Blackburn United’s league campaign off to a winning start

Sep 3 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

United’s league campaign off to a winning start

Blackburn United 2 Dalkeith Thistle 1

BLACKBURN put a disappointing League Cup campaign behind them to claim victory in their opening South Division league game at Murrayfield Park.

The first chance of the match fell to Blackburn with just two minutes gone with Alan Brown’s well-struck shot blocked by Dalkeith’s right-back.

A slip-up from Ricky Miller let in Dalkeith’s Finlayson whose powerful shot brought out a terrific save low down at his post by Barry Hunter.

Ryan Donnelly came close to giving United the lead when he nicked the ball from a Dalkeith defender before thundering in a shot from 25 yards which McLean did well to parry over the bar.

Blackburn soon made the breakthrough though with Ricky Miller unleashing a cracking shot from wide on the left which gave McLean in the Thistle goal no chance.

Just when it looked like Blackburn would go into the half-time break with a slender lead, a rash challenge by Martin Stewart right on the very edge of the box brought down Fell.

Dalkeith’s Finlayson made no mistake from the resultant penalty to send Hunter the wrong way to bring his side level.

Blackburn opened the second half in lively fashion and took the lead in the 57th minute.

Ryan Donnelly played the ball out left to Jordan Rintoul and his cross was fumbled by McLean and Brown was on hand to steer the ball over the line.

Two fine stops by Hunter, first from Watters and then from Finlayson, maintained Blackburn’s narrow advantage, an advantage that was almost increased eleven minutes from time when an eighteen-yard pil driver from Greig Crooks sailed just over the bar.

In the last five minutes Hunter underlined his own impressive performance by denying both Watters and Finlayson once again to help earn his side a hard fought three points.

Blackburn United: Hunter, Spence, Keir, Sneddon, Miller, Rintoul (Williamson 86), R.Donnelly (Keenan 75), Crooks, Brown, P.Donnelly, Stewart (Gillespie 56) Subs (not used): Fleming, Trialist - B Stewart, Baxter, Trialist - Connelly