Double by Cunningham keeps title hopes alive

Apr 2 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

BROXBURN kept up the heat on South Division leaders Armadale Thistle with a hard-fought victory on Saturday over Haddington.

After beating their title rivals and county neighbours last week it was important that Broxburn maintained their title challenge.

And they did just that with a 3-2 win over Haddington which keeps them just six points behind the Dale but with two games in hand.

The West Lothian side raced into a 2-0 lead inside the opening half hour following goals from Craig Chilton and Alan Cunningham.

Cunningham then scored his second of the match to give Broxburn a seemingly unassailable lead, but Haddington pulled two goals back in the closing 10 minutes to almost turn the match and the title race on its head.

Broxburn: McCann, Cunningham, Gibson, Mackin, Ritchie, Wilson, Douglas, Baird, Chilton, Pearson, Young. Subs: Black, Cruikshank, Wells, Robertson, Ferguson.

LEAGUE leaders Armadale bounced back from their defeat a week earlier to edge out Harthill 2–1 on Dale manager Jim Henderson’s return to his old club.

Robbie Feeney and Lee Johnstone scored the all-important goals which kept the Dale in front of the pack in the race to the Premier League.

WEST Calder drew 2–2 at home to Dunbar despite the worries over the state of their pitch.

The hosts took the lead through their impressive trialist, sporting No.11, who raced in on goal, waltzed around keeper John Johnstone and rolled the ball into the empty net.

Stephen Devine levelled for the Seasiders before Keith Paton restored West Calder’s lead.

But the visitors were not to be denied a share of the points and Adam Cheetham earned a point with a well converted spot kick midway through the second half.

West Calder: Watson, Gerrard, Seaton, Trialist, Wolfe, Meikle, Paris, Paton, Johnston, Reid, Trialist. Subs: Trialist, Dunsmore, Bann, McLeod, Mitchell.

PUMPHERSTON lost heavily at home to Sauchie, and the 4-0 scoreline barely flattered the visitors, so dominant was their display.

BLACKBURN picked up an excellent win with a late, late winner at Murrayfield Park.

Stoneyburn had been second best for much of the South Division encounter and Blackburn fully deserved the three points.

Throughout the game they created, and missed, a hatful of chances, but with the last throw of the dice they sealed the points deep inside stoppage time.

Grant Plenderleith was the architect as he burst free on the left flank and whipped in a cross which was nodded towards goal by Andy McQuillan.

The header was blocked on the line but only partially cleared where substitute Steph McCardie gratefully accepted the chance and stroked the ball into the net to send the home fans wild.

Blackburn United: Carlin, Spence, Keir, Miller, Murray, Crooks, Stewart (Gilhouley 84), Brown, Williamson (McCardie 69), McQuillan, Plenderleith Sub (not used): Donnelly