Dale dole out six of the best

Aug 27 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

UNDOUBTEDLY the performance of the weekend was at Armadale where the hosts smacked Super League side Newtongrange for six.

They hammered their opponents with a crushing victory as top gun-slinger Lee Johnstone grabbed his second hat-trick against Super League opposition in seven days.

Johnstone netted his first treble in a match against county neighbours Linlithgow Rose last week and he bagged his second in the 6-0 humbling of Newtongrange.

His second of the match was a ferocious 30-yard free-kick which flew into the net at such velocity that fans reckoned six keepers couldn’t have saved it.

Johnstone is on fire at the moment and on this form Armadale should be ranked among the big favourites for promotion to the Super League next season.

Also on the scoresheet for the Dale were Scott Mauchline, who is blossoming as captain, Robbie Feeney and Gary McIntosh.

Bathgate Thistle fought back from a man down to earn a superb 2-2 draw +against Camelon in the League Cup this weekend. The county club took the lead after just 15 minutes when Graeme McLaren burst down the left wing and whipped the ball to the arriving Brian McPhee who slammed home at the back post.

But McLaren blotted his copybook a few minutes later when he earned the first squeeze of the shower gel after being sent off for violent conduct following a bust-up with full-back Steven Desmond who was booked for his part in the clash.

Camelon failed to make their numerical advantage count as Bathgate defended well but they were eventually pegged back on 70 minutes when Andy Dick curled a fine free-kick into the top corner.

Blair Batchelor then put the visitors 2-1 up two minutes later when he bundled the ball home but McPhee rescued a point when he notched his second of the afternoon when he side-footed home from trialist Alex Lurinsky’s cutback.

Jags manager Graeme Love was delighted with his side’s efforts.

He said: “To lose a player after 15 minutes or so and then to go behind and still take something from the match was a great effort from the players.”

Also on Saturday, Whitburn were in action as they travelled to Edinburgh looking for a good win to earn their place in the semi-final.

And they did just that with a comfortable 3–0 triumph thanks to goals from Kenny Hannah, Chris Dolan and Scott Gormley.

They were also given a helping hand by county rivals Broxburn who restricted group rivals Bo’ness to a 1-0 win following a penalty-kick winner.

In a group where goal difference was crucial it was a big result for the Burnie.

Fauldhouse travelled to Dalkeith and shared the points following a 1–1 scoreline.

Sean McCallion put Dalkeith ahead early on but Bryan Felvus again scored a valuable goal for Fauldhouse to give them a share of the points.

Stoneyburn lost 4-0 at Sauchie and Livingston beat Blackburn 2–1 with goals from Bryan Jaconelli and John Dallas.

Alan Brown had put Blackburn in the lead but couldn’t hold onto their advantage.

West Calder were at Pumpherston and won 2–0.

On Monday night, the final League Cup action took place completing the semi-final line-up.

Edinburgh had to travel to Broxburn with the knowledge only a 7-0 win would be enough to pip group rivals Whitburn to a semi-final berth.

But goal difference didn’t even come into it as the West Lothian side won 2-0 to earn Whitburn a semi-final date with Camelon.

Both Broxburn goals came from new signing John Jeffreys.

Blackburn lost 3–2 at home to Sauchie with Alan Brown and Andy McCollin getting their goals.

Stoneyburn beat Harthill 2–1 and Livingston were beaten 5–0 by Super League side Camelon who go on to play Whitburn.

The completed semi-final schedule pitted Musselburgh and Linlithgow together and Whitburn hosting Camelon and Armadale.

Both fixtures were scheduled to take place last night (Wednesday). The final venue has yet to be announced.