Blantyre Victoria 4 - 0 Petershill
Scorers: Lewis MacDonald (24', 54'), Gavin Millar (28'), Con Boyle (80')
Two sides who, aside from one friendly last season, have not faced each other since the back-end of the 2016/17 season. In this fixture it was the visitors Petershill who thumped the Vics 8 - 2. This season, however, both sides are in very different situations respectively - in terms of form - so the Vics were hoping for a different outcome as the Peasy returned to Blantyre.
The match started evenly, with both sides having their share of possession in the middle of the park. The first big chance of the match didn't come until the 11th minute and it really should have been converted for the Vics. Aaron Black had the ball on the edge of the area with his back to goal, he spotted Lewis MacDonald making a run to his left and played a through ball to him with a superb back-heel. MacDonald was one-on-one with Peasy keeper Andrew Wilson who pulled off a brilliant save to divert Lewis' shot wide.
In the 22nd minute Lewis MacDonald came close again. Simon Eeles whipped in a cross from the right, it skimmed over the head of the Petershill centre-back and was begging for MacDonald to knock it into the back of the net at the far-post. It seemed as if the defender had put him off as he was unable to react quickly enough in order to convert the cross.
Two minutes later, Lewis MacDonald got the goal he deserved. Ross Caldwell found himself in possession on the right-wing, he curled a ball into the box which once again beat the Petershill defenders. MacDonald was able to pull a headed effort off at the far-post, leaving Wilson no chance of stopping it.
It was not long after that the Vics doubled their lead. Following some brilliant link up play just outside between Gavin Millar, Aaron Black and Lewis MacDonald, Black played the ball to Millar who had enough space inside the area to pull off a shot. His strike blasted past Wilson in the Petershill goal to make it 2 - 0.
The only other real chance before half-time came for the Vics. Dale Jones sent a long-ball over the top of the defence to find Aaron Black. The visitors halted waiting on the linesman to flag for offside - but it never came. The winger managed to get a shot off, but on the volley he wasn't able to connect with ball properly and it was an easy save for Wilson.
Straight after the break Petershill hopes of getting back into the match took yet another hit as they were reduced to ten men. Following a late challenge on Dale Jones, Josh Watt was giving his marching orders by referee Blair Comerford for dissent.
Just five minutes later, the linesman waved for what players originally were expecting to be an offside call. The referee ran over to his assistant who informed him of an off the ball incident involving Aaron Black and Martyn Shields. The referee, after conversing with his linesman walked over and showed a red to Petershill's Martyn Shields.
Just two minutes later the Vics took advantage of the dismissals. Aaron Black played a superb ball through to Lewis MacDonald who was advancing into the box. The peasy goalkeeper looked to be favourite to win the ball but he managed to get a foot to it and chipped it over the keeper and it bobbled into the back of the net.
The red cards pretty much killed the game. The Vics showing very little intent of extending their lead, with the three points already in the bag, and Petershill sitting back cutting their loses.
This was until the 80th minute, Jake Hughes held up the ball well inside the area, he cut the ball back to Ross Caldwell then onto Con Boyle. In typical fashion Boyle, who was fresh off the bench, struck the ball beautifully to get his second of the season.
An outstanding result for the Vics that sees them move up from 11th to 8th in the Championship. New Petershill manager Martin Lauchlan has a mammoth task ahead of him as his side have conceded six and scored none, two matches into his tenure. The Springburn side remain in the relegation zone in 14th.