Kelso United 3
Burntisland Shipyard 1
United eventually proved too strong for league newcomers Burntisland Shipyard at Woodside Park on Saturday, writes George Riley.
The home side huffed and puffed for the first period of the game, but once they got their first goal it seemed to settle Prof Blaikie’s men, who probably should have won more convincingly.
But with his team coming back onto their game over the last few weeks, the Kelso manager was satisfied with this latest victory.
He told The Southern: “It was good to get another win under our belts and it helps that we are starting to score goals, with seven in the last two games.
“To be honest, we have been playing well for most of the season and have felt a wee bit hard done by in some of our earlier games, but it looks as if we are getting the rub of the green now. That’s football for you.”
Blaikie isn’t 100 per cent sure how or why this recent turn of fortunes has come about and was quick to share the credit with coaches Peter McNulty and Alec Douglas, as well as his players.
“I can’t put my finger on the recent run of good form, but I wish it had happened a couple of years ago,” he said.
“Seriously, though, when we were beat at Selkirk a month ago I had a bit of a hear-to-heart with the players after the game and to their credit they seem to have taken everything that was said on board.
“We have a good mix of youth and experience in the team, while Peter and Alec do a great job through the week when I’m working. It really is a case of teamwork and that has probably been the overall key to our success.
“Des Burnett probably deserves a mention, also. He currently averages around 20 goals a season and in my mind is one of the top players in the Borders.”
Looking forward to the weeks ahead, Blaikie commented: “Midway through the season we targeted a top-half finish and we are well on course. We are not a team that likes building ourselves up too much. We prefer to go about things quietly and just get the job done. Hopefully, we can continue this through to Ormiston next week.”
It was a tedious first 20 minutes, with neither side producing much goal-box action – the only effort was when United keeper Scott Dowie had to make a save from a Stephen Connor shot.
It took Kelso 22 minutes to muster a worthwhile attack on the visitors’ goal and it paid dividends.
A good ball from Chris Black found Burnett down the right channel and the striker’s shot was put round the post by Shipyard keeper Mikey Couser.
From the resultant corner, Jordan Lauder floated a high cross to the back post and Steven Tait rose above the defence to power a header home. United were beginning to get into their stride and a ball into the box was knocked back by Lauder into the path of Burnett, who blazed over the bar. This was quickly followed by a long-range shot by Sean Angus, but the defender’s shot was again too high.
On the half-hour mark, keeper Couser did well to stop a Calum McClure shot on the line after some good work by
Lauder down the left. Lauder was proving a handful for the visitors and took off down the right, this time crossing for Burnett in the box, but the striker’s effort was saved by the visitors’ no. 1. Half-time score: Kelso United 1 Burntisland Shipyard 0.
Shortly after the restart, Chris Black had a header cleared off the goalline from a Lauder corner.
Burntisland’s best chance came on the hour when striker Connor was through on goal, but Dowie was equal to the task, saving at point-blank range.
United’s second goal came in the 73rd minute when a free kick was awarded at the right edge of the box and substitute Graeme Gillie whipped in a cross for Black to head home unopposed from six yards.
Ten minutes later the home side made it three when some good interplay by Burnett and Black saw the latter blast a shot at the visitors’ keeper, who could only parry the ball into the path of substitute Stuart Harker, who coolly slotted home from 12 yards.
Burntisland got a consolation goal two minutes from time when midfielder Brendan Napier waltzed past three defenders before placing the ball in the corner of the net from the edge of the box.
Kelso United: S. Dowie, J. McCutcheon, S. Angus, G. McNulty, D. McNulty, S. Tait (G. Gillie 55), C. McClure (C Webb 77), C. Black, D. Burnett, G. Mabon (S Harker 70), J. Lauder.