Sauchie back in action after three week wait to dispatch Luncarty

IT HAD been three weeks since the Sauchie Juniors faithful saw their team, but it was worth waiting for as their team ran out victorious over Luncarty. 

Two changes were made from the side’s last outing: Sam Collumbine and Lucas Williamson came into the starting 11 in place of Connor Willaghan and Josh Gemmell.

The squad was boosted the night before by a loan extension for Gemmell and the addition of Ryan Kane, both joining from Caledonian Braves to give depth to manager Fraser Duncan’s attacking line. 

Duncan confirmed that his squad was nearly all fully fit during the week, a luxury he has not had this season. 

He said: “It’s probably the first time this season we’ve had a full squad, we’ve just got Hutchy (defender, Ross Hutchison) to come back and Ciaren Chalmers fighting his way back to get fit.”

A foul by Luncarty’s Rannoch Ramsay on striker Ross Kavanagh allowed Paul Simpson an early opening opportunity from the free-kick.

Simpson delivered his cross deep into the box, meeting captain Scott Davidson to nod home for the game and the year’s opener after three short minutes on the clock.

The visitors had their first chance just moments later, also from the free-kick, Jack Hutchison seeing his effort sail past the Sauchie wall and behind.

Finn Malcolm got himself on the scoresheet, a flicked ball into the back of the net following another assist from Simpson, this time in the middle of the park.

Malcolm was fouled in the box by visiting skipper Danny Dobie; a penalty was awarded, and Dobie was the first man to go into the box.

Danny Smith stepped up from 12 yards, goalkeeper Matthew Curtis pushed the shot onto the post, and Kavanagh put his chance at the rebound wide of the mark. 

Visiting Connell Clarke had an agonisingly close shot hit the side netting and out for a goal kick.

The hosts sought their redemption, chances falling for Simpson and Sam Collumbine, but these were not enough to claim a third.

Talking of the importance of a third, Duncan said: “We said at half-time when we came in, ‘up the ante a bit and make sure that we push to get the third goal.’

"It didn’t come very quickly, it took a long time to come but to be honest, I didn’t really feel in any jeopardy or that we were going to lose the game, that’s no disrespect to Luncarty.”

Luncarty did come out for the second half with intent, Ramsay having a chance disposed by the feet of Keir Burt in the opening stages.

Clarke also had an opportunity in the six-yard box, but Burt stood tall to deny The Bleachers a way back into the game.

Kavanagh and Brian Morgan also chapped on the Luncarty door but were not allowed in as the score looked to stay at two.

That was until the substitute, an unmarked Connor Willaghan, headed home the third following a corner delivery from Simpson.

Daniel Walker looked to get what was now a consolation for the Perthshire side, but an excellent save from Burt tipped the shot over the bar.

The Sauchie boss spoke about his side's performance at the full-time whistle: “It’s a tricky one when you’re starting the year, and you’ve been off for three weeks with the weather, but it’s good to start with three points and a clean sheet.

"I do think that Luncarty did have a couple of chances to score and I think we should have had a lot more, we’ve missed so many chances.

“I do think after the penalty miss, we take the foot off the gas, to be honest, and actually, we settled ourselves down, I think Luncarty’s had a chance right before half-time which if they scored, might have made it a different game.

"It is a bit disappointing the way we took our foot off the gas, but I do have to give credit to the boys. We made a lot of changes, and overall, I am chuffed.”

Sauchie Juniors’ next game sees them welcome Haddington Athletic to Beechwood Park on Saturday, a 2:30 pm kick-off in another East of Scotland Premier Division fixture. 

Sauchie Juniors: Burt, Sc. Davidson (Griffiths 58’), Thomson, Collumbine (Gemmell 58’), Simpson, Caves (Kane 76’), Kavanagh, Smith (Willaghan 76’), Sa. Davidson, Williamson, Malcolm (Morgan 58’)

Substitutes Not Used: Harrison, Chalmers

Advertiser Sport Man of the Match (Paul Simpson): A great team performance from Sauchie Juniors to kick start 2025 with a win, three different goal scorers and a clean sheet kept by a hard-working defence. Simpson had previously got himself a hat-trick of goals against Penicuik Athletic; it was a hat-trick of assists in this game, forever a threat in what was an excellent showing for the ex-Linlithgow Rose player.