorek, Taylor, Thomson, Watson

Referee: Mr. Martin McGuinness

East Region South Division

Saturday 2nd April 2011

Dalkeith Thistle 0

Blackburn United 2

Crooks 89mins, Campbell 90+1mins

Last gasp goals from Gary Crooks and Danny Campbell put an end to a two match losing run and won United a hard earned three points at Kings Park in Dalkeith. United had, though, Ross Hendrie to thank in the first half for keeping the scoreline blank when he pulled off a point blank save as early as the tenth minute, although Nicky Miller might have done better at the other end than shoot straight at the Thistle custodian when clean through on goal.

However, when the home side were reduced to ten men when their central midfielder was dismissed for a second bookable offence with around seven minutes remaining it was the signal for Blackburn to step up the pressure on the Dalkeith goal. CROOKS blinder from a twenty yard free-kick that was curled over the wall and in off the upright in the final minute was quickly followed in injury time when substitute CAMPBELL placed his shot across the ‘keeper and in at the far post to secure the win.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Spence, Easton, Sneddon, Brown, Ga.Crooks, Rintoul (Gr.Crooks 79), Fleming (Trialist – Simpson 69), Miller, P.Donnelly, McLaughlin (Da.Campbell 74) Subs (not used): Stewart, Gillespie, Trialist – Ure

Referee: Mr. Duncan Smith

Fife & Lothian’s Cup Third Round

Saturday 9th April 2011

Blackburn United 0

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 2

Bathgate 38mins (pen) & 60mins (pen)

The Murrayfield Park playing surface looked resplendent under bright sunshine and it was United’s Super League opponents who matched that brightness in the opening moments without really contriving to pose a threat on Ross Hendrie’s goal. Indeed, it wasn’t until some twenty minutes were on the clock that a chance was created and a shot struck in anger, Scott Cochrane’s overhead kick creeping wide of the post as his marker backed off. Moments later Cochrane then took an in swinging corner from the left that Paddy Donnelly met with a diving header from the corner of the six yard box that he directed across the face of goal and narrowly past. A powerful run on the right by Bathgate then introduced the visitors as the threat they were expected to be but when he clipped a ball inside Adamson’s rising shot took a deflection off the closing Davie Sneddon and zipped over the crossbar. However, less than five minutes later Sneddon’s next intervention was not quite as fortuitous and his tackle on a turning Smith inside the box had Mr. Duncan pointing to the spot from where BATHGATE struck his penalty beyond Hendrie, although the Blackburn custodian’s fingertips weren’t that far away from getting a touch that might have kept it out. United, though, were almost on terms straight away when Grant Easton’s cross made it to the back post where Anthony McLaughlin directed his header against the outside of the upright. Ninety seconds before the interval McLaughlin then turned creator to put Donnelly through on goal but his first time, angled effort from sixteen yards was pushed round the post by Hall at full stretch.

The start of the second half was equally as bereft of chances as was the first and it was shortly before the hour mark before either goalkeeper was called into action, Hendrie holding Smith’s header from a Gemmell corner after Craig Spence had did well to break up the Fife sides initial thrust forward. However, like Sneddon before him, Spence’s next contribution wasn’t quite so admirable and when his challenge on BATHGATE on the edge of the area was deemed illegal the Haw’s front man picked himself up to despatch behind Hendrie his second penalty of the afternoon. A McLaughlin corner at the other end was then only cleared as far as Gary Crooks but his half volley was grabbed by Hall before Nicky Miller wriggled past Haddow on the left to whip in a low cross that Donnelly threw himself at only to see his diving header sneak past the upright. Going into the last quarter of an hour Paterson was high with a header from a Gemmell corner for Hill of Beath before Hendrie pulled off two fine saves in almost identical circumstances with Bathgate through on goal with a hat-trick in his sights. Although a hat-trick wasn’t to be his, the referee’s final whistle ensured that his spot-kick double was enough to take his side through to the Quarter Final draw.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Sneddon, Easton, Spence (Gillespie 65), Brown, Cochrane (Gr.Crooks 56), Rintoul, Ga.Crooks, Miller (D.Campbell 70), P.Donnelly, McLaughlin Subs (not used): Stewart, Simpson, Keir

