Tayport FC 6 – 1 Brechin Victoria JFC (Match Report 12/03/22)

Tayport FC 6 - 1 Brechin Victoria JFC

07/05/22

2:30pm Kick Off

The Canniepairt

Midlands Football League

Match Report by Charlotte Wilde

Photographs by Ryan Masheder

Finally, after no home games since the middle of March, Tayport were back in action at The Canniepairt yesterday. The Port faced Brechin Victoria, with whom we drew 1-1 against earlier in the season when we met at Victoria Park. After an exciting win against Broughty Athletic last week to get into the Quest Cup Final and a great 1-1 draw against East Craigie in a midweek clash, Tayport were looking to end the last home game of the season on a high.

Unfortunately for Tayport, Brechin Vics got the better start of the match with an early goal only 7 minutes in. A cross from Ross Flight found Cameron Fraser in the box who simply slotted the ball past Port keeper Craig Hepburn and into the net. However, it didn’t take long for Tayport to level and 4 minutes later the home side made it 1-1. Paul Sludden passed the ball onto Jamie Gill who then smashed the ball into the back of the Brechin net from the edge of the box.

With the score level, both teams were eager to get the next goal of the match. A Jack Gribben corner was a good chance for Brechin but Craig Sturrock got to the ball first and cleared it away from Tayport’s half. However despite the away side’s chances, it was Tayport who got the next goal of the match. Again, an assist from Sludden, but this time passing the ball who Kieran Sturrock who took a fantastic shot from the edge of the box, similar to Gill’s goal a few minutes earlier. The ball flew past Brechin keeper Dean Easton and Tayport were now leading 2-1.

Now that the home side were ahead it was starting to look like a different game. Tayport had more possession of the ball and had more opportunities to score. A pass from Craig Sturrock found Kieran Sturrock who headed the ball but it went too wide of the post. Ewan White also had a superb chance but unfortunately his powerful strike went too high and over the crossbar.

A Ryan Paterson corner just before the 30 minute mark landed in the box but it was cleared by the Brechin defence. However, the ball fell to Sludden who crossed the ball back into the box where Tayport Captain Jamie Hume headed the ball but unluckily it just went wide of the post.

Tayport took a blow when, immediately after his chance on goal, Hume had to be substituted off due to injury. He was replaced by Ross Cameron and Craig Sturrock received the Captain’s armband. However, despite losing their Captain, Tayport continued to dominate and in the 31st minute they got their 3rd goal of the match. A simple tap in by Adam Fraser now gave Tayport a valuable 2 goal lead.

The home side continued to pressure the Brechin defence. A Paterson corner was punched away by Easton but the ball fell to Craig Sturrock who took a shot but again it was punched away by the Brechin keeper. The ball then fell to Kieran Sturrock but his shot went just over the over the crossbar and out for a goal kick. Just before half time Kieran Sturrock had another chance but again the ball went over the bar. The half time whistle was blown and the teams went into the break with Tayport leading 3-1.

Out for the second half and Brechin started well with a couple of chances of their own. A pass from Darren Elder to Euan Duff meant that Duff had a great chance on goal, but Tayport’s Hepburn made a fantastic save. Elder also had his own opportunity to scrape back a Brechin goal but, again, Hepburn made a great save.

Given their lead, several Tayport substitutions were made and only a few minutes later they went 4-1 up. A Paterson corner fell into the box where Greg McColm went to header the ball, but it was Gribben who got there first but only clearing the ball to the edge of the Brechin box. Substitute Joshua Paterson went further clear the ball away but unfortunately for him Kieran Sturrock managed to steal the ball away and took another powerful shot which flew into the net.

15 minutes before the end the match, a foul on Campbell Bruce by Ross Cameron meant Brechin had a free kick in a dangerous area. Fraser stepped up and took the shot but it was easily caught by Hepburn who had made some fantastic saves this match. Fraser continued to push for his second goal but his shots just couldn’t find the back of the net.

In the 85th minute, Tayport made the score 5-1. White passed the ball to Sludden who ran towards the box. Sludden then passed it onto Paterson who ran in and slipped the ball into the net. Then, only 2 minutes later in the 87th minute, Tayport added their 6th and final goal of the match. Brechin keeper Easton took a goal kick however the ball fell to Kieran Sturrock who ran down the line and passed onto Paterson. The ball was then passed to Sludden in the box who easily slotted the ball past Easton and into the Brechin net.

The last action of the match came from a Tayport free kick. A foul on Paterson meant the home side had a free kick a few yards from the Brechin box. Craig Sturrock stepped up and took a powerful shot but the ball hit off the wall and was cleared from Brechin’s half. The match ended and Tayport celebrated their 6-1 victory.

Kieran Sturrock was named as the Tayport Distillery Man of the Match for his great performance including his 2 fantastic goals. Manger Eddie Wolecki Black said what pleased his most was that the team “managed to score 6 goals”. He also said that he feels it has been a “good week’s work” from the team referring to their performances against Broughty Athletic, East Craigie and the great 6-1 win to Brechin yesterday.

Tayport now face Coupar Angus away at Foxhall Park in Tayport’s last league game of the season on Saturday the 14th of May.

Tayport Team:

1. Craig Hepburn

2. Kieran Sturrock

3. Craig Sturrock

4. Greg McColm

5. Jamie Hume (C) (Cameron)

6. Louis Joyce (Cobb)

7. Ewan White

8. Ryan Paterson

9. Paul Sludden

10. Adam Fraser (Dorovic)

11. Jamie Gill (Emmett)

Substitutes:

12. Ross Cameron

13. Aidan Cobb

14. Daniel Dorovic

15. Bradie Heggie

16. Luke Emmett

20. Darren Brown

Brechin Victoria Team:

21. Dean Easton

2. Darren Elder

3. Robbie Ferries

5. Jack Gribben

6. Ross Flight

7. Aaron Stephen

8. Campbell Bruce

9. Euan Duff

10. Cameron Fraser

11. Kieran Longmuir

12. Lewis Stracey

Substitutes:

4. Joshua Paterson

14. Samuel Wood

15. Morgan Smith