The Colts travelled to Auchtermuchty on Tuesday evening bidding for a place in the Quarter-Finals of the Jon Harrison Memorial Trophy.
The home side started the stronger of the two teams and had a chance in the opening minute, forcing Mark Robertson into a good save with Greg Stapleton mopping up the danger. Robertson followed this up brilliantly tipping over a shot in the 7th minute.
Dan Kenny had a couple of half-chances for the Colts before the home side took the lead they had probably deserved up to that point when David Shields was given too much time on a run towards the edge of the box and he was able to pick out a very good shot that looped over Robertson.
Charlie Marshall had a header tipped over the bar for a corner before a controversial talking point went in Colts’ favour in the 29th minute. Caulfield and a Muchty defender both going for the loose ball, but the referee awarded Colts a penalty in a decision that I’ve seen go either way.
Jamie Tierney made no mistake from the spot with his kick straight down the middle of the goal, evading the keeper’s leg as he dived to his left.
This goal seemed to galvanise the Colts and Gavin Smith went very close with a diving header from a Callum Grindlay corner, before Kenny gave the visitors the lead in the 36th minute. Kenny’s first effort from close range was blocked but fell back to him, where he then kept remarkable composure to weave himself just outside the 6 yard box into a better position to fire home into the top right hand corner for 2-1.
The Colts extended their lead just after half time on the break with a defence-splitting pass from Tierney that sent Smith racing away towards goal with only the keeper to beat. Gav kept his cool and slotted home past the advancing keeper to make it 3-1 in the 47th minute.
Another major talking point occurred in the 62nd minute which could have sent the game either way when Marshall was adjudged to have been holding a Muchty attacker and was also kicked in the face in the process. There was a lot of confusion all round as the Colts number 6 was down being treated, but the referee was pointing to the spot.
Robertson repeated Saturday’s exploits against Kirkcaldy by saving his second penalty in 4 days when he dived excellently to his right to push away Jake Cruickshanks’ effort.
Things began to get a bit heated after this and were raised a notch as Kenny made it 4-1 as he slotted home Andrew Reade’s pinpoint pass in the 74th minute.
The match was getting a little niggly at this point and the home side ended the game with 10 men after McLaren received a second yellow card.
It was a very determined and battling performance from the Colts, one that pleased manager Allan Moody greatly. Keeper Robertson commanded his box well and capped it off with a great penalty save. Man of the Match Simon Sanaghan dropped into central defence alongside Lewis Caulfield and both put in a solid and powerful display.
In midfield, Tierney and Marshall both put in excellent displays with some defence-splitting passes. Gavin Smith showed what a miss he has been in recent weeks alongside Grindlay on the flanks, whilst up front Kenny grows with every game and can be delighted with another two goals, alongside a hard-working performance from Reade.
It was a great result for Kinross Colts, one that so often could have fallen apart but the penalty save from Robertson seemed to change the direction of the game. Well done lads, a great team performance!
