Craigmark Burntonians 3 Ardeer Thistle 1

As said by a Craigmark fan post-match: "Thats the sign of a good team, being able to win when playing poorly."

I wouldnt classify Craigmark as a good team myself and they were slightly fortunate to win 3-1 against Ardeer at Station Park in an even game.

Ardeer, who were giving a trial to Italian midfielder Alessandro Zarelli, were the much better team in the first half with the likes to Scott Reid, Sandy Wylie and Craig Fairbairn impressing. They were perhaps a bit guilty of not taking the chance to shoot enough at goal and were sucker-punched when Craigmark took the lead with a scrappy goal just before half-time.  Goalkeeper Davie Richardson parried away a shot which then bounced off an Ardeer defender and the ball was bundled into the net from about a yard out.

The second half was quite even as well and Ardeer equalised with 20 minutes to go when Sandy Wylie set up Graeme Patterson in the box, who finished well to score his second of the season. Unfortunately, Craigmark went 2-1 up with 10 minutes to go from the penalty spot after Derek Gemmell had committed a foul in the box. They then made it 3-1 with injury time approaching. Davie Richardson handled a passback just inside the box to give Craigmark an indirect free-kick. This was hit a yard to a team-mate who hit a great effort, which bounced off the underside of the bar and off the helpless Ardeer keeper and into the net.

Unlucky result in the end for Ardeer, but it was a good performance that gives us something to build on in our next game.