Forth Wanderers 2 - 3 Blantyre Victoria
Vics Scorers: Sam MacKenzie (18’), Lewis MacDonald (83’), John Cunningham (90+2’)
Forth Scorers: Trialist (9’), Colm Lafferty (58’)
The Vics continued their preseason with a trip to Kingshill Park less than 48 hours after their victory over East Kilbride to face Conference A opponents Forth Wanderers.
The Vics held the majority of the possession in the opening stages, creating a few chances but none which tested the Wanderers keeper. Five minutes in, after being slipped through, he had breached the Forth defensive line and was in on goal. He pulled the ball away from the goalkeeper who was beating down on him, he attempted to take it past the keeper but he was halted in his tracks as the Forth stopper gave the referee no option but to award Vics a penalty.
Jones stepped up to take the spot kick but his effort smacked off the outer-side of the upright.
Three minutes later the home side took the lead through a trialist. A good finish and punished the Vics for not taking advantage early on.
Blantyre weren’t behind for long after Liam McLaughlin blocked a clearance on the left wing and played the ball straight to Sam MacKenzie who fired the ball into the net while the keeper was retreating to his position.
Sam MacKenzie was almost on the scoresheet yet again as he found himself yet again on goal with just the keeper to beat. His shot from a tight angle was saved by the goalkeepers outstretched foot.
The second half was much the same the Vics dominating possession. However with 13 minutes of the half gone, Forth retook the lead after the Vics seemed to have fallen asleep. Colm Lafferty done the business as he placed the ball past Liam Campbell.
Vics were making chances but they were not converting. John Cunningham came close in the 73rd Minute but his shot from inside the box was well saved.
The Vics seemed destined for their first defeat of preseason until Lewis MacDonald marked his long awaited return from injury with an incredible goal. Cunningham played a long ball down the left-wing to him to latch onto. Despite pressure from the Forth defenders he managed to get a shot off and he fired it past the keeper into the bottom corner.
In the final five minutes the Vics had multiple chances through Zeb, Cunningham and McGuinness, but Blantyre had to wait until the 92nd minute for John Cunningham to seal the win with shot from the edge of the box.
Overall, the Vics were not firing on all cylinders today. Forth Wanderers posed a somewhat surprising challenge for Blantyre, although in the end a good victory to continue our immaculate preseason.
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