LOCHEE UNITED 5-0 TWEEDMOUTH RANGERS
Ross McGowan’s match report sponsored by Utility Connect Scotland
Lochee United showed their class this afternoon sweeping aside Tweedmouth Rangers in the second round of the South Challenge Cup.
High on confidence following a four game winning streak, the Bluebells were at their swashbuckling best as they turned on the style to make it five wins from five.
Lochee gaffer Steve Fallon used this weekend’s hiatus from league activity to make five changes to the starting line-up from last week’s 3-2 victory away to Gala Fairydean and with fierce competition for jerseys at the moment this was always going to be a tough afternoon for our visitors.
Indeed it was one of those players drafted into the line-up who helped establish our early lead when Kyle McClements picked up possession on the left with only two minutes played and fed a delicious low ball into the box that was turned into the net by a defender with two blue jerseys lurking nearby.
McClements looked in the mood to seize his starting opportunity and he almost doubled his tally making a slick turn into the box to lose his marker and forced a good save from Ryan Dunn in the Tweedmouth goal.
Lochee continued to dominate possession but weren’t quite finding the desired penetration in the final third. But with half an hour gone they began to shift up through the gears.
Michael McArthur’s header from a corner looked net-bound only for a desperate goal-line clearance to deny him.
But the goals soon began to flow.
First, Callum Lamb cut inside off the right flank and worked a neat one-two to get in behind the defence before unselfishly squaring to Jamie Richardson for a back post tap-in.
And a third goal soon followed when, with the Tweedmouth defence dropping deeper and deeper under sustained Lochee pressure, Ewan Murray found the space to advance and the time to steady himself before steering a wonderful shot into the top corner from 25 yards out.
As the barrage continued Dunn had to make a couple of smart saves first from Richardson then from McClements to limit any further damage as Lochee went in 3-0 up at the break.
Lochee rang the changes in the second half in an attempt to get as much game time into as many legs as possible and it was one of our substitutes who set up the fourth goal when Jamie Cord measured a perfect cross into the box from the right flank and Kyle McClements made no mistake from close range.
And with five minutes left to play our midweek signing Ross Clark showed great feet dancing into the box leaving his marker standing before taking a composed and confident finish into the bottom corner to round off the scoring.
5-0 it finished on an afternoon when Lochee played some football that was very pleasing to the eye.
Even with the personnel changes today, there is a real flow and synergy to the way the players work together and a feeling that everyone is enjoying their football.
The depth of quality in our squad and the competition for places is great to see, and on first viewing Ross Clark looks as though he will add genuine class to Steve Fallon’s midfield options.
Today’s man of the match was Ewan Murray coming back in at left-back for us and looking as though he’d never been away, putting in an accomplished performance up and down the line and scoring the pick of this afternoon’s goals.
Next weekend we are back on Lowland League East duty with a mouthwatering home fixture against Brechin City here at Thomson Park. You don’t want to miss that one!
As always- COME ON THE CHEE!!!
