East of Scotland Premier League – Saturday 13^th May 2023

Blackburn United                                3          D.Meikle 14. Sampson 16, Howe 87    

Tynecastle                                           3          Hendry 61 & 83, Linden 76

In the final match of the season, Burnie got off to a flying start when Daryl Meikle curled a shot beyond Murray Jackson just before the quarter hour mark and two minutes later the lead was doubled when Kyle Sampson nipped in at the near post to get onto the end of a Richie Hutton low cross to stab it past Jackson.

Tynecastle looked a bit stunned and their first real attempt on goal didn’t come until after the half hour when Fletcher Hendry tested Jack Main who gathered comfortably.

Right from the start of the second half the lead should have been three when Scott Richards broke into the box and was bundled over, but Kyle Sampson skied the resulting penalty over the bar, a miss the Burnie were about to rue.

On the hour mark Fletcher Hendry got on the end of a cross at the back post and headed across Main into the net to cut the lead in half. The same player than had an effort from 25 yards which flew just past as the visitors took a grip of the game. With 15 minutes left the scores were even when Gary Hamilton crossed and Sean Linden converted at the front post.

It got worse for Burnie with seven minutes remaining when Fletcher Hendry got his second as he danced past a couple of challenges to fire past Main and put Tynecastle in the lead.

As Burnie desperately searched a way back into the game, Scott Richards thunderbolt from 25 yards was tipped over, and from the corner, it was Richards again but Jackson pushed away his header.

However with time running out and from another corner, David Howe got on the end of it from close range to pull the scored level.

Blackburn United: Jack Main, Richie Hutton, Kyle McClung, David Wilson, James Mildren, Dominic Kane. Jerry Otonti (David Howe 76), Datyl Meikle, Kyle Sampson, Scott Richards, Luke Meikle. Unused subs: Adam Forrest, Jack McIver, Marcus Millar, Laurie Devine, Craig Saunders.

Tynecastle: Murray Jackson, Blake Wales (Isaac Mackie 86), Liam O’Donnell, Scott Jardine, Gary Hamilton, Conor Power, Fletcher Hendry, Ben Finnan, Sean Linden, Ethan Wynne (Sean Reekie 74), Ross Greig (Jack Chesser 56). Unused subs: Scott Walker, Michael Johnston, Jamie Rae.

Referee: Brent Falconer                                  Assistants: Richards Macartney, Cameron Doyle.

East of Scotland Premier League – Saturday 6^th May 2023

Vale of Leithen                                    3          Bryce 35 & 50, Nicolson 70

Blackburn United                                0

Burnie should have opened the scoring on 19 minutes when Daryl Meikle shot over from close range, four minutes later Laurie Devine connected to a Otonti cross at the back post but stabbed it past.

It was wave after wave of attacks at this point, Devine connected from a corner but the ball cannoned off the bar, then from an Otonti cross Richards headed wide.

As often happens, Vale countered with the first attack of the game and Owen Bryce found himself unmarked inside the area to score.

Burnie came back and a Kyle Sampson header was clawed away by Fraser Taylor just before the break.

Four minutes after the re-start it was sucker punch number two when after a quick counter, John Binnie fouled Dylan Weldon in the area and was shown a red card, and the striker converted the penalty to double Vale’s lead.

Scott Richards almost countered immediately with a header but again Taylor got a hand to it to push it away.

The third came on 70 minutes from Ross Nicolson converted with 10 man Burnie committing men forward in a desperate attempt to get back into the game.

Vale of Leithen: Fraser Taylor, Daniel Kay (Ross Aitken 76), Lewis Bell, Murray Wilson, Matthew Palfreyman, Ross Nicolson, Brodie Watt, Macauley Woodcock, Owen Bryce, Dylan Weldon (Lewis Sanderson 85), Nathan Masson.

