Leith Athletic 6

EoS FIRST DIVISION

KEVIN JANIAK reports

from Woodside Park



IN AN extremely forgettable match that ended in the resignation of Kelso boss Jim McLean (see page 21), United were simply outclassed and outplayed by the East of Scotland new boys.

Leith opened the scoring after the third minute, Jamie Lauder cheekily back-heeling the ball into the net.

United weren't out of it yet, though, and Chris Baillie forced Ian Gordon into making a save before Alan Jackson and Chris Black were involved in a goalmouth mêlée which almost resulted in the equaliser.

However, in the 33rd minute, former Gala Fairydean player, Leith's Ritchie Johnston, fooled the referee into giving them a penalty. It was a move he had tried twice before in the game and got nothing, but it was third time lucky as he ran up behind Leighton Henderson and clipped his heels before falling in the opposite direction. Whistler Robert Thomson pointed to the spot and Johnston thumped the ball home.

The alert Steven Radzynski got the third six minutes later from an innocuous-looking corner. It was a free header, but Kelso keeper Elliot Turnbull should have made an easy catch.

Lauder got his second and Leith's fourth just before the interval, his shot deflecting off the luckless Mark Carlyle and into the net.

Radzynski had a hand in Lauder's hat-trick two minutes after the break. His cross was turned in by the diminutive striker.

Leith continued to have the upper hand throughout the half and substitute Andy Gamble got the sixth – two minutes after coming onto the park.

Kelso did have a couple of pops at goal in the closing stages through Baillie and sub Paul McDermott, but any goal would have been scant consolation – the Tweedsiders were well and truly beaten.

It is true that they were struggling because of suspensions, but the core of the team that was left should really have put up a better fight.

After the match, McLean offered no comment as he headed to the dressing room to give the news to his players, but Leith striker Johnston told TheSouthern: "I was expecting a harder game today because Kelso have been going quite well, but it turned into a bit of a rout."

Kelso United: E. Turnbull, M. Carlyle, P. Dumma, L. Henderson, B. Wilson (W. Kerr 70 mins), C. Baillie, G. Mabon, P. Young, A. Jackson (C. Edwards 70 mins), C. Black (P. McDermott 70 mins) and S. Puszledski.