Sauchie Juniors.............2

Camelon Juniors...........1

East Region Superleague

SAUCHIE JUNIORS picked up their first win in three games with a hard-fought win over local rivals Camelon at Beechwood Park.

Brian Morgan and Conor Kelly were on the scoresheet for the home side, and although Camelon pulled one back in controversial circumstances late on, Sauchie held on.

The two sides had already met twice this season, with a win apiece. Camelon won the reverse league fixture 4-3, while Sauchie came out on top in the Scottish Cup in December.

This time around Sauchie were coming into the game off the back of last Wednesday’s dramatic draw with Bo’ness United.

Manager Fraser Duncan made one change from that encounter, with David Morrison replacing Iain Syme as the Wee County side went for a change of formation.

Camelon had the better of the opening exchanges, forcing a couple of corners inside the first ten minutes as they looked for an early breakthrough.

Sauchie’s main early threat came from set-pieces, with Stuart Bell proving a particular thorn in Camelon’s side as he came up against his former club.

Morgan was also proving to be in inspired form, and he deserved better when he received the ball out on the left flank, skipped beyond no less than four challenges and flashed a shot just the wrong side of the far post.

The hosts were really forcing the issue and when William Wells got his head to Craig Comrie’s teasing cross, the stand-side spectators thought their side had gone in front, but the winger’s effort found the side-netting.

Camelon were by no means out of it and continued to force chances. Sauchie keeper Darren Dolan was fortunate when he was rounded by Alan Docherty, only for brother Steven to bail him out with a goal-line clearance.

But Sauchie continued to have the bulk of the play, and were unfortunate not to take the lead just before the break when Wells’ low drive was well saved by Camelon stopper Dean Shaw.

Just as in the first half, Camelon had the first clear openings of the second period, and Darren Dolan had to be alert to make a fine double save from Alan Sneddon.

However, it was the hosts who would finally make the breakthrough soon after. Kelly and Morgan showed great understanding as they linked up just outside the Camelon box, and the captain struck a fierce low drive into the bottom corner, giving Shaw no chance.

And shortly afterwards, Sauchie had doubled their advantage. Darren Cummings’ looping cross wasn’t dealt with, and top scorer Kelly pounced to rifle the loose ball high into the roof of the net.

It could have been even better for the home side when they broke quickly up the pitch and found themselves with a two-on-one, but neither Kelly or Comrie were able to convert, largely thanks to some heroic last-ditch defending from the Camelon backline.

Despite having a seemingly comfortable advantage, Sauchie would find themselves facing a nervy finish to the game when Camelon pulled one back.

Jason Deans’ low drive found the back of the net, and it appeared that one of his team-mates had been standing in Dolan’s line of sight. That was the view of the assistant referee, who flagged for offside.

However, after discussion between the officials, the referee overturned the original decision and awarded the goal, setting up a tense finale.

But Sauchie were resolute in the final moments and held out to record a valuable win, taking them to within touching distance of their local rivals in the Super League table.

SAUCHIE: D. Dolan, Houston, S. Dolan, Bell, Hewitt, Comrie, McTaggart (Cummings), Morrison, Kelly, Morgan (Sinclair), Wells (Syme). UNUSED SUBS: Sharp