A dominant second half performance saw Stoneyburn run out 4-0 winners over Harthill Royal at Gibbshill Park in their East of Scotland Division Three tie, writes Callum McCormack.
A Ryan Robertson hat-trick and a Dylan Anderson header secured the points for the Fulshie after a nervy display had the scores level at half-time.
Harthill started the better of the two sides, but neither side really looked dangerous in the final third. Steven Armstrong’s effort from distance in the opening minutes had Jay Anderson in the Stoneyburn goal worried, but the half volleyed effort flew over the bar.
Harthill continued their pressure and on 11 minutes when Anthony O’Kane might have thought he had opened the scoring. Failure on the Fulshie’s part to deal with a ball into the box saw O’Kane smash the ball towards goal after a bit of a stramash, but the ever reliable David Hendry was on hand to deflect the shot over.
It wasn’t all one-way traffic however, and Stoneyburn will be aggrieved not to have taken the lead on 18 minutes. A quick throw from Colin Gallagher down the right found Ben Magee and his hooked shot was kept out only by the combination of Harthill keeper Derek Keough and the upright.
Two minutes later though, Harthill were again pushing. This time Jonathan Ward’s deep free-kick found its way through to Armstrong but with only the keeper to beat, his lobbed effort sailed over.
Three minutes into the second-half and the deadlock was finally broken. A needless handball on the edge of the box from a Royal defender saw Stoneyburn awarded a free-kick. Up stepped Robertson and his pinpoint effort beat the wall to find the bottom right-hand corner.
Now on the ascendency, The Fulshie doubled their lead six minutes later. Scott Mackie's wonderful pass released Robertson down the left and the forward made no mistake as he slotted the ball past Keough.
On 79 minutes Stoneyburn put themselves out of sight. Cammy Donaldson went down under pressure from Harthill’s Gary Bonnes, and the official pointed to the spot. Robertson stepped up hoping to complete his hat-trick, but found the post. Second half substitute Anderson reacted quickest to head into an empty net from the rebound.
The second-half rout was complete on 86 minutes. Lewis McKee did well to salvage a lost cause and he found Robertson at the end of the box. His effort found the far side of the net to get his third of the afternoon.
The result sees Stoneyburn pick up their first win of the season, before they take on Bathgate Thistle on Wednesday. Harthill Royal continue their wait to put points on the board, they host West Calder United on Wednesday.
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