St Andrews Utd 2-3 Hawick RA

Saints actually began the game strongly on a bright yet cold day at The Clayton Caravan Park Recreation Ground and Jack Healy looked to have earned a penalty in the second minute.

Unfortunately, the referee waved away the home players’ appeals.

The young forward wasted a glorious chance moments later when he fired a shot straight at Dean Fry.

The visiting team subsequently upped the pace as the first half progressed and a couple of balls were blasted over Connor Shaw’s bar before Taylor Hope opened the scoring in the 20th minute.

The Hawick midfielder somehow bundled his way through a disorganised defence and he created more than enough space to calmly pick his spot past a helpless Shaw.

The big ‘keeper then did well to smother the ball at the feet of Jordan Yardley and he made a good save to prevent Hope from claiming a brace on the half-hour mark.

Shaw was beaten for a second time when Yardley converted a cross from the left in the 42nd minute but his opposite number was rarely tested throughout the first half.

However, the St Andrews United players began the second period really well and Healy, on loan from East Fife, soon pulled a goal back with a tremendous solo effort that involved beating a couple of defenders prior to lashing a long-range shot past Fry in the 46th minute.

Saints earned a penalty less than two minutes later when Owen Andrew was upended in the box and the lively striker made no mistake from twelve yards to make the score 2-2.

Yardley was next to try his luck as Shaw made a second brave block at his feet.

Andrew then forced Fry into producing a decent save from a free kick.

Substitute Graeme Hart also came close to scoring as the action swung from end to end and the visitors looked to be in trouble when Davis Hope was red carded for making too many fouls with twenty minutes of the match remaining.

The referee didn’t impress the away coaching staff with that decision but he went on to infuriate members of the other dug out by awarding a controversial penalty in the 80th minute.

Shaw made another good block from a Yardley break as his defence was again posted missing yet the Hawick player tumbled over the goalie’s outstretched leg thereafter.

Lewis Swaney found the net from the spot despite Shaw getting a hand to his penalty kick.

But the home team kept battling until the end.

Hart curled his next shot past Fry’s right-hand post before forcing the goalkeeper into making a diving save at full length.

A couple of good crosses from Ross Cunningham and Ryan McInnes were also cleared as Saints pressed.

United’s last chance of the afternoon fell to McInnes but he fired the ball high over the bar and the most entertaining contest of the season ended in defeat for the Saints.

Both sets of players produced moments of quality as well as maximum effort despite a very bumpy pitch yet the losers could have no complaints about the result, having conceded soft goals and missed too many chances.

This weekend Saints are on their travels, heading to face Arniston Rangers in the East of Scotland League 1st Division Conference A behind closed doors.