WHITEHILLS 2 LONGSIDE 7

Longside : McKenzie, Shewan, Daniel, McCouaig, Mowat, Webster, Wallace,

Davidson, Lawrence, Keith and Murison.

Subs : Bain, Taylor, Coutts, Gardiner and Glennie.

Referee : Mr L.Robertson.

Longside travelled to play Whitehills on Saturday in the first game of the group stage in the Grill cup. The home side made the perfect start when they took the lead in the 1st minute when BRANDEN WATSON rose to head home a Fraser corner.

The visitors had a great chance to draw level when Davidson did well on the left before finding Wallace who in turn found Lawrence in the middle but he miscued his shot and the chance was gone. They did equalise though in the 21 minutes when a Whitehills defender was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box, SCOTT MURISON made no mistake from the spot. Whitehills were also reduced to ten men when Watson was shown a red card for something he said to the referee.

Longside scored again in the 29th minute when Wallace found RYAN WEBSTER with a superb pass and he did well to slip it past the keeper.Minutes later LEE LAWRENCE did well to chase a lost cause and was rewarded when the keeper spilled the ball and he placed it into the net.

Whitehills reduced the leeway with a similar goal to their first when the Longside defence struggled to deal with a corner and this time JAMES MACINTOSH added the finishing touch. In the 43rd minute Longside restored their two goal advantage when NICOL DAVIDSON was in the right place to force a Wallace corner over the line. A minute later Davidson turned provider when he sent over a fine cross for MATTHEW KEITH to head home from eight yards.

(Half time : 2-5)

Longside started the second half with Taylor on in place of Murison. Two minutes into the second half a Wallace free kick found Lawrence in the box but his header was brilliantly saved by Stuart. The visitors scored a sixth in 49 minutes when a Taylor corner was scored by NICOL DAVIDSON from close range.

With 54 minutes gone Wallace was replaced by Gardiner. Taylor ran onto a Davidson pass but his shot was saved by Stuart at the expense of a corner which came to nothing. JACK DANIEL scored number seven for Longside when he ran clear on the left before firing his shot under Stuart and into the net. Longside made their final change when Bain replaced Shewan.

Gardiner put Taylor clear on the left and his cross was met by Lawrence but he saw his header well saved by Stuart. A corner from Fraser for Whitehills was met by Mackintosh but he sent his header wide. Gardiner ran clear onto a Davidson pass but again Stuart managed to make a fine save.

Summing up : A great start to the season for Longside who showed their character after conceding an early goal, Whitehills were not the same threat after going down to ten men but that said Longside played some good football and were worthy winners.

Longside’s next match is tonight(Tuesday) away to Fraserburgh United (ko:7.15pm) and on Saturday they are at home to Cruden Bay (ko:2.00pm).