West Calder crash against Harthill

Aug 21 2008 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

HOME is where the hurt is for West Calder after they were humiliated at their brand new Hermand Park home as they crashed to a 7-1 defeat at the hands of neighbours Harthill.

The result came as a complete surprise and devastating shock to West Calder who have been enjoying some encouraging recent results.

And few would have expected so much from a Harthill side in the midst of a transformation of their own.

On the score sheet for a rampant Harthill side were Craig Easton (3), Graeme Beattie (2), Colin Henry and Dean Fleming, their new signing from Pumpherston.

This is obviously a result West Calder will want to forget but one which has given Harthill fresh confidence for their league campaign ahead.

Whitburn continued their goal-den League Cup campaign with another high scoring rout.

The Burnie maintained their semi-final pursuit with a comfortable 4-1 win over South Division outfit Blackburn.

Whitburn’s new signing have certainly made an impact and the team have netted 13 goals in their last three games.

It has been a dream start for Andrew Doig, snapped up from East Senior side Whitehill Welfare, as he has scored in every game he has played in.

On Saturday Doig, Colin Strickland, David Murphy and an own goal helped Whitburn to victory.

On the spot for Blackburn was Fraser Gillespie.

Whitburn: Walker, Hannah, Mooney, Leiper, McGurk, S Murphy, D Murphy, Doig, Strickland, Lurinski, Dolan. Subs: J Murphy, Kenny, Roberts, Donnelly.

Blackburn: Tugman, Keir, Sneddon, Spence, Rintoul, Fowler, Gillespie, Brown, Williamson, Docherty, McQuillan. Subs: Thomson, Lynch, McCardie, Waddell, Carlin.

League Cup holders Linlithgow Rose were made to work hard to make the breakthrough against a spirited Dalkeith side.

It wasn’t until the 15th minute before they opened their account but in the end they ran out 3-0 winners.

Stuart McArthur opened the scoring with a drive from 12 yards.

The same player should have doubled the advantage before half-time but his spot-kick was beaten away by Dalkeith keeper Kevin Kesson.

But Linlithgow did kill the game off in the final 15 minutes. Mark Bradley netted a late double with both assists from Sean Grady.

Linlithgow: Graham, Robertson, Waugh, Donnelly, Wilson, Tyrrell, Grady, Bradley, Livingstone, Geddes, McArthur. Subs: Gallagher, Donald, McDermott, Hogg, Pinkowski.

Elsewhere Armadale crashed 5 – 0 to Super League side Camelon while Pumpherston lost 4 – 0 to a revived Bonnyrigg side.

Broxburn were at Edinburgh and won 2 – 0 with a double from Craig Chilton.

Chilton must surely be drawing admiring glances from Super League bosses and Broxburn face a fight to keep their star man on their hands.

Stoneyburn lost 3 – 2 at home to local neighbours Fauldhouse.

On the scoresheet for Stoneyburn were Steven Tarditi and Kevin Byle while Fauldhouse had an Ally Graham double plus a strike from Iain Smith to thank for their win.

Finally, Livingston lost 2 – 1 at home to Sauchie despite having the bulk of the pressure over the 90 minutes.

They led 1 – 0 thanks to a goal from Bobby Thomson before Sauchie had the luck to score twice in the last 10 minutes.