The Berts narrowly lost out in a highly entertaining friendly against Premier League side, Glenrothes, at Gardiners Park last night. Such was the pace of the game, it was played more like a Cup tie than a friendly and the decent-sized crowd will have gone home satisfied with what they had seen.
Work commitments and a few injuries meant that manager Ross Kinnell forced to shuffle the team about from the previous Saturday friendly against Newmains United.
It was the home side who opened well when Glens keeper Kerridge had to tip over a 20-yard Lee Reddington effort after only 2 minutes. Lee Celentano tried his luck on 8 minutes with a 25-yard free kick which went just over the bar.
Glenrothes took the lead in the 14th minute in controverisal circumstances. James Davies was adjudged to have handled in the box but the ball appeared to have come off his chest. The Glens number 9 gave keeper Colin Rushford no chance with the penalty.
The Glens were now buzzing up front and the tricky number 10 Shaw shot juse wide on the 18th minute but had better luck just a minute later when he put his side 2-0 up. John McDiarmid was penalised in midfield for holding the ball between his legs whilst on the ground and the quick free kick led to Shaw scoring from 8 yards out.
Lochgelly got back into the game in the 28th minute when they were awarded a spot kick of their own after Celentano was hauled down in the box by Gavin Simpson. In normal circumstances this would have seen the Glens defender red carded, but in a friendly the penalty was sufficient enough punishment. Stevie Brown did his usual immaculate job from 12 yards out to reduce the arrears.
Glens number 10 Lyle Shaw was really tormenting the home defence and after a brilliant run he shot just wide on 31 minutes and had another effort after 38 minutes which went just past the post.
The Berts started the 2nd period looking to level matters and Craig McGuire forcing a smart save from Kerridge on 51 minutes and then McGuire put Colin Jeffrey clean through on 54 minutes but his shot was brilliantly saved by Kerridge with no takers for the rebound.
An injury to Andy MacFarlane saw captain Andy Barratt return to the fold. Both sides kept battling away at each other but it was the Glens who went 3-1 up in the 68th minute. Elder beat substitute keeper Chris Galloway to the ball and his cut back cruelly his the heel of Celentano and the ball spun into the net off the far post.
Lochgelly kept plugging away and a Gregg Robertson header from a corner had to be hacked off the line. In the 86th minute the Berts pulled a goal back. Ryan McLean's cross fell to Brown and Chris Hughes but it was the new signing who shot home from 8 yards out.
Another corner only just cleared the visiting crossbar as Lochgelly finished with a flourish. The Glens number 12 was then booked for the most outrageous dive you will see all season in trying to win another penalty.
The match finished 3-2 to the visitors but it was no disgrace to lose to a good Premier League side and another excellent workout for the team in their preparations for the new season.
