Several players were unavailable tonight due to holidays and work commitments.  Andy Spark came in at centre half beside Jonny Sinclair.  Dean McMullen was in at left back.  Gary Kelly did his flexible man act again for us and filled in at left mid.  Young Grant Page started in goal in the abscence of Kris Bower.

Oakley started quite brightly and we enjoyed some decent possession without really testing Halliwell in the Sauchie goal.  After 20 minutes, Sauchie took the lead with their first meaningful excursion into our box.  A high ball straight down through the middle caused confusion between Grant Page and Davy Ross and the busy Darren Cummings nipped in to head home.  It remained 1 – 0 up to half time.

We didn’t really come out of the traps after the interval and in fairness Grant Page did really well for us with a couple of decent saves and blocks at strikers feet.  After about 65 minutes, Steven Leslie came on for Murray McDowall and made an instant impact.  He latched on to a through ball and rounded Halliwell.  The big keeper pulled Steven down and there was no doubt it was a penalty.  The big decision was whether or not it was a straight red?  Referee Stokoe deemed that Steven’s first touch took him away from goal and that there was not a clear goal-scoring opportunity.  Yellow card . Charles Scarborough dispatched the resultant penalty in the usual manner.

Two red cards followed.  The Sauchie goalscorer for a second yellow and our Steven Leslie for alleged violent conduct.  The game became a bit stretched but neither side could grab a winner.

A 5th place finish for Oakley on their return to the Premier League and still a wee bit of work to do for Sauchie to win the championship.  All in all, a very competitive game.

Best wishes to Jason Dair for next season.  He was in the stand tonight running the rule over his charges and must have been impressed with the attitude and application of the squad.

Well done to Stevie Kay and his team as they have made real progress in their time in charge.

Jason was part of the Central League championship side and as such knows most of the current squad and is familiar with the structure of the club.  He will be assisted in his new role by Lee Dair and John Cusick.

Oakley welcomed back Craig Lumsden after his facial injury and Charles Scarborough who has recovered from the troublesome ankle knock suffered at Armadale several weeks ago.  Craig Morrison missed out due to an ankle injury and Kev Connors pulled up in the warm up with an achilles problem.  Gary Kelly was given time off this week and Andy Spark is still recovering from tonsilitis.

Ryan Blackadder returned to the midfield  with Dean McMullen coming in at left back for the injured Kev Connors. 

Oakley started on the front foot and enjoyed more possession than Broughty in the early stages.  Broughty caused problems from their delivery from free kicks and corners.  Kris Bower in goal for Oakley had to look sharp on more than one occasion.

The deadlock was broken from the penalty spot after Chris Dodd was brought down as he burst into the box from our right side.  Charles Scarborough comfortably dispatched the resultant spot kick.

Our afternoon was made that little bit harder just 3 minutes before half-time when Murray McDowall was given a straight red card for violent conduct.

Charles Scarborough was left to plough a lonely furrow up front second half but to be fair, we kept the ball well and got wide at every opportunity.  Dean McMullen and Chris Dodd did really well in the wide positions and we looked comfortable with the 10 men.  Kris Bower didn’t have a save to make second half and we saw out another 3 points.  Another good shift from a group of committed players who have displayed great application all season.

Obviously it looks like the promotion run is over and the other teams have their fate in their own hands but we have given it our best shot and after todays result guaranteed a top 5 finish.  Typically, manager Stevie Kay wants to win our last game and finish at least one place higher.

All involved at Oakley United would like to take this opportunity to thank Stevie and his team for their efforts over the last three and a half years and wish them all the best for the future.

Oakley United are inviting applications for the vacant managers post and Secretary Douglas Hynd can be contacted on 07775518846 in the first instance. 

Mark Connors

Oakley United welcomed local rivals Ballingry Rovers to Blairwood today.  On the surface, it was an end of season mid table clash with neither side in any danger of relegation and Oakley’s promotion push seemingly a distant memory.  Oakley v Ballingry is never a meaningless fixture.

There were a few important players missing from both sides.  We were without the suspended Ryan Blackadder. Injuries are still  causing us problems and we were without the services of John Cusick (calf), Craig Lumsden (facial injury) and Lee Dair (thigh strain).   Charles Scarborough, Andy Spark and Dean McMullen were absent having been given the day off due to prior commitments.

Mark Connors came in on the left side of the midfield.  A trialist played alongside Jonny Sinclair in the double centre half role.  Steven Leslie and Murray McDowall partnered up front.

We started quite well without really causing Ballingry many problems and they were comfortable in the middle of the park with 3 central against Gary Kelly and Brian Ritchie.

There were a couple of chances at each end, the best probably falling to Ballingry, but we went in at half time goal-less.

Second half saw Ballingry start brightly and the ball over the top and into the channels was causing us a few problems.  Kris Bower in goal did well with a couple good saves when one on one and he coped admirably with several great deliveries from free kicks and corners. 

The deadlock was broken when Mark Conners got higher up the pitch on our left side and ran onto a reverse ball in the Ballingry box to slot home under Kevin Smith.

We stayed resolute against the Ballingry delivery into the box with Jonny Sinclair and our trialist sticking out at the back.  The goal scoring hero, Mark Connors had to come off with a hamstring pull, being replaced by Willie Campbell.  We kept possession in the top third of the park and fresh legs in the shape of Craig Morrison and Peter Fyfe helped us to a much needed home win.  Ballingry will look back on several missed chances and they will play worse and win.

Great application and attitude from the depleted squad today and we didn’t have a bad player.  We have played better, but considering the circumstances, the lads performed really well.  It was fitting that a local lad and all round committed character, Mark Connors scored the winner.