Match report 01/03/08
Forfar West End 0 Musselburgh Athletic 1
Musselburgh Athletic deservedly took all three points in this crucial promotion match with a late winner from CJ Osazowa to overcome second placed Forfar. In blustery conditions Musselburgh went into the match without the suspended Paul Currie and both Martin Murphy and Brian Murray both failed pre match fitness tests but due to the lack of available players were listed as substitutes. Musselburgh were nearly a goal down in the opening minute when a slack pass across goal found Grant Lawson and Ronnie McPherson got down well to save his effort from eighteen yards. Jamie Hawkins was then cautioned for his first tackle after only five minutes before Danny Sweeney came off worst in a challenge out on the touchline but after treatment he was able to continue. Musselburgh came into the match and enjoyed a good spell of pressure and on fifteen minutes nearly took the lead when CJ Osazowa collected the ball in the box before turning the defender and his low shot beat the keeper but Graeme Gibb was there to clear the ball off the line. On the half hour mark Johnny Bain was unable to continue due to aggravating an injury and he was replaced by Brian Murray who filled in at left back. On the half hour mark Chris King, playing in midfield today, sent a clever ball over the home defence but Ross Barnes just failed to get there before the keeper who cleared well. The a long throw in was head flicked on by Wes Mitchell and the Forfar defence failed to clear the ball which landed at the feet of the Burgh skipper but his well hit shot was blocked by Craig Logan two yards from goal. Ten minutes from half time Danny Sweeney, who had never fully recovered from his earlier challenge, had to go off and he was replaced by Martin Murphy who went into midfield with Jamie Hawkins dropping back to full back. Paul Tansey then turned full back Ralph Henderson inside the box but unfortunately his well hit shot went just over the crossbar. The Burgh winger was giving the Forfar full back a torrid time and outpaced him once again and his slide rule pass found Ross Barnes who shot just wide then centre half Graeme Gibb was booked for cynically bringing down Paul Tansey just before the break and in the final minute of the half Musselburgh created another scoring chance but Paul Tansey’s shot was saved by the legs of keeper Vanderdeyl who had advanced out of his goal. Musselburgh had to make their third substitution at half time when Jamie Hawkins failed to come out for the second half and Andy Porteous, coming back from injury himself, replaced him.
Musselburgh continued their good form of the first half and should have taken the lead ten minutes into the second half when Ross Barnes did well to play the ball into Chris King who had made a god run forward but his first time shot went over with keeper well beaten. Wes Mitchell became the second player to be cautioned for kicking the ball away and the fact that it hit the refereee in the process obviously didn’t help his cause. On the hour mark Forfar were awarded a free kick twenty five yards out right in front of goal and Grant Lawson struck it well and Ronnie McPherson did well to tip the ball that was swerving away from him over the bar for a corner. Musselburgh were becoming frustrated by an over officious referee and both Martin Murphy and Ross Barnes were booked for dissent in the space of a couple of minutes. With fifteen minutes to play Musselburgh got the goal that their play throughout the match deserved when they were awarded a free kick out on the left and Chris King sent over a teasing cross which CJ Osazowa met just in front of the keeper and his header rolled over the line to give the Burgh the lead. Five minutes from time Paul Tansey went down following a tackle from Craig Logan and the Scott Devlin suffered a blow to the face in the same passage of play and with two Burgh players down the referee allowed play to continue until a free kick was awarded to Musselburgh a full minute later. In the final minute Musselburgh Paul Tansey broke free and ran from the half way line and rounded the keeper who caught him but the referee waved play on much to the disgust of the Burgh dug out and incredibly the referee played a full eight minutes of injury time but Musselburgh held on for a fine victory.
Follow Musselburgh next week as they head to Oakley in the Fife & Lothian's Cup kick off 2.15pm
Forfar West End: Vanderdeyl, Logan, Henderson, Brown, Gibb, Lawson, Roberts, McKenzie, Gray, Bonella, Black. Subs: McVicar, Brand, McConnachie, Muckerslie, McCaw.
Musselburgh Athletic: McPherson, Sweeney, Bain, Mitchell, McManus, Osazowa, Hawkins, Devlin, Barnes, King, Tansey. Subs: Murray, Murphy, Porteous, McGlynn, Polowyj.
Mitchell, Hawkins, Barnes, Murphy
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