FAULDHOUSE UNITED (Park View)

EAST OF SCOTLAND CUP SEMI-FINAL, FAULDHOUSE UNITED 0-1 DUNDONALD BLUEBELL, ATTENDANCE: 250 (est)

For my final domestic game of season 2015/16 it was once again another trip to Scotland. When I was offered a lift north of the border it seemed like a good idea at the time! Despite being a Bank Holiday south of the border, in Scotland in was a normal working day so the game at Fauldhouse United kicked of at 7.15pm.

Fauldhouse is a town situated just of the M8, roughly halfway between Glasgow and Edinburgh. The local club Fauldhouse United were hosting Dundonald Bluebell in the East of Scotland cup.

The East of Scotland Cup, for sponsorship purposes is currently known as the DJ Laing East of Scotland Cup, is open to all East Region clubs. The competition dates back to 1896 and is one the regions premier cup competitions, with the Junior Cup, obviously, being THE cup competition.

Fauldhouse United play in the East Region Superleague but have been struggling near the bottom of the table. They will not be relegated directly but after this game tonight they have two games left, which they have to win, to avoid the relegation play off.

Dundonlad Bluebell play in the East Region Premier league and last Saturday they travelled to Dundee Violet where a 5-0 victory clinched a top two Premier League finish and a first ever promotion to the East Super League, so you could say there is nothing between the teams. So it proved.

The first half was a tight affair with neither side giving anything, with chances few and far between. The game opened up in the second half with both sides spurning decent chances.

As the game wore on it seemed Fauldhouse were going to run out victors as they put Bluebell under intense pressure. However, the visitors from Cardenden rode the storm and the home sides profligacy proved costly when, in the 93rd minute, Calum Young popped up with a winner to set up a clash with Bo'ness United in the final.

Park View is a tidy ground, surrounded by trees on three side, with an enclosure "the coo shed" on one side of the ground. There is a seated stand, fashioned from a lorry trailer, parked behind one goal. It looked splendid bathed in the evening sunshine. Despite arriving home just after 1am, it was a great way to round off the season at 'home'.