Midlands League – 5th October 2024 @ Farquharson Park
Match report from Ross McGowan
It was back to Midlands League business this afternoon for a Lochee United side high on confidence after making headlines with a 3-2 Scottish Cup victory away to East Stirlingshire last weekend. Lochee’s reward was a second round tie away to Peterhead later this month, but for now all attention was on today’s opponents Scone Thistle. Whilst our hosts today went into this fixture at the foot of the table without a point, Lochee needed no reminder about the dangers of complacency having fallen to an unlikely defeat at this venue back in early 2023.
Shooting downhill in the first half Lochee were slow to get going and it was Scone who looked to apply some early pressure. First a fizzing low sighter from 20 yards out whistled just wide with Lochee keeper Jamie McCabe covering his angles well. Then a set-piece delivery from the right gave Scone a free header six yards out but to Lochee’s relief the ball faded harmlessly over the bar.
Heeding the early warnings Lochee began to get on the ball and start playing. Bailey Steel played a good ball into space down the right for Bobby Linn to chase with Callum Moore firing Linn’s cutback over the bar.
Deputising up front for Kerr Hay who was benched as an injury precaution today, Bobby Linn was looking to cause confusion for the Scone defence with his runs on the blind side and when Ryan Paterson picked him out with a good cross keeper Dalton was forced into a sharp save to deny Linn.
There were signs however that Lochee were starting to find some rhythm as George Johnston broke into space down the left and cut back for Callum Moore to fire over the bar.
Lochee were enjoying plenty of possession but Scone’s organised defensive lines were proving hard to break down.
However, midway through the half Lochee found a breakthrough. When Johnston and Murray couldn’t find a way through down the left they reset the play back to Arron Donald who picked a pinpoint cross to the back post where Bobby Linn rose highest to batter home a header and put Lochee 1-0 ahead.
Lochee continued to press for goals with Bobby Linn burrowing into the box off the left flank but his cutback seemed to catch George Johnston by surprise and the danger was cleared. Then after a lengthy patient passing move Callum Moore danced into the box before shooting narrowly over the upright.
1-0 at half time with Lochee on top of the game and zipping the ball about well from side to side but Scone doing a good job of shutting off the angles for Lochee’s final ball.
The Bluebells came out for the second half fired up and looking keen to kill the game off as early as possible and Callum Moore had Dalton scrambling across his line early on with a curling shot off the right flank that didn’t quite bend enough on its way past the post.
Moore was soon involved again picking up possession after Linn had done well to keep the ball in down the right and a defence-splitting ball through the middle put Callum Lamb through on goal but Dalton was quick off his line to narrow the angle and make a great save.
But on the hour mark Lochee could breathe easier when a well weighted ball through the inside right channel sent Bobby Linn on the chase and he slid the ball across the face of goal for George Johnston who couldn’t miss from three yards out to put Lochee 2-0 up.
Moments later Ryan Paterson invited an injudicious challenge just inside the Scone box and when the referee pointed to the spot Bobby Linn coolly slotted into the bottom corner to put Lochee 3-0 ahead.
Kerr Hay was then introduced off the bench and was very nearly on the scoresheet working a tight one-two with Callum Lamb in the box before firing just past the near post.
But the scoring was soon completed when substitute Danny Cavanagh’s shot was parried by Dalton and with Kerr Hay realising the angle was too tight on the rebound he unselfishly squared for Ryan Paterson to poke the ball home in the middle and give Lochee an unassailable 4-0 lead.
That was how it finished and credit must go to Scone today for how well they contained Lochee in the first half with some well organised defending.
Lochee simply wore them down with their relentless pass-and-move football today and will be glad to register a league victory after two weeks of cup commitments.
A very tough decision for man of the match today. Arron Donald was outstanding at the back and his passing range kept Scone guessing all day, but he was pipped to the award by Ryan Paterson who looked in the mood from the start today, constantly showed for the ball and bamboozled the Scone defence with his tireless movement across the front line.
We continue our Midlands League campaign next Saturday with a home match against Coupar Angus. As always – COME ON THE CHEE!!!
