United hit St Boswells for six

Ally McGilvray 1606 - 1606 • Last updated 22 Apr 2009 11:30 0 Comments

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St Boswells 1 - 6 Gala United

IT may have been a meaningless end of season fixture. But there was pride to play for.

Gala United hit St Boswells for six at their Jenny Moore"s Road ground as the sun began to set on the Border Amateur League for another year on Tuesday night.

Goals from Andy Crawford, Connor Sanderson, Michael Blackwood, two from captain Roddy Eardley and a penalty from Stuart Harkness gave the visitors one of their biggest wins of the season.

Leander Paterson netted a consolation for the home side.

But, speaking after the match, United"s assistant manager Keith Penny - in his first game back following suspension - said: 'I thought we thoroughly deserved our victory.'

Crawford showed off some of the fancy footwork he had picked up at Dance Nation in Newcastle as United opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Penny won a header for United in midfield to send the teenage hot-shot through one-on-one with St Boswells keeper Scott Hunter before picking his spot in the back of the net.

Murray Kellock missed a glaring opportunity in front of goal to pull a quick goal back for the home side.

And then the visitors went on to double their lead in the 19th minute. Johnny Jones thundered up the right wing to strike the ball off the crossbar before Eardley nipped in to net the rebound.

United midfielder Stuart Harkness made it three and easy just before the half hour. He netted from the penalty spot after Crawford was floored in the box.

St Boswells did, however, pull a goal back before half-time when Paterson bundled the ball over the line from an in-swinging corner.

However, after a rollicking from their management team at half-time, United stepped up the pace in the second half with two goals in two minutes to put the game beyond doubt.

Eardley netted his second of the match before Sanderson scored with a cheeky back-heel flick after substitute Ewan Robertson set him up with his very first touch.

But the captain was substituted by his own dad, Roddy Eardley senior, to prevent him scoring a hat-trick, apparently in retribution for an incident when Roddy junior allegedly took the ball off him when he was going for a hat-trick when the pair played together for former Sunday league side Netherdale - when he was only two-years-old or thereabouts.

St Boswells did have further chances to score. But United defender Bruce Barron, between the sticks in place of injured keeper Scott McMullen, pulled of a series of saves to deny them.

Barron was at full stretch to tip Alan Cairney"s angled effort round the post and then he had to team up with defender Damin Cleghorn to clear Gordon Clark"s strike off the goal line.

However, Blackwood rounded off the scoring with a mazy run through a crowded penalty area before picking his spot in the top corner of the net as United showed off their six-y football.

Despite their win, results elsewhere meant that United dropped down one place in Division C - to ninth, but four points clear of tenth-placed St Boswells.

Gala United: Barron, Riley, Cleghorn, Blackwood, Jones, Penny, Harkness, Pringle, Crawford, Eardely, Sanderson. Subs: Macaulay, Robertson, Smith.

St Boswells: Hunter, Thomson, Paterson, Richardson, Clark, Turnbull, Rodgie, McNally, Skelly, Cairney, Kellock. Subs: Blaikie, Muir, Gorman, Thomson, Trotter.

Meanwhile, Tweeddale Rovers 4-1 victory over Gala Hotspur ensures the title race will not be decided until the final kick of the ball.

This article appeared in Border Telegraph 22 Apr 09

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