Hill of Beath Hawthorn 3-2 Sauchie: Clacks side fall short in Fife

SAUCHIE made the short journey to Fife to take on Hill of Beath Hawthorn in their East of Scotland Premier League season opener.

Manager Fraser Duncan was already up against it selection-wise, with several injury blows and amid the holiday season.

This meant calling upon three from the club's under 20s squad who Duncan had believed "deserved a crack at it".

Also among the matchday squad was the recently-acquired Stuart McDowell, a loan signing from Linlithgow Rose, and the returning Sam Collumbine.

Bemoaning a lack of first-team options, Duncan stressed: "We've got nine bodies missing, we've got midfielders playing in at defence, and we had to call on some of our young boys to come back us up."

The game started with some neat, flowing football in the opening exchanges, but it was the hosts who came closest initially with a free kick delivered into the box, which Sean Robertson comfortably gathered.

Sauchie returned moments later with a chance of their own, a neat lay-off from David Churchill for Mikey Cunningham, only for this to be shot wide of the mark.

Target man Ross Kavanagh also had an excellent one-on-one opportunity with Blair Penman, but the opposition goalkeeper stood tall, directing this one out for a corner.

The deadlock was finally broken three minutes before the interval as a shot from distance by Hawthorn's Lewis Elder caught Robertson helpless and off his line.

The last action of the half saw Haws double their lead through a headed effort from captain Jake Mitchell as Campbell Tully failed to pick up the waiting recipient.

Highlighting the mistakes, Duncan told Advertiser Sport: "These are mistakes that you cannot make in this league. People think that you can drop down to the East of Scotland and make a couple of mistakes in a game, you can't as there's teams ready to pounce."

Sauchie came out after the break looking rejuvenated, coming out of the traps quickly to try and find some way back into the game.

Midfielder McDowell did just that, rounding Penman to slot home from the tightest of angles on his debut to open his account for Sauchie.

This spurred the team on as they searched for an equaliser, trying to salvage something from what could only be seen as a flattering home performance.

Any chance of this was cancelled as the hosts restored their two-goal lead; Calum Runciman met Watt, who had no hesitations this time and delivered what looked to be the final blow.

At the other end, Kavanagh tapped in from close range, getting Sauchie's second, following some good footwork and athleticism from McDowell to beat his man in the wide area.

In the game's final moments, the referee showed Sauchie defender Lucas Williamson a second yellow card for a challenge as the last man.

Duncan gave praise to debutant McDowell, and added: "He's taken his chance really well, set up the second.

"I'm really pleased with that, and how he's gone about things, he looks to have a bit about him."

SAUCHIE: Robertson, Hutchison, Tully (Isaacs 58'), McDowell (Sludden 89'), Kavanagh (McNeil 89'), Smith, Davidson (Harrison 89'), Williamson, Chalmers, Cunningham, Churchill (Collumbine 58'). UNSUED SUBS: Hynd, Burt