Next Game

Next game in Scotland ............... TBC                          

Presidents Cup Semi Final                                                                  

Uphall Diamonds Vs Forth

Results    ( Including the Referee's man of the match award )

Scorers                              

League Table   

Match Reports

Sunday   4th May            League

Diamonds   1   Allanton   3

With only twelve players available this was going to be a hard shift for the Diamonds, and so it was to prove.

Both sides pushed for the crucial first goal. Allanton were playing some good football but were unable to craft any clear cut chances. The Diamonds had a long shot from Gary comfortably saved by the keeper, he was then forced into a more difficult save clutching a header from Adam.

Allanton then started to take a grip of the game with the Diamonds having to re-shuffle their defence when Ian was taken off, unable to recover from a rib knock. They took the lead in the 25th minute, working the ball down the right; the ball was cut inside and struck home.

The half ended with Allanton in front but the Diamonds still hopeful.

Allanton shot over the bar in the early minutes, and then the Diamonds struck. Craig launched a free kick deep into the Allanton penalty box, Callum drifted in at the far post and met the ball on the volley, rifling it high into the net.

Allanton responded with a spell of pressure, Craig off his line to save at the feet of a forward, then making a save low at the front post.

The Diamonds were also pressing but were being hindered by an increasing string of injuries. In a game without any real foul play : Tam took a foot knock, Callum a knee knock, Stuart also struggling.

Kenny worked the ball down the right, on the bye line his low cross was turned away for a corner. Minutes later Kenny powered towards the Allanton goal and was halted by powerful challenge, as Kenny fell he twisted his back, adding the injury list.

Allanton pushed forward looking to regain their lead and managed that, scoring two goals in two minutes. 60 mins, a shot was driven home from the edge of the penalty box. 62 mins, a cut back was turned into the net.

With Gary now hobbling with an ankle injury and Blair playing with a "dead leg" it was no surprise that Allanton dominated the final period of the game. The Diamonds eventually ending the game with ten men, Kenny being withdrawn to prevent any further damage to his back.

No faulting the Diamonds today for effort and endeavour. With a full squad and injury free it could have been a different outcome.

Allanton also had their injury problems. Their # 12 was taken off with what looked like a nasty ankle knock. Hopefully the injury wasn’t as serious as it looked and he makes a speedy recovery.

                        
Thursday  1st May           League

Blackburn United   7   Uphall Diamonds  1

Having run Blackburn very close at the start of the season the Diamonds were hopeful of ending the season on a high in a game that they really had to take something from. One point would be good, two would be ideal, unfortunately the Diamonds were unable to rise to the occasion.

In the early stages possession was shared between the teams, Blackburn however were using their possession to better effect.

A shot clipped the post going wide, Gary clearing another shot off of the line. With 20 minutes gone the home side took the lead with a well taken goal.

With Blackburn still pressing Craig made a good save at the feet of a forward. Scott making a good headed clearance at the back post under pressure from a couple of Blackburn forwards. In the 20th minute the Diamonds went two goals down when a corner was headed home.

The Diamond were still fighting and created a chance. Stuart lofted a ball forwards, Andrew headed it into the path of Kenny who hit a good shot which was charged down by an alert defender. Blackburn then broke up the park and scored their third goal.

The Diamonds came close to a lifeline in the final minute of the half. Some good play from Laurence put Paul clear on goal, his low shot was saved however by the keeper and the half time whistle sounded.

The Diamonds were given some hope in the second minute of the new half. Sam launched a throw in to the far post, Gary met the ball with a powerful header and suddenly the visitors were back in the game.

This should have been the point when the Diamonds rolled their sleeves up and “got stuck in”, it just didn’t happen however and Blackburn scored a four unanswered goals to run out easy winners.

Very disappointing !

Sunday  20th April           League

Fauldhouse  10  Diamonds  2

With a depleted squad, missing five players for various reasons, the Diamonds knew this was going to be a very difficult game.

The home side were quickly on the attack and came close when a diving header flew just past the post, breathing a sigh of relief the Diamonds settled and started to play some football. Sam with a long range shot forcing the Fauldhouse keeper into a save under his crossbar.

In 9 minutes Fauldhouse scored, a through ball should have been cleared but some hesitation at the back allowed the Fauldhouse forward to nip in and tuck the ball home. A real set back but the Diamonds did not wilt and pushed forward, looking for the equalizer, matching Fauldhouse they won a free kick. Craig lofted a ball into the penalty box, Blair had a snap shot parried by the keeper, Adam latched onto the rebound and cut the ball back across goal where it was swept into the net by Callum. 15 minutes and the Diamonds were level.

What was needed was a period on consolidation; unfortunately Fauldhouse upped a gear and hit the Diamonds with three goals in the space of eight minutes.