Blackburn United: Jack Main, Richie Hutton (David Howe 72), James Mildren, David Wilson, John Binnie, Dominic Kane, Jerry Otonti (Luke Meikle 72), Daryl Meikle, Kyle Sampson (Adam Forrest 72), Scott Richards, Laurie Devine (Craig Baillie 58). Unused subs: Kyle McClung, Marcus Millar, Craig Saunders.

Referee: Tom Danaher             Assistants: Blair McAlpine, Blair White

East of Scotland Premier League  –  Tuesday 2^nd May 2023

Crossgates Primrose                          4          Lawrie 44, Paterson 59, Brown 63, Campbell 70

Blackburn United                                1          Devine 66 (Pen)

The home side created the first chance on the ten minute mark when No.10 shot narrowly wide after latching onto a flick-on from a throw in. Laurie Devine then sent a free-kick over the bar.

On the twenty minute mark, Richie Hutton crossed into the area but Kyle Sampson’s headed effort was straight at Sean Robertson.  Burnie then created two chances in quick succession with ten minutes of the half remaining, first Jerry Otonti wins the ball on the right and cuts inside, but his effort is gathered by Robertson, then a Daryl Meikle effort flew over.

Just before the half time mark, and after Scott Lawrie got on the end of a deep cross but headed over, Primrose took the lead when another cross into the box saw Jack Main come for it but instead bundle over David Cross for a penalty, which Scott Lawrie converted to take the lead.

Shortly after the re-start Blair Paterson shot against the far post, and play moved quickly up the other end where Sampson shot just wide.

The Primrose lead was doubles on the hour mark when when a ball into the box find Paterson wide right and he smashed a shot across Main into the net. Four minutes later Paterson is involved again when his cross rebounded back off the far post but Paul Brown was on hand to bundle it across the line.

Burnie reduced the deficit shortly after when Laurie Devine was brought down in the box and he picked himself up to convert the penalty, but with twenty minutes remaining the game was put beyond doubt when Ross Campbell pounced on a defensive mix-up to score.

Crossgates Primrose: Sean Robertson, Paul Brown, Andrew McDonald, Finn Graham, Scott Lawrie (Ross Campbell 63), Archie Campbell, Blair Peterson, Craig Reid, David Cross, Cameron Down (Darren Aitken 57), Ross Pollock (Jacob Glass 72). Unused subs: Neil Lawrie, Colin Paterson, Shaun Hunter.

Blackburn United: Jack Main, Richie Hutton (James Mildren 78), Kyle McClung, John Binnie, David Wilson, Dominic Kane, Jerry Otonti (Luke Meikle 67), Daryl Meikle (Chris Kelly 78), Kyle Sampson, Scott Richards (David Howe 78), Laurie Devine (Arran Fowler 84). Unused subs: Craig Saunders.

Referee: Kenny Brown                        Assistants: Michael Walsh, Liam Redpath.

East of Scotland Premier League  –  Saturday 29th April 2023

Blackburn United                                0         

Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts               1          Jeffries 19

It was the visitors who dominated possession from the start pinning Burnie back in their own half, and matter weren’t helped when captain Marcus Millar limped off. It wasn’t a surprise however when Swifts got the opening goal after 20 minutes when McClung didn’t deal with a ball into the box and Josh Jeffries collected it on the edge of the area and stroked a shot past Main.

The lead should have only lasted three minutes however when Scott Richards got on the end of a flicked pass inside the Swifts area to head over former Burnie keeper Kyle Marley into the net, but after a momentary delay the flag went up for offside, an incorrect call by the officials.

On the half hour mark Rory Marshall looked likely to double the lead when he got on the end of a corner but headed over from close range. Another injury to our backline saw Adam Forrest replaced by Luke Meikle.

Burnie then created a number of chances as the break approached, first Devine went down in the box, Richards collected the loose ball but fired wide, then it was Richards again who saw a shot blocked by Marley, before Luke Meikle got onto the enf of a corner at the back post and with the goal gaping stab it weekly at Marley.

