Saturday 05-Feb-22
Whitehill Welfare 2 - 3 Haws
Scorers:- Lewis Elder, Daniel Watt & OG
MOTM:- Lyle Kellichan

MATCH REPORT By Dave Edler

WHITEHILL WELFARE 2 HAWS 3

The heavens opened on Saturday morning and right up to the time of our arrival in Rosewell there remained some doubt as to whether this clash would still go ahead. One side of the pitch in particular was very wet and the Assistant Referee on that touchline would need to display a deft touch over the 90 minutes to avoid losing his footing. With the game receiving the all clear we finally kicked-off on schedule, with swirling winds adding to the degree of difficulty for the players. Both sides were desperate for the points as they looked to clamber clear of the drop zone. It was the Haws, however, who were to have the faster start. Lewis Elder’s cross from the left was intended for the waiting Ross Allum, but instead the ball ricocheted off a home defender into the back of the net. The chances were coming thick and fast for the Haws during this opening period, with Shaun Leishman seeing his 8th minute cross plucked out of the air by Musa Dibaga. Four minutes later Callum Adamson’s cross from the right was met by the head of Allum but it was narrowly over the bar. Leishman saw his free-kick headed goalwards by Daniel Watt but it was easily held by Dibaga. The Haws doubled their lead in the 31st minute. Elder was taken down running across the penalty area and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Elder himself stepped up to take it and converted low into the corner to put the Haws in a very comfortable position.
However before the interval the hosts were able to drag themselves back into the match. The burly Richard Miller stepped up to take a 36th minute free-kick and his well struck effort could only be parried by Stuart Hall, after which a period of pin-ball ended with the ball ending up in the back of the Haws net. There was still time for Allum to see his long range effort spectacularly tipped over the bar by Dibaga, and for Elder to go close with another free –kick. There was even time for Fynlay Connor to shoot over the bar as Welfare threatened an unlikely leveller.

HALF-TIME: Whitehill 1 Haws 2

The wind calmed a little at the start of the second period and so did the action. But things came back to life in the 59th minute when Daniel Watt showed great composure to coolly slot home at the near post to increase the visitors advantage. From this moment on the Haws went on to completely dominate proceedings, with the only surprise being that they failed to add to their total. Callum Adamson had two decent chances, the first a first time effort that was held by Dibaga, and a second that was deflected wide. He was then replaced by Paul Quinn who almost had an instant impact but his shot was well charged down. The same player hit a 76th minute shot across the face of the Welfare goal before the final chance for the Haws fell to Allum who fired straight at the hard working home keeper.
Amazingly, there was still time for Welfare to cut the deficit, as Josh Walker’s 90th minute penalty gave the scoreline a gloss that really wasn’t a reflection of what had gone before.
FULL-TIME: Whitehill 2 Haws 3

WHITEHILL WELFARE: Dibaga, Kidd, Wilson, Miller, Tolmie, Stewart (sub. Hodge), Walker, Ireland, Weir, Connor, O’Neill (sub. McKinlay).

HAWS: Hall, Leishman, Grierson, Mitchell, Forbes, Kellichan, Adamson (sub. Quinn 68 mins), MacLachlan. (sub. Luke 76 mins), D. Watt (sub. Connelly 63 mins), Allum, Elder.

Attendance: N/A

SHOTS ON TARGET: Whitehill 5 Haws 14

SHOTS OFF TARGET: Whitehill 4 Haws 5

CORNERS: Whitehill 2 Haws 5

YELLOW CARDS: Whitehill 3 Haws 1

RED CARDS: Whitehill 0 Haws 0

MAN OF THE MATCH: Lyle Kellichan