East of Scotland League Premier Division

Saturday 29-Jan-22
Haws 1 - 1 Blackburn Utd
Haws Scorer:- Ryan Connelly

MATCH REPORT by Dave Edler

HAWS 1 BLACKBURN UNITED 1

The Haws came into this game full of confidence having struck four goals in each of their last two home games, whilst the visitors had seen a very stop-start sequence to 2022 with a lot of postponements. With the sides adjacent to each other in the league table this really was the proverbial six-pointer in all it’s glory.

The game started with the teams exchanging corners, but it was proving a bit of a war of attrition with no meaningful goalmouth action in the opening 15 minutes. Campbell’s 17th minute free-kick caused momentary problems for the home defence, and eight minutes later a superb jinking run from Blackburn’s Callum Heath ended with him firing narrowly over.

The Haws needed to wake up from their slumbers but the visitors continued to enjoy what little goalmouth action there was. Heath’s free-kick was straight at Stuart Hall, and in the 35th minute Richard Hutton’s first time strike was only gathered by the Haws stopper at the second attempt.

It was therefore somewhat against the run of play that the home side took the lead four minutes from the break, with Ryan Connelly showing a poachers instinct to stab home the loose ball after it had been dropped by Craig Saunders.
Half-Time: Haws 1 Blackburn United 0

It was a different Haws team that took the field in the second half, much more full of purpose and driving forward to try and cement their narrow advantage. Shaun Leishman signalled the home sides newly found intent with a long range effort two minutes after the re-start, while Callum Adamson’s inviting dangerous cross was well plucked out of the air by Saunders.

Blackburn had claims for a 55th minute penalty waved away, but by now this was becoming a rare foray into the Haws penalty area. With an hour gone Lyle Kellichan was unlucky to see his effort blocked at the near post, whilst Lewis Elder saw a decent effort only held by Saunders at the second attempt as the Haws looked to seal all three points.

The chances kept on coming, with Daniel Watt seeing his effort cleared off the line in the 67th minute, only for the Haws to be hit with a sucker punch two minutes later. A moment of slackness at the back let in Jack Garrard and he was able to slot home at the near post.

It almost got worse for the home side in the 73rd minute when Campbell’s shot on the turn went narrowly wide, but the Haws regained their composure and started to press forward again.

There was some later drama two minutes from time as Michael Browne was shown a red card for the visitors after bringing down Daniel Watt, and the final action of the game saw substitute Ross Allum’s free-kick held by Saunders.
Full-Time: Haws 1 Blackburn United 1

HAWS: Hall, Leishman, Grierson, Mitchell, Forbes, Galloway (sub. Wilson 73 mins.), Adamson (sub. Allum 65 mins.), Connelly, D. Watt, Elder (sub. Luke 73 mins.), Kellichan.

BLACKBURN UNITED: Saunders, Owen, Drummond, Mildren (sub. Ferris), Miller,

Kane (sub. Devine (sub. Howe)), Heath, Browne, Campbell, Garrard, Hutton.

Attendance: 127

SHOTS ON TARGET: Haws 7 Blackburn 5

SHOTS OFF TARGET: Haws 3 Blackburn 3

CORNERS: Haws 4 Blackburn 3

YELLOW CARDS: Haws 2 Blackburn 3

RED CARDS: Haws 0 Blackburn 1