The second half was a tighter affair as Swifts looked to protect their lead, just past the hour Luke Meikle had a sight at goal when the ball dropped to him from a free-kick but he shot straight at Marley, then with ten minutes remains it was Luke Meikle again who sent the ball into the box which Jerry Otonti fired against the bar, but the offside flag had gone up.

In the closing minutes a great chance for the equaliser when Daryl Meikle slid in Laurie Devine bu man of the match Marley got down to block his effort.

Blackburn United: Jack Main, Adam Forrest (Luke Meikle 33), Kyle McClung, David Wilson, Marcus Millar (John Binnie 12), Dominic Kane, Jerry Otonti, Daryl Meikle, Laurie Devine, Scott Richards (David Howe 74), Richie Hutton.  Unused subs: Chris Kelly, James Mildren, Craig Saunders.

Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts: Kyle Marley, Michael Paterson, Rory Marshall, Lewis Hynd, Lia Kelly, Campbell Dowie, Josh Jeffries, Tom Simpson, Che Reilly, Ronan McMurchie (Ryan Cowie 81), Harry Osborne.  Unused subs: Charlie Simpson, Owen Reid, Ryan Mauchlen, Calum Dignan, Aaron Wood, Reece Jones.

Referee: Iain Snedden             Assistants: Niamh Westwood, James Moore.

East of Scotland Premier League  –  Tuesday 25th April 2023

Oakley United                                      0

Blackburn United                                3          Sampson 19, Richards 34, Baillie 86

Blackburn were in the ascendancy from the kick-off and it was Laurie Devine with the first chance as he got on the end of a Kyle Sampson pass but slid the shot wide. However the opener came on 19 minutes when a Daryle Meikle free kick found David Wilson at the back of the six yard box, his header back across the goalmouth was stroked in by Sampson from close range.

It was almost two shortly afterwards when Josh Irvine got as hand to a Devine shot to push it away, and it was Irvine again on the half hour mark to deny Meikle. However a deserved second game moments later when Hutton let loose from 30 yards and was tipped over by Irvine, Hutton took the corner and it was Scott Richards who rose to head past Irvine.

In their first real attached of the game, Jason Watson supplied Jack Cowan and his angled shot was blocked away by Jack Main. Just before half time it could have been three when Daryl Meikle danced past several challenges and passed the ball past Irvine only to see it rebound off the post.

The second half was a much lower key affair, with Blackburn happy to sit on the lead and Oakley struggling to create any chances.  A Jerry Otonti cross rebounded off the top of Irvine’s bar on 68 minutes, and before the end Craig Baillie sealed the points when he won possession wide right, played it inside to Otonti who returned the favour and Baillie curled a shot past Irvine.  

Oakley United: Josh Irvine, Andrew Penman (Cameron Evans 73), Liam Duffy, Finlay Goodlad, Steven Dolan, Alfie Penman, Ryan Yapoudjian (Scott Bruce 73), Reece Bernard (Sandy Mackinnon 48), Brian McAdam, Jason Watson, Jack Cowan (Rhys Bedborough 39). Unused subs: Daniel White, Keir Young, Aidan Gallacher.

Blackburn United: Jack Main, Richard Hutton, Kyle McClung, David Wilson (John Binnie 88), Marcus Millar, Dominic Kane, Jerry Otonti, Daryl Meikle (David Howe 88), Kyle Sampson (Craig Baillie 73), Scott Richards (Chris Kelly 88), Laurie Devine (Luke Meikle 79). Unused subs: Craig Saunders.

Referee: Terry Ormiston                     Assistants: Cameron Sanderson, Craig Stevens

Report to follow

East of Scotland Premier League  –  Saturday 22nd April 2023

Dundonald Bluebell                             5          McKenzie 20, Kennedy 21, Sibanda 28,

Smith 54 & 60

Blackburn United                                2          Sampson 36, Hutton 43

The hosts kicked-off with the wind at their backs but it was Burnie who should have taken the league straight from kick-off, Sampson collected the ball on the edge of his own box before pushing forward and setting Richie Hutton free on the left, his cross to the back post found Jerry Otonti inside the six yard box but he headed wide.

