Failure to create chances proves costly for Kelso

EOS FIRST DIVISION

United’s loss of form continued on Saturday when going down to Ormiston at a chilly Woodside Park.

The only goal of the game came midway through the second half when Craig Fisher scored with a 35 yard pile driver which ended up in the top corner of the net.

“We are not playing that badly and are creating a few chances but converting these into goals seems hard for us at the moment,” said Kelso manager Prof Blaikie.

“It was a disappointing game and thought we might have got something out the match but it was not to be.”

Kelso started well and put the visitors under pressure early Jordan Lauder heading just wide from a Declan Hogg corner. This was followed by Chris Black beating three defenders before blasting over from 18 yards.

A great cross ball from Darren Bowie found Lauder just inside the box and only a flying save by ex United keeper David Simmonds stopped the big strikers left foot volley going in the net.

It took 25 minutes before United keeper Willie Stewart was called into action punching out a dangerous Kyle Auld free kick.

United kept going forward and Shane Bonnington volleyed over having received a pass from Hogg.

Simmonds had to make a save at the near post when Bonnington nearly sneaked a shot through having been set up by Lauder.

The Tweedsider’s had an early chance in the second half, good work by Ryan Beveridge and then Bonnington led to Hogg stabbing a shot at Simmonds.

The visitors suddenly came to life midway through the half Richard Weir heading wide when unchallenged from a Sean Miller cross. A shot on the run by Miller was well held by Stewart but the United keeper could do nothing a minute later when Fisher produced a wonder shot which had goal written on it as soon as it left the midfielders boot.

The home side then had two chances blocked on the goal line. The first a long ball from the back by Stewart found Lauder who outpaced the defence. The frontman rounded the keeper only to see defender Graham Nisbet managing to get back and block the shot at the post. Nisbet was the hero again for Ormiston this time heading a Black header off the line.

In the penultimate minute United nearly got a draw when Steven Tait had a shot from a Hogg corner but on its way to the net the ball was deflected off United’s Liam Hill as he tried to get out the way and looped over the bar.

Kelso United: W. Stewart, C. Black (L Wallace 66), S. Angus, D. McNulty, D. Bowie, S. Tait, S. Bonnington (L. Palmer 88), R. Beveridge, J. Lauder, D. Hogg, C. Gass (L. Hill 60).