Midlands League Review
The big game in the Midlands League at the Quest Precision Engineering Arena ended in a second defeat in a row for Lochee United as Darren Scott’s Broughty side won 1-0 in a mixed day for the McNaughton brothers. Lochee edged the first half and should have gone in at half time in front but after the break a much improved Broughty with Daryl Mckenzie pulling the strings were the better side. The winner came on 64 minutes from Greig McNaughton but brother Ross made it a tricky last ten minutes when he received a second booking and was sent off.
Dundee East Craigie have gone above Lochee United in to second place behind leaders Carnoustie Panmure after they comfortably overcame ten man Lochee Harp at the Lochee Community Sports Hub. Grady McGrath put the Shipbuilders in front on 11 minutes but it wasn’t until the dying minutes of the half that the visitors took control through goals from Lee Cameron on 44 minutes and Jordan Hornby a minute later. McGrath added his second just before the hour mark and Liam Fraser scored the fifth with twenty minutes left. Harp were reduced to ten men on 77 minutes when Jack Neave was shown a red card for a nasty challenge and then Fraser McLeod added the sixth for East Craigie on 82 minutes.
Leaders Carnoustie Panmure can’t afford to give sides a three goal start, which is exactly what happened at Seven Acres as they had to settle for a point against Letham. The Perth side went in front on 11 minutes through Michael Shaw and it got better for the Junior new boys on 27 minutes when Alan Cunningham made it two. The goal of the game came in first half stoppage time when
Steven Mann hit a thunderous effort from 30 yards that thumped against the inside of the far post and went in. Doubtless, the paint was hanging off the walls in the Gowfers dressing room but it wasn’t until the 63 minute that they started their comeback, Sam Simpson scoring from the penalty spot after Bruce Hearn was brought down. Dale Reid pulled a second goal back on 73 minute and then it became the Robert Smith show, the left back had already seen a free kick scrambled round the post and when Ryan Dignan was tripped a yard outside the box, Smith struck a wonderful free kick in to the bottom corner. Carnoustie could have won it in stoppage time but had to settle for what could prove to be an important point.
Dundee North End had to come from behind in the second half to take three points from their visit to Davie Park against Blairgowrie. The home side led 1-0 at half time thanks to a Cammy McManus goal on 27 minutes but Ross Lunan’s side came back after the break and equalised just after the hour mark through Blerti Jacaj and then on 77 minutes, Frankie Devine, who has been in great form in front of goal struck the winner that sees North End draw level with Lochee United, who have a better goal difference.
Brechin Vics may have had a patched up squad going in to their game against Downfield at Victoria Park but still managed to take the points from a 2-1 victory. Cammy Fraser and Euan Duff were the Vics scorers with Richard Roy scoring for Downfield.
Dundee St James edged an exciting game against Forfar United at Fairfield Park that saw both sides end the game with ten men. Ben Starkey put the visitors in front on 36 minutes and his side went in at half time in the lead, however, within five minutes of the restart St James were level through Brodie Cussick and on 59 minutes Connor Bisgrove put the home side in front. The lead lasted just sixty seconds as Calum Todd equalised for United and when St James were reduced to ten men on 76 minutes United looked favourites to win the game, however, the ten men struck what proved to be the winner with four minutes to go through Aidan Lockhart before the sides were evened up when, the scorer of the opener, Ben Starkey was sent off after his second booking.
The other game in the Midlands League ended goalless between Arbroath Vics and Dundee Violet at Ogilvy Park. Cammy Ross came closest for the visitors when he struck a post just before half time and Fraser Burnett ensured the score-line remained blank when he turned a Craig Tosh effort over the bar in stoppage time.
The game between Forfar West End and Scone Thistle as well as the clash at Westview Park between Kirriemuir Thistle and Tayport were postponed due clubs suffering with Covid issues.