Burnie paid for that miss with the hosts claiming the lions share of possession and they took the lead on 20 minutes when Lewis McKenzie let fly from all of 25 yards and the ball flew into the top corner. Barely as minute later the lead was doubled when Luke Kennedy fired in a cross from 20 yards which again the wind caught and deceived Saunders.

Burnie should have had a penalty a few minutes later when Kyle Sampson got on the end of a long pass, eased past Gary Cennerazzo inside the box and as he was about to shoot was brought down. The referee incredibly waved play on. The sucker punch came a minute later when again the wind played a part as Barry Sibanda rocketed a 25 yards free kick past Saunders.

It looked bleak but a penalty was eventually awarded when from a Hutton free-kick, two Burnie players ended up on the floor and the referee pointed to the spot for a push, Kyle Sampson converted the penalty. Just on half time Burnie were right back in it when after good work by Richards and Otonti, the latter slid in Hutton and after his initial shot was blocked by Ben Swinton, he fired home the rebound.

The second half kicked off without much in the way of chances until the 54^th minute when a Calum Smith shot appeared to deceive Saunders and trundle into the net, and the game as a contest was finished on the hour mark when Smith again connected with a cross and headed home.

Laurie Devine came off the bench to try and haul Burnie back into it and a couple of chances came and went. Bluebell were content to contain Blackburn and see out the win.

Dundonald Bluebell: Ben Swinton, Scott Durie, Calum Smith, Gary Cennerazzo, Scott Cameron, Billy Rogerson, Barry Sibanda, Lewis McKenzie (James Mackie 72), Regan Lumsden (Lachlan Murphy 79), Luke Kennedy, Ross Drummond (Aiden Hendry 67). Unused subs: Kyle Allison, Kieran Hall.

Blackburn United: Craig Saunders, Adam Forrest, Kyle McClung, David Wilson, Marcus Millar (David Howe 79), Dominic Kane, Jerry Otonti (Luke Meikle 79), Daryl Meikle (John Binnie 79), Kyle Sampson, Scott Richards (Chris Kelly 66), Richie Hutton (Laurie Devine 66). Unused subs: Ross Meldrum.

Referee: Stephen Gill              Assistants: Craig Stevens, Andrew Lawrence

East of Scotland Qualifying Cup 4^th Round  –  Wednesday 19th April 2023

University of Stirling               3          Munro 5, McGill 44, Berry 65

Blackburn United                    0

A much changed Bunie line-up featuting four from the U17/U20 teams, travelled to Forthbank Stadium to face their high flying Lowland League opponents in the EoS Qualifying Cup fourth Round, the winners would travel to face Coldstream in the quarter-finals.

The hosts opened on five minutes when Maciver-Redwood shifted the ball wide to Cameron McKinley, his low cross is pushed away by Craig Saunders but the balls finds Archie Munro who collects and scores.

Saunders then had to look sharp as McGill fires in a free-kick which Saunders did well to tip over. At the other end Richie Hutton holds the ball up before laying off to Dominic Kane who’s shot is saved by Ben Fry.

The host continue to continue to create the bulk of the chances and on the stroker of half-time, a low cross into the box finds Euan McGill unmarked at the back post to tap in and double the lead.

Second half the play is more even with little in the way of clear cut chances. The third comes out of the blue when a James Berry cross from wide on the right deceives Saunders and flies into the roof of the net to put the game to bed.

University of Stirling: Ben Fry, Jamie Thompson, Matthew Burrows, Jake Service (Buronbek Mirzasalimov 76), James Berry, BenHeal, Archie Munro (Finlay Bainbridge 64), Euan McGill (Calum Rae 64), Cameron McKinlay (Ciaran McAninch 76), Ben McIvor-Redwood, James Stokes (Abel Manomey 76). Unused subs: Isa Aslanoglu, Ben Woloszyn.

