Taking the Fight to Fife

A short trip across the Forth Road Bridge to the scenic urban outskirts of Dunfermline kicked off another double header weekend for a somewhat depleted Watsonians 1st XI. Extra spice was added to the  affair as Sonians' former striker, Martin Daw, and eccentric former coach, Calum Wood, lined up for opponents Carnegie, whilst bitter memories still lingered from the home sides controversial win against Sonians' in the national 2 indoor playoffs.

The away side began brightly, keeping the ball well, and took the lead inside 10 minutes as youngster Andrew Nickerson unwittingly scored his first goal for the 1st XI: an attempted reverse stick pass to Jamie Brown evaded the Northern Irishman as well the Carnegie keeper behind him to find it's way fortuitously into the net. Ecstatic celebrations perhaps not entirely befitting to the quality of the goal followed. Rather than press home their advantage, Sonians' became sloppy, frequently turning over possession cheaply in dangerous areas of the pitch. A Carnegie short corner was won following one such lapse in concentration, and whilst the initial shot was well saved by Luke Campbell, the ball fell to Daw, whose rebounded effort was well deflected past the keeper for the equaliser. Carnegie took the lead shortly before the interval when a long ball from the back broke through the Sonians' press; a smart finish by the Carnegie forward followed.

Following a stern talking to by ever anxious captain, Fraser McCurdy, the away side began the second half in a much more positive manner than they had finished the previous, moving the ball well from defence through the midfield to the forward line. Reward came when a drag flick from Fraser Sands was parried down by the keeper, only to be tapped home from close range by Brown. Ten minutes later the away side retook the lead as Brown meandered through the Carnegie defence, rounded the keeper and finished off his reverse stick from a tight angle: a fine individual effort that will doubtless come into the reckoning for goal of the season.

The final 15 minutes were nervy: Harry Connolly earned himself 2 minutes in the sin bin for an over-exuberant debate with his opposing number; Craig Beattie demonstrated that Will Butler, though not present in person, was there in spirit, as the former emulated his idol by hacking down an opposition forward and earning himself two minutes in the bin; the calm distribution of Jack Kinloch from the back demonstrated that playing through an imaginary ailment reaps dividends; whilst an x-rated double assault on Lyam Hollis, leaving the centre-back floored, bruised and traumatised, went inexplicably unpunished. A short corner after the full-time whistle was well saved by Campbell, allowing the away side to celebrate a hard-fought victory to kick-start the second half of the season push for promotion.

MoM: Jamie Brown
DoD: Lyam Hollis

Goals: Andrew NIckerson, Jamie Brown x2
Assists: Craig Beattie, Fraser McCurdy
Green cards: Harry Connolly, Craig Beattie