Saturday15th March 2026 ko 17:00

East of Scotland League Division One

LOCHORE WELFARE 2 (Reddington 15 Kirby 70)

EASTHOUSES LILY MINERS WELFARE 1 (Hill 37)

Thomson sent off (serious foul play)

Malley sent off 90 (2nd booking)

Att 237

Entry £8

Programme £2

We arrived at Lochore Welfare to quite a throng. We knew parking was going to be an issue, the club had organised parking for the coach, and everyone else? Well that rough ground nearby proved to be handy! For those hard of geography we weren’t quite in Lochore, but in Crosshill to be exact.

The club were famous for producing a steady stream of talent to the senior ranks around 60 years ago. The likes of Ian Porterfield, Willie Johnston, and Craig Levein all started their careers at the Welfare, and the ground has that timeless quality, the classic Scottish Junior set-up. But I had a problem….

There was clearly a wet patch on the pitch near to the dugouts, and despite the Lochore folks working like Trojans on it, the referee had all but called the game off. I did have one trump card though, I knew the league’s Kenny McLean was making his way into the ground and once he was able to speak to the referee, his persuasive powers were sufficient to get the game on. Kenny knew what was riding on it, clubs invest plenty in these events- a postponement should not be taken lightly. All I had to do was keep giving the same answer from a steady stream of groundhoppers- no the game wasn’t off!

The game was far more entertaining than I expected. Easthouses were desperate for points in a relegation scrap, but Lochore loked comfortable in mid-table. It went by league position eventually, but both sides got stuck in and Easthouses will feel frustrated to at least not have taken a point. The two red cards hinted at just how frustrated they were.