Shotts Bon Accord win their big game

Jul 29 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

SHOTTS Bon Accord followed up an impressive 2-1 win over Motherwell Under-19s by beating near-neighbours Harthill Royal 5-1 to land the Dick Adam Memorial Trophy.

Manager Tony McInally said: “We’re grateful to Motherwell youth coach Gordon Young for bringing his talented youngsters up to Shotts.

“On Saturday we started well against Harthill – we passed the ball well, moved at a high tempo and, I thought, thoroughly deserved our 5-1 win.

“At this time last year we couldn’t beat Harthill – now we have won convincingly, which shows how far the Bon Accord have progressed. I’m very pleased with that.”

Motherwell scored an early goal but Mark Duffy and Darren Ferguson struck back to give Shotts a 2-1 win.

Gary Dickson, a midfielder signed from St Anthony’s, scored two well-taken goals, with singles from Paul McLaughlin, substitute Kevin Barr and a Mark Duffy penalty.

McInally added: “I thought Dickson was the pick of the football players in a physical Ants side when we played them last season, and I thought playing with better players, in a better team, and on a better surface, he could be a really good player.”

The trophy was donated by the Adam family in memory of Shotts man Dick, who had spells as secretary and president during his 15-year link with Harthill.

Proceeds from the admission donation, raffle and collection went to Macmillan Nurses.

Two other county clubs hit five in Saturday’s friendlies, as Wishaw hammered Blackburn United 5-0 while Royal Albert beat a reviving Blantyre Celtic team 5-1.

Paul Kearney hit the first-half opener for Wishaw, with David Lynch and Paul Airth both notching second-half doubles.

James McGill was on target twice at the weekend for Albert – for the second time in four days – while veteran Robert Struthers also netted a double and Scott McLachlan completed the rout.

McGill’s earlier double came in last Wednesday’s 3-2 defeat by Ashfield.

Lanark United clocked up a hard-fought 2-1 win against Thorniewood United at Robertson Park, with goals from trialist defender Steven Fraser and Stefan McCluskey.

Larkhall Thistle fought back from a goal down at half-time to run out comfortable 4-2 winners at West Calder.

Star turn was 17-year-old Graham Gracie, who was signed from Larkhall United Under-19s a few weeks ago, as he snatched a well-taken hat-trick.

John Bulloch scored the other from the spot after Allan Campbell had been brought down.

Manager Duncan Sinclair said: “There were a lot of positives from our young team in their first game against a team who were playing their third pre-season fixture.

“We played really well and I was very pleased with their attitude.”

Carluke Rovers beat Crichton Amateurs 2-1 in the annual Dumfries encounter, with goals from Jamie Dickson – signed from Overtown Hearts towards the end of last season – and Mark Haddow, a recent capture from Lanark United.

Both goals were set up by new signing Gareth Davies from East Kilbride Thistle.

Newmains United were beaten 5-2 by Super Premier League side Kirkintilloch Rob Roy, with goals coming from Clark Rafferty and Steve Semple

United are away to Blackburn United on Saturday.

Forth Wanderers lost 4-2 away to Stoneyburn last Thursday, with new signing John Osborne grabbing both goals and they now play Stenhousemuir at home on Saturday.

Lesmahagow went down 1-0 at Cumnock, with the only goal of the game coming three minutes from time.

Ross McGeachie and Brian Crawford missed good chances and Barry Murdoch passed up the chance of hitting a last-minute equaliser.

Bellshill Athletic beat Ashfield 2-1 in the Dunipace Tournament semi-final on Saturday, with goals from Ryan Connelly and Mark Casey.

But Danny Drew’s side lost 2-0 against the hosts in the final, including an own-goal from Donnie Wilson.