Scottish Cup 2nd round day saw Kettle Utd travel from Fife to take on hosts LBG Strollers at the re-arranged venue of Meggatland.
The Strollers were again missing many players and only had 13 available for the game, the 13 were all to be involved in a terrific win for the home side.
Kettle Utd started the game and looked a good team from the kick-off forcing a couple of early corners which were dealt with well by the Strollers defence.
LBG Strollers took the lead with their first attack of the match in the 3rd minute, Burden winning a tackle in the centre circle before driving forward looking up and chipping the goalkeeper from 25 yards with a beautiful strike.
Kettle came roaring back though and in the 6th minute a corner was headed clear by Willison however it only went as far as the Kettle midfielder who smacked home a terrific volley from 25 yards. A further blow for the Strollers was the sight of their veteran midfielder Willison lying in agony and having to be replaced by Raeburn. Raeburn came on to play right midfield and after a shaky beginning he turned in his best performance in a Strollers shirt.
Kettle were enjoying most of the possession however the Strollers midfield trio of Burden, Searl and Allen were also playing some nice stuff when they had the ball and Langstaff looked a constant danger on the left, Holroyd was also holding the ball up very well and giving the defence some welcome respite.
Burden then was lucky to stay on the pitch when he raised his hands to an opposition player, however the referee only showed the yellow card and Burden breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Tommarelli who was playing at centre half and John-Paul Jamieson were outstanding at the heart of the Strollers defence, easily mopping up everything that the Fife side had to offer.
Strollers surged into the lead when a foul on the edge of the box gave them a free-kick in a nice position. Langstaff hit a low drive which somehow squirmed through the goalkeepers grasp and trundled into the net. It was a good strike from Langstaff but a terrible error from the Kettle keeper. This gave the Strollers a massive boost and they realised the importance of hanging onto the lead until half-time.
Kettle were trying to throw everything at the home side and forced a series of corners however the Strollers keeper Sayers and the back 4 were looking very solid. Carson and Annand who both had a difficult opening 20 minutes started to get the pace of the game and Kettle were finding it difficult to create any clear cut chances.
Half-Time
LBG Strollers 2 v 1 Kettle Utd
Caretaker managers Thomson and Dillon gave a very positive team-talk at half-time and advised the Strollers team that if they put in the same effort in the 2nd half that they had a great chance of causing an upset against a side who felt they were going to win the game easily.
Kettle again started the 2nd half brightly and 15 minutes into the 2nd half, Strollers keeper Sayers had to produce a magnificent save from point blank range to deny the Kettle striker. It was a stunning stop from Sayers and seemed to give the Strollers even more belief that they could hang on.
The turning point then came when the Kettle left back foolishly kicked out at Burden off the ball and was shown a straight red-card.
Kettle were beginning to get more and more frustrated as the defence of the Strollers were defending heroically to keep them at bay. Tomarelli and Jamieson seemed to be heading and clearing everything that came their way.
Kerr came on for the injured Dave Allen, another blow for the Strollers as Allen had played very well in the centre midfield role, composed on the ball and working tirelessly off it. Kerr moved upfront and Holroyd was moved back to centre midfield.
Kerr had a good chance to put Strollers 3-1 up when he was put through but he dragged it wide with his left foot.
Burden almost then added a goal of the season contender when he was fouled on the half-way line, he picked himself up and tried to lob the keeper however the keeper scrambled back just in time to palm the ball wide of the post.
Langstaff then gave the Strollers some breathing space with 7 minutes remaining, a nice passing move starting from left back with Davie Annand found Kerr who took a nice touch and played a beautiful through pass for Langstaff who took a touch and drove home with his weaker right foot through the keepers legs.
Strollers saw the game out comfortably and progressed to the next round, there was even the bonus of the final whistle blowing just as Carson nutmegged one of the Kettle strikers.
A very tough one for man of the match this week and numerous players played outstandingly.