Hill of Beath Hawthorn Line-Up: Hall, Haddow, Morrison, Paterson, Dair, Adamson, Maxwell, Gemmell, Smith, Bathgate, Hay Subs: Beveridge, McInroy, Ford, Marshall

Referee: Mr. Gavin Duncan

Fife & Lothian’s Cup Third Round

Saturday 9th April 2011

Blackburn United 0

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 2

Bathgate 38mins (pen) & 60mins (pen)

Hill of Beath Hawthorn Line-Up: Hall, Haddow, Morrison, Paterson, Dair, Adamson, Maxwell, Gemmell, Smith, Bathgate, Hay Subs: Beveridge, McInroy, Ford, Marshall

Referee: Mr. Gavin Duncan

East Region South Division

Wednesday 13th April 2011

Blackburn United 1

McLaughlin 5mins

Sauchie 1

McGuigan 28mins

United took an early lead when McEwan couldn’t hold onto Alan Brown’s twenty yards plus free-kick and young Anthony McLAUGHLIN reacted quickest to clip the loose ball into the net. However, just as Blackburn were settling on the lead McGUIGAN’S cross from wide on the left was over hit but, as fortune would have it, instead of curling harmlessly out of play it somehow managed to find the top, right hand corner of Ross Hendrie’s net.

The second half was an affair dominated for the most part by the visitors but Paddy Donnelly really should have found the net from a Grant Easton free-kick when his first time shot from no more than six yards out and bang in front of McEwan’s goal was scooped high over the top. The final minutes might have then brought a winner at the other end but Sauchie substitute Burns contrived to hit the left hand upright twice in quick succession as the game ended all square.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Rintoul, Easton, Sneddon, Brown, Gr.Crooks, McLaughlin, Ga.Crooks, Trialist – Caven (Trialist – Dugan 64), P.Donnelly, Simpson Subs (not used): Fleming, Cochrane, R.Donnelly, Carter, M.Campbell

Sauchie Line-Up: McEwan, Russell, Learmonth, King, Feaks, Purdie, Gardiner, Bonar, Donaldson, Cummings, McGuigan Subs: Tully, Dolan, McKeown, O’Hara, Burns, Hardie

Referee: Mr. Ralph Gordon

East Region South Division

Saturday 16th April 2011

Blackburn United 3

Gr.Crooks 38mins, Brown 48mins, Miller 50mins

Dunbar United 1

Gibb 7mins

Blackburn were looking to build on the midweek draw with title favourites Sauchie and might have been ahead early on had Nicky Miller been able to properly connect with Thomson’s slack back pass but, as it was, it was the visitors who took advantage of anearly opportunity when Purves crossed from the left and GIBB hit a first time shot that flew past Ross Hendrie in the seventh minute. However, from that moment on the remainder of the half belonged to a Blackburn side who came progressively closer to levelling the contest, first when Miller’s acrobatic effort from a Gary Crooks cross was miraculously pushed over the bar by Johnston and then when Paddy Donnelly headed narrowly wide from Jordan Rintoul’s centre before Anthony McLaughlin hit a thumping drive that clattered back off a post. The deserved equaliser did, though, eventually arrive on the back of a sweeping move that saw Gary Crooks, Miller and Donnelly link well to spring Chris Simpson down the right from where he delivered an inch perfect cross for Greig CROOKS to rifle home from the edge of the area.

Three minutes after the resumption Blackburn grabbed a second goal and the lead their enterprising play had merited when Rintoul’s free-kick from out on the right found Alan BROWN rising above the Seasiders defence to direct a header goalwards which Johnston fumbled over the line despite the vain attempts of Thomson to boot clear. Barely two minutes later the Blackburn lead was doubled when another set piece delivery from Rintoul caused yet more consternation in the visiting defence and MILLER earned himself enough space to bullet home a fine header. Despite continuing to dominate large swathes of the match Blackburn were unable to turn clever possession into further goals as the game approached it’s closing minutes but, with Dunbar failing to trouble at the other end, the two goal lead established earlier in the half proved enough to secure a victory that really should have been by a much wider margin, but even in injury time a sought after fourth goal wouldn’t arrive, substitute Alan Fleming blasting against the legs of Johnston from point blank range.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Rintoul, Easton, Sneddon, Brown, Gr.Crooks, McLaughlin (Fleming 64), Ga.Crooks, Miller (Gillespie 61), P.Donnelly, Simpson (Cochrane 69) Subs (not used): Stewart, D.Campbell

