Kirkcaldy & Dysart visited Millfield last Saturday boasting one of the longest unbeaten runs in the East of Scotland League. The Fifers had drawn at title challengers Leith Athletic the previous weeks and by all accounts should have won comfortably. So it was expected that Haddington’s title credentials would be truly tested and this was a game many felt could disrupt their title challenge.
The Fifers came flying out of the traps and once again the home side were undone by an early corner when Harris was outjumped at the back post and ‘keeper Cornet was beaten by a downward header. Kirkcaldy impressed with there pace and movement and the home side had to dig deep in these early stages. However the Hi Hi’s started to play themselves back into the match with Auriemma probing on the left and Hill starting to influence matters in the middle of the park. A clumsy challenge on Szemis as he broke clear on the right resulted in a nasty shoulder injury which ended his participation in the game and in fact the remainder of the season, thus adding to manager Bonar’s substantial injury list. The home side were getting closer and they equalised through Seamus Russell who scored from close range following a corner kick. The Hi Hi’s then scored what proved to be the winning goal before the break when top scorer Guy McGarry got his 30th goal of the season when he got the merest of touches to a left wing cross from Auriemma.
The second half was a tense affair with few chances at either end. Home ‘keeper Cornet helped maintain the narrow with two or three excellent saves – one especially after King was short with a headed pass. Guy McGarry almost grabbed the all important third goal when created space on the left of the box but his low shot was just wide. A massive three points for the Hi Hi’s and the home support in an excellent crowd of 309 drew a collective sigh as the referee blew for full time. Three games to go!