Blackburn United: Craig Saunders, John Binnie, Adam Forrest, David Wilson, Marcus Millar (Aaron Fowler 79), Scott Richards (Laurie Devine 70), Dominic Kane, Daryl Meikle (Keir Bradley 79), Richard Hutton (Kai Coyle 70), David Howe, Kyle McClung (Blair Nelson 59). Unused subs: James Mildren, Jack Main.

Referee: Chris Hobbs              Assistants: John Fairley Jnr, Andrew Strang.

East of Scotland Premier League  –  Saturday 15^th April 2023

Blackburn United                                3          Sampson 13 & 44p, Millar 64

Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale           2          Viola 9, Signorini 20

(Callum Carson, West Lothian Courier)

Blackburn United skipper Marcus Millar led by example as his leaping header secured a valuable three points against Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale.

The captain rose the highest to nod home the decisive goal midway through the second-half and seal a 3-2 home win over the Edinburgh outfit.

The victory moves United to within two points of safety with six games remaining as they bid to secure their East of Scotland Premier Division status for another season – with four of those fixtures being against teams currently in the bottom six.

The visitors started brightly and had already squandered a fine chance when Joe Viola was afforded too much time and space as he fired beyond Jack Main for the opener.

United’s response was swift, however, with Kyle Sampson breaking the offside trap on their first real venture forward.The striker calmly fired the ball past Ben Galloway for the leveller.

Parity didn’t last long in a thrilling opening 20 minutes, with Viola latching onto a through ball.

His effort was well saved by Main but the rebound fell kindly to Louis Signorini who slammed the ball into the net from close range.

The hosts again responded well and Scott Richards went close with a header from Richie Hutton’s cross before they equalised again just before the interval.

Having seen an own goal ruled out moments earlier for a foul, this one counted as Richards was bundled over inside the box with Sampson stroking home his second from the spot.

That resulted in a total momentum swing after the interval as Blackburn went searching for the lead.

A dangerous Hutton delivery was flicked on by Sampson eight minutes into the half with Jerry Otonti seemingly

well-placed to score but he couldn’t sort himself out with a tame effort trundling wide.

The third goal would come, though, and it arrived on 64 minutes as Kyle McClung’s wonderful corner was met by Millar, with his glancing header finding the back of the net.

From then on, it was all Lothian with the United goal leading something of a charmed life in the final 15 minutes.

Signorini blasted an effort that struck both post and bar before the officials waved away claims the ball had crossed the line before the visitors hit the woodwork again just two minutes later with Tom Prior seeing his effort bounce back.

United weathered that storm and held firm during a nervy finish to pick up what could prove to be a crucial three points in their fight for survival.

Blackburn United: Jack Main, James Mildren, Kyle McLung, David Wilson, Marcus Millar, Dominic Kane, Jerry Otonti, Daryl Meikle, Kyle Sampson, Scott Richards (Chris Kelly 66), Richie Hutton (David Howe 90). Unused subs: Luke Meikle, Adam Forrest, Craig Baillie, John Binnie, Craig Saunders.

Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale: Ben Galloway, Thomas Penker, Thomas Prior, Chris Inglis (Daniel Mason 65), Anthony Muir, Louise Signorini, Sean Wringe, Joe Viola, Patryk Jelen (Fletcher Patterson 65), Kyle Scott (Danny Chisholm 79), Ben Viola.  Unused subs: Fraser Ogilvie, Ryan Findlay, Owen Walton.

Referee: Lewis Hogarth                       Assistants: Darren Robertson, Sean Redgrave

This is our run-in to the end of the season. Each one of them crucial securing our Premier League place for next season.

After a terrible start conceding straight from kick-off, a spirited second half performance and goal from Richie Hutton wasn’t enough to rescue a point. Report to follow.