The eyes of the football world may have been on the Champions League final in Madrid, or, indeed, the Championship play-off, reputed to be the richest game in football, but for followers of Tayport and Kinnoull, only one match mattered on Saturday.
On a glorious afternoon in Perth, the promotion rivals squared up at Tulloch Park and it was the visitors who emerged victorious, taking one more step towards a return to the East Super League.
It was a game that Tayport could not afford to lose and they certainly took the early initiative. The first chance fell to striker Grant Manzie, who was set up by Mark Whatley, but ‘Noull ‘keeper Duncan Bruce tipped the stinging shot over the bar.
With quarter of an hour played, ‘Port did make a breakthrough. Whatley’s throw-in created the danger and Ronnie Kenneth brought the ball down and turned to hook his shot into the corner of the net.
In the 38th minute, there was more joy for the Canniepairt outfit. Manzie, Darren Scott and David Black were all involved on the right, with Black sending over a fine cross for Mark Whatley, who powered an unstoppable header past the helpless Bruce.
Not surprisingly, Kinnoull came out with all guns blazing for the second half and they did put Tayport under some pressure, reducing the deficit early in the half, when Jamie McKenzie fired the ball in off the post, after Tayport had failed to clear their lines.
Mark Whatley had a couple of chances to increase his team’s lead, dragging one effort wide and also just missing the target after cutting in from the left flank.
At the other end, Neal Ferrie touched a sizzling free kick over the bar, and was the calmest man in the ground during the closing stages, as ‘Noull piled bodies into the box.
Six minutes into injury-time, the final whistle eventually blew. For Kinnoull, destiny is now outwith their hands. They will hope that ‘Port drop points in both of their remaining fixtures. Tayport, meanwhile, are now one win away from promotion.
Tayport : Ferrie, Black, Ferguson, Morris, Hunter, Donachie, Whatley, O’Donnell, Kenneth, Manzie(Elvin), Scott(Bryce) |
