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19-04-2014, 10:40 AM
LAURISTON THISTLE took all three points in their final home league game of the season on Wednesday evening, beating table-toppers South Gyle 5-3.
Going into the fixture at East Pilton Park, South Gyle were hoping to pick up a vital win in their Lothian West league title quest, with Lauriston aiming for promotion to Premier Division 2.
While any one of North Merchiston Vale, North Edinburgh Wanderers and Dunalba can still surpass South Gyle’s points tally, they are unlikely to catch the leaders, who still have games in hand.
Still, it was no doubt a sore one for the visitors to take as the home side got the vital victory on a bumpy playing surface in north Edinburgh, taking the lead early on before recovering from losing that advantage to win the game 5-3.
Lauriston’s opening goal came after just five minutes.
Chris Malone played a ball into the danger area from the left channel, and South Gyle’s defence failed to pick up the run of Michael Troy, who pounced on the pass before making no mistake from eight yards out.
Just two minutes later, however, South Gyle were back on level terms. A long, searching ball from the defence picked out Johnny Niven in a great position, and the striker beat the offside trap before slotting the ball past Lawrie McGregor in goal.
It was a great response from the team in sky blue – and they went one better on 22 minutes, taking the lead for the first time.
Another direct passage of play found the determined Niven on the edge of the 18-yard box and, after fending off a couple of Lauriston defenders, the No.9 struck the ball low past the ‘keeper into the opposite bottom corner to make it 2-1.
South Gyle’s emphatic response to going a goal down seemed to indicate they were ready to rise to challenge of picking up the win needed to keep up their momentum – but the last action of the half saw Lauriston scoring to level things at 2-2.
A free-kick was awarded on the left side near the ‘D’, and some quick thinking played in David Knox, who made no mistake in converting the chance.
Darren Nicol made it 3-2 to the hosts on 55 minutes, firing low and hard into the bottom corner with precision.
South Gyle piled on the pressure in search of a third, but it was Lauriston that got the next two goals.
Firstly, a corner was whipped in from the right side and met by Gary Crichton at the back post, the defender heading into the ground and finding the back of the net for 4-2.
Ten minutes later, it was 5-2.
With South Gyle in possession of a corner, the ball was cleared rapidly and a long ball found substitute Nathan Troy, who burst onto the pass and got a touch before rounding South Gyle’s No.1 Stewart Blair and tapping the ball into an empty net.
There was time for yet more drama as Lauriston’s left-back Craig MacKenzie was given a second yellow card and a subsequent red for a dubious handball, moments before Andy Easton headed a consolation third goal for South Gyle
More... (http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/amateurs-south-gyle-stung-by-thistle-1-3381156)
Going into the fixture at East Pilton Park, South Gyle were hoping to pick up a vital win in their Lothian West league title quest, with Lauriston aiming for promotion to Premier Division 2.
While any one of North Merchiston Vale, North Edinburgh Wanderers and Dunalba can still surpass South Gyle’s points tally, they are unlikely to catch the leaders, who still have games in hand.
Still, it was no doubt a sore one for the visitors to take as the home side got the vital victory on a bumpy playing surface in north Edinburgh, taking the lead early on before recovering from losing that advantage to win the game 5-3.
Lauriston’s opening goal came after just five minutes.
Chris Malone played a ball into the danger area from the left channel, and South Gyle’s defence failed to pick up the run of Michael Troy, who pounced on the pass before making no mistake from eight yards out.
Just two minutes later, however, South Gyle were back on level terms. A long, searching ball from the defence picked out Johnny Niven in a great position, and the striker beat the offside trap before slotting the ball past Lawrie McGregor in goal.
It was a great response from the team in sky blue – and they went one better on 22 minutes, taking the lead for the first time.
Another direct passage of play found the determined Niven on the edge of the 18-yard box and, after fending off a couple of Lauriston defenders, the No.9 struck the ball low past the ‘keeper into the opposite bottom corner to make it 2-1.
South Gyle’s emphatic response to going a goal down seemed to indicate they were ready to rise to challenge of picking up the win needed to keep up their momentum – but the last action of the half saw Lauriston scoring to level things at 2-2.
A free-kick was awarded on the left side near the ‘D’, and some quick thinking played in David Knox, who made no mistake in converting the chance.
Darren Nicol made it 3-2 to the hosts on 55 minutes, firing low and hard into the bottom corner with precision.
South Gyle piled on the pressure in search of a third, but it was Lauriston that got the next two goals.
Firstly, a corner was whipped in from the right side and met by Gary Crichton at the back post, the defender heading into the ground and finding the back of the net for 4-2.
Ten minutes later, it was 5-2.
With South Gyle in possession of a corner, the ball was cleared rapidly and a long ball found substitute Nathan Troy, who burst onto the pass and got a touch before rounding South Gyle’s No.1 Stewart Blair and tapping the ball into an empty net.
There was time for yet more drama as Lauriston’s left-back Craig MacKenzie was given a second yellow card and a subsequent red for a dubious handball, moments before Andy Easton headed a consolation third goal for South Gyle
More... (http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/amateurs-south-gyle-stung-by-thistle-1-3381156)