Whitehill 2 Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 3
Not a happy New Year for the Welfare last Saturday, as first footers Lothian came calling and left Ferguson Park with the three points.
With Whitehill a goal to the good at half time and looking very comfortable, few people would have predicted that their opponents would take advantage of the strong wind blowing across the park and score three times.
Whitehill were without Andrew Kidd, Mike Bruce, Wayne McIntosh, Darren Walker and Gareth Thom.
The game started with an early foul on Aaron Somerville, and the free kick by Dayne Robertson was fired into the side net.
New signing Kyle Boggie was causing problems running at the Lothian defence, and he had a shot saved by the Lothian keeper after a powerful run from halfway. The keeper followed this up by blocking at Boggie’s feet after a Somerville cross.
The breakthrough came in 19 minutes as Somerville won a hard challenge out on the left, and the ball was picked up by Mike Herd, who sliced through 2 challenges before finishing well with his left foot from just inside the box.
Seconds later Herd almost had a second but his shot from an acute angle was parried.
Then Sproule crossed for Manson, whose shot was deflected away for a corner.
Half time, a very comfortable1-0 to the Welfare.
The second half had barely started when Lothian equalised through a disputed penalty awarded for handball by referee Billy Cooper. Worse was to come in 65 minutes as Lothian scored after a cross to the back post.
Lothian’s lead lasted only two minutes as Willie Kidd poked home from 6 yards after good work by Herd and Sinclair.
Referee Cooper resisted strong Whitehill penalty claims in 78 minutes when Herd appeared to be fouled.
Lothian had looked increasingly dangerous and pacy on the break throughout the second half, and in stoppage time they won a corner on the left. The ball was played in to the near post and headed in for the winning goal.
A sore blow for Whitehill who travel to meet champions Spartans next week.

Team: Godfrey; Hall, Young, W.Kidd; Bonthrone; Sproule, Herd, Robertson (Sinclair), Manson; Somerville, Boggie (McCulloch).