Dunbar United Line-Up: Johnston, Thomson, McGregor, Rooney, Lothian, McEwan, Girdwood, Gibb, Jones, Hill, Purves Subs: Weir, Aitken, Gardiner, McHoul, Brown

Referee: Mr. Wes Boulstridge

East Region South Division

Wednesday 20th April 2011

Harthill Royal 0

Blackburn United 3

Miller 49mins, D.Campbell 59mins, P.Donnelly 69mins

A first half dominated by United failed to bring an all important goal but Royal’s reduction to ten men for Beattie’s ridiculous swipe at the legs of Danny Campbell five minutes from the break tipped the balance still further in Blackburn’s favour and second half goals from Nicky MILLER, Danny CAMPBELL and Paddy DONNELLY did little to reflect the visitors complete superiority.

full report to follow…..

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Rintoul, Easton, Sneddon, Brown, Ga.Crooks, D.Campbell (Stewart 66), Cochrane (Gr.Crooks 60), Miller, P.Donnelly, Fleming (McLaughlin 70) Subs (not used): Simpson, Gillespie, Keir

Harthill Royal Line-Up: Ross, C.Robertson, Nichol, Reid, Mackay, Ireland, Beattie, Lithgow, Walker, D.Robertson, Kay Subs: McDowell, Clark, Redmond, Stewart, McGuinness

Referee: Mr. Peter Stuart

Fauldhouse – no report linked

East Region South Division

Saturday 30th April 2011

Livingston United 1

McQuillan 85mins

Blackburn United 0

A game dominated by Blackburn for the opening half hour and arguably the whole first half should really have seen them ahead by the interval but Nicky Miller somehow contrived to completely miss his kick from only six yards out and in front of an open goal after Jordan Rintoul’s early run and cross. The second half though, was another matter. The home side were the more aggressive from the off and kept up that momentum throughout the second forty five and, although chances were pretty thin on the ground at either end, the winner came just five minutes from time. Griffin lifted in a free kick that saw Davie Sneddon impeded as he jumped to clear but with no whistle the ball dropped to Crawford who rattled in a shot that fell kindly for ex-Blackburn striker McQUILLAN and, from a position that looked to be yards in advance of the last man and well offside, he found the net.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Rintoul, Easton, Sneddon, Gillespie, Ga.Crooks (Stewart 47), McLaughlin (M.Campbell 79), Fleming, Miller, P.Donnelly, Spence (D.Campbell 71) Subs (not used): Keir

Livingston United Line-Up: Gillespie, Byle, Drew, Malone, Halliday, Russell, Payne, Murphy, Roberts, Crawford, Jaconelli Subs: I.Griffin, McQuillan, Burns, A.Griffin, Brookfield

Referee: Mr. Jonathan Bell

East Region South Division

Saturday 7th May 2011

Edinburgh United 3

15mins, 42mins, 80mins

Blackburn United 0

Despite long spells of decent possession and hitting the woodwork twice, Blackburn appeared to have lost the route to goal in chalking up their third successive game without finding the net as the capital side showed them how to do so from much more limited time on the ball, their third strike even coming when they were down to ten men.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Rintoul (McLaughlin 53), Easton, Sneddon, Gillespie (Brown 59), Fleming, Stewart, Ga.Crooks, Simpson (D.Campbell 68), P.Donnelly, Spence Sub (not used): M.Campbell

Edinburgh United Line-Up:Subs:

