Ormiston 2
Kelso United 0
EoS FIRST DIVISION
GEORGE RILEY reports from Recreation Park
ORMISTON seem to hold some strange effect on Kelso United. The East Lothian team have only accumulated 10 points in the league so far, but six of those have come from home and away defeats of United.
The Tweedsiders matched their opposition in midfield endeavour, but lacked the cutting edge in front of goal, missing top striker Des Burnett.
On a heavy pitch, it the 17th minute before there was an effort on goal when a corner from the right by Ormiston’s Craig Dowie was swung into the box and Ian Adams rose to head the ball against the crossbar.
But midway through the first half, the home side took the lead. Steven Tait fouled Jason Young on the left touchline, and from the subsequent free kick United initially cleared to the right side of the box, only for Kyle Auld to pick up the ball and cross into the penalty area where central defender Stewart Fisher headed unchallenged past keeper David Simmonds.
Sixty seconds later Ormiston should have been reduced to 10 men. Young was running down the right wing when he was accidentally tripped by United full back Garry Mabon.
But the home striker reacted badly to the challenge and ran 10 yards to grip Mabon round the throat.
However, referee Alan Hogg thought the offence only warranted a yellow card, saying it was not violent conduct.
Ormiston went further ahead just before the half-hour mark when a corner from the right was miscued out of defence by Mabon to home winger Downie who put in a shot-cum-cross which flew into the top corner of the net.
United’s only direct shot on goal in the first half came two minutes before the break when striker Jordan Lauder fired the ball from 20 yards which home keeper Scott Dowie spilled but gathered at the second attempt, with Jamie Milner bearing down.
United could have been three down seven minutes after the restart when Lauder pulled down Jason Young in the box.
However, from the resultant penalty, Simmonds made a tremendous diving save to his right to stop the Auld spot kick.
Substitute Chris Black made an impact on the hour mark as his cross found Jamie Swailes, but the midfielder’s effort just flew wide of the post.
Five minutes later former United stopper Dowie had to be at his best to deny Swailes again.
With time running out, Swailes tried his luck again from distance, but again his shot went just wide of goal.
Kelso United: D. Simmonds, J. McCutcheon, G. Mabon (J. Swailes 50), S. Harker, S. Tait, D. McNulty, J. Milner (C. Black 50), C. Tait, J. Lauder, L. Wallace, C. Webb.