The third of these goals was on the face of it a tap in, but showed the level of determination and anticipation that the Diamonds must strive for. A long ball looked to be going out of play, and would have were it not for the overhead kick from the Fauldhouse player. He caught the ball on the goal line, his kick clipping the post and bouncing across the face of goal, tapped in by the forward looking for any possible chance.

A difficult task was then made near impossible with a double injury blow. Iain jarred his knee and had to hobble off the park, his replacement Dougie lasted only a minute or so before tearing a muscle in his hip and having to be carried off, clearly in a lot of pain.

Pushing to retain their league championship Fauldhouse killed the game off early in the second half with two quick goals.

The Diamonds could have thrown in the towel at this stage but they didn’t and nicked a goal back. Craig swept an excellent long ball into the penalty box, the keeper came but couldn’t claim it, Callum following up slotted a low shot into the net.

Fauldhouse hit back, scoring two quick goals. Their quick breaks down the wing were very dangerous, Scott making an amazing goal line clearance from another attack. The Diamonds were still trying to make a fight of it. Scott won a crunching tackle and launched the ball into the penalty box. The keeper leaping to pluck the ball off of Sam’s head.

The home side scored twice again late in the game, sandwiched in between those goals was a fine drive from Adam that the Fauldhouse keeper saved well.

Back in November the Diamonds played Fauldhouse in the County Cup and lost heavily putting up little resistance. Today, although losing, the Diamonds made Fauldhouse work for their victory.

   

Thursday 17th April          League

Murieston   4   Diamonds   3

The Diamonds travelled up to Bankton on a very cold and windy Thursday evening and along with Murieston they served up an exciting game of football that swung one way, then another. With both teams going for it the result was in doubt right up to the final whistle.

The Diamonds made the better start and created early chances. In the first minute a through ball by Adam released Blair, the Muri keeper sensing the danger was quickly off his line to gather the ball. Callum then shot wide, keeping up the pressure Adam swung in a good cross ball, Callum was lining up his header but saw the ball nicked off his head by a Muri defender.

Murieston then started to press, a good hanging cross was headed downwards, Craig smothering the ball on the goal line under pressure pushed it round the post, the resultant corner swung goalwards and bounced onto the crossbar before going over.

In 12 minutes Muri took the lead. They worked the ball through the centre, a good pass released their forward, whose shot caught Craig unawares, slipping into the net at the far post. Minutes later the Diamonds had a huge escape. Good play down the right released a Muri forward, he did everything right, running in and driving the ball goalwards, it looked a goal, but hit the inside of the far post, bouncing up and into the grateful arms of the Diamonds keeper. 

Playing well the visitors pushed for the equalizer, pinning Muri back.

Sam hit a fierce shot, hitting a defenders leg and deflecting past the post. Kenny then drove into the Muri penalty box, he looked to be bundled over but play continued, the ball falling to Callum who saw his low shot saved by the keeper.

The Diamonds deservedly drew level. Adam swung in a fine 27th minute corner, Sam met the ball with a powerful header, the keeper doing well to push the ball out, Sam was first to respond slamming the rebound high into the net. Still pressing a second Diamonds goal was prevented by a fine save from the Muri keeper. Craig T swept a terrific crossfield ball to Callum who advanced on goal hitting a powerful low drive, the Muri keeper saving, holding the shot under pressure from the following up forwards.

As the half time whistle drew close Muri regained the lead. In the final minute they moved up the park, a good low cross into the penalty box was met by the Muri forward who hit a shot on the turn into the corner of the net. 

The goal boosted Murieston and as the second half started they had the Diamonds encamped in their own half, the ball being repelled by the defence but returned immediately.

A good pass released a Muri forward, in a repeat of a first half chance, the forward’s shot cannoned off of the post, bouncing into the six yard box. Gary spotted the danger and beat the following up forward to the ball, sweeping the rebound away.

A Murieston shot flew over the bar, then Craig made a fine save, off his line to dive at the forward’s feet. Another shot was driven over and Craig once again made a good save, closing the forward down, blocking his shot. The keeper then was swiftly out of his penalty box to sweep up a Muri break.

Gradually the Diamonds clawed their way back into the game and in the 48th minute they levelled scoreline again. Sam sent a throw in goalwards, it was scrambled clear but only to Callum. He took the ball wide, to the goal line cutting back into the path of the in running Diamonds forwards, it was Sam who managed to bundle the ball over the line.

It was Murieston’s turn to be pinned in their own half.

Kenny latched onto a good pass, he flicked the ball over a defender and then swept it over the advancing keeper. The ball crashed off the underside of the crossbar and was scrambled clear. 

53 minutes gone and the visitors took the lead. A corner was swung under the crossbar, it was cleared to the edge of the box, unfortunately for Murieston it fell to Sam who wasn’t going to miss a chance like that. He drove the ball low through a ruck of players into the net to complete a fine hat trick. 

Still attacking. Dougie passed to Blair who in turn fed Callum, He hit a shot which was well dealt with by the keeper. Kenny then had a shot saved.