Referee: Mr. Gianluca Marini

East Region South Division

Saturday 14th May 2011

Blackburn United 0

Haddington Athletic 2

Martin 44mins, Bernawi 75mins

United’s season continued to hit the buffers after drawing yet another blank in front of goal in this fourth successive defeat, a run that has saw the side slip from fourth to seventh in the table. After a fairly uneventful and sluggish first half the visitors netted the opening goal sixty seconds from the break with a close range MARTIN header and sealed the points when a low ball across the face of goal fifteen minutes from time was side footed home by BERNAWI. The closest Blackburn managed to come to breaking their four game scoring duck was when substitute Nicky Miller clattered a twenty two yarder off the face of the crossbar in the sixty sixth minute and Danny Campbell couldn’t quite direct the rebound beyond Combe in the Hi Hi goal.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Trialist – Ure, Spence, Easton, Sneddon, Brown, Ga.Crooks, Stewart, Simpson (McLaughlin 60), D.Campbell (Trialist – Dougan 76), P.Donnelly, Rintoul (Miller 60) Subs (not used): Carter, M.Campbell, Hendrie

Haddington Athletic Line-Up: Combe, Bernawi, Martin, Paterson, Campbell, Slight, Myles, Motion, Jamieson, MacDonald, Ferguson Subs: Clark, Gallacher, Milne, Robertson

Referee: Mr. Ralph Gordon

East Region South Division

Wednesday 18th May 2011

Pumpherston 1

41mins

Blackburn United 2

Miller 22mins, Rintoul 89mins

United found their way back onto the

goal trail at Recreation Park when

Nicky MILLER slotted Paddy

Donnelly’s pass under the advancing

goalkeeper mid way through the first

half. Donnelly had, in fact, put the

ball in the net himself as early as the

eighth minute but was deemed to have

crept offside. Offside too was Danny

Campbell when rounding the Pumphy No.1 and slotting home just after the half hour mark. However, before the break a back post tap-in had the home side level.

The second period followed much the same pattern as the first with territorial advantage belonging to Blackburn, although end product was glaringly absent until a minute from time when Alan Fleming’s free-kick from the left arrived in the box where Jordan RINTOUL’S late run earned him a clear header to direct home the winning goal. Indeed, victory could eventually have been by a wider margin had Donnelly’s fine curling effort from Miller’s square ball sixty seconds later not been saved, though if it were not for a terrific Ross Hendrie save right at the death the points might have been shared.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Rintoul, Stewart, Spence, Brown, Fleming, McLaughlin, Ga. Crooks (Simpson 5), Miller, P.Donnelly, D.Campbell Subs (not used): Carter, M.Campbell

Pumpherston Line-Up:Subs:

Referee: Mr. Robert Thompson

East Region South Division

Saturday 21st May 2011

Blackburn United 4

Miller 16mins & 79mins, P.Donnelly 35mins, O.G. 47mins

Spartans 2

22mins, 74mins

United brought their season to an end with a performance that started well and progressively got better as the game wore on. Striker Nicky MILLER was on the end of a fine move that started with Alan Fleming pinging a ball wide to Danny Campbell whose terrific near post cross was bulleted home by the head of the little front man and although the capital side were level within six minutes the lead was deservedly restored before half time when Paddy DONNELLY took a touch on Miller’s square ball to steady himself before driving home.

The second half began when Blackburn pieced together another fine move which started when Marty Stewart picked out Grant Easton on the left and his whipped cross was diverted behind his own ‘keeper by the visiting centre-half who had little option but to put his head on it as Miller would have surely netted if he hadn’t. The side from Edinburgh, though, were spirited enough to withstand further United pressure and net a carbon copy of their own first goal to haul themselves back into it. Five minutes later though and the two goal lead was restored and the three points secured when Chris Simpson spun the ball out to Campbell on the right who pulled it back into the path of MILLER to place a side footed effort into the net from twelve yards.

Blackburn United Line-Up: Hendrie, Spence, Easton, Sneddon, Brown, Rintoul, Stewart, Fleming (Gillespie 65), Miller, P.Donnelly (Simpson 65), D.Campbell Subs (not used): M.Campbell

Spartans Line-Up:Subs:

Referee: Mr. John Weir

Pos	Club	P	GD	Pts
12	Tynecastle	22	-15	24
13	Hill of Beath Hawthorn	19	-1	23
14	Blackburn United	22	-10	23
15	Oakley United	22	-62	1
16	Vale of Leithen	22	-84	0