| Description: | Banchory welcomed Burghead Thistle to Milton Park on Saturday which saw three key players return to the side from the previous week and one new signing. Cammy Bruce was back at right midfield, Jan Geekie in the centre of defence and Alan Gall at left midfield which gave extra balance to the Saints side. Ex-Peterhead singing Adam Kennedy started in the middle of the park.
And Saints were first to threaten when Stevie Robertson was played through and seemed to be fouled inside the box five minutes in the game, however the referee signalled for a corner. As a result, Stevie Mathieson, playing at centre half, was unlucky with his headed effort going just wide of the keepers left hand post.
Both sides were stuggling to create any clear cut chances, however Banchory were looking more likely to score. Bruce was finding some space on the right and he was supplying some good crosses for Robertson and Petkov to latch on to. Mathieson was nearly on target again from a Bruce corner on 30 minutes as he met the ball well, but just over the target.
Two minutes later and McRae tried his luck from distance with a side footed effort that the keeper could only hold at the second attempt. Saints broke the deadlock on 37 minutes when a calamity in the Burghead defence ended up with Stevie Robertson picking up the lose ball and firing across goal for Petkov to bundle into the empty net under a strong challenge which resulted in the forward coming off at half time.
In to the second half and Burghead came closest in the early exchanges when the towering centre half was unlucky with two efforts in quick succession. First a long range effort which was well blocked and then with a glancing header that was just wide of Ewen's right hand post. Gill replaced the injured Petkov at half time.
But Saints stepped it up a little on the second half and began to settle into the game. An opportunist Beckham like effort from Stevie Robertson made it 2-0 on 55 minutes. Again, he took full advantage of a mix-up in the away side back line. With the keeper off his line he took a quick look up and lobbed from around 35 yards.
This seemed to spur on the rest of the team and it was chance after chance for the home side for the next half hour. Robertson was looking dangerous on the right showing some good skill and linking up well with Bruce. One ball into the box found Moir with the ball at his feet, but his effort on his weak side was scuffed into the ground. A few minutes later Gall was getting forward on the left and the ball sat up nicely for him on his favoured left side, but he sliced the shot wide.
Ryan Smith replaced Robertson with 20 minutes to go. Bain was next to waste a great chance when a ball in from Bruce was picked up by Gill. He found Bain in the box, but he scooped his left footed effort well over. Saints were eager to kill the game, but Burghead came close to getting right back in it when they should have scored with 15 minutes left. The ball broke to experienced Simpson whose shot was cleared off the line by Gall and out for a corner. Ewen was excellent to keep a clean sheet and prevent a nervous end to the game with a double save.
Banchory kept pushing for the third and came close when some good build up involving Gall, Robertson, Gill and Bain resulted in debutante Adam Kennedy's effort going just wide. Gillies came on for Gall with ten mintues remaining. Shortly after Saints made it three. Gregor Moir swithed the play across to Bruce from left to right and he beat his man to calmly slot the ball past the advancing keeper.
It was a satisfactory display from Saints and a welcome three points to push them up the table, but the team can play a lot better and will have to if they are to gain a promotion place.
Next week Saturday 6 November are on OVD Scottish Junior Cup 2nd Round duty when they travel to Montrose Roselee for a 2pm kick off. A bus will be leaving the Burnett Arms Hotel at 11am.
Team: Ewen, McRae, G. Moir, Geekie, Mathieson, Bruce, Bain, Kennedy, Gall, Robertson, Petkov. Subs: Gillies, Gill, Smith, Milne, McWhinnie.
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