Blackburn United failed to pick up their first home win since October despite a spirited 2-1 defeat to promotion hopefuls Penicuik Athletic, writes Callum McCormack.
Paul Tansey opened the scoring with a powerful drive from distance on the half hour mark with Andy Forbes doubling their advantage early in the second half.
United answered back with a late Michael Browne penalty but the whistle blew immediately after as they fell to defeat.
The hosts had every reason to feel confident of causing a shock and were in a buoyant mood after running out 5-1 victors over Dundonald Bluebell a fortnight ago. They were looking to climb out of the relegation spots with what would have been successive league wins for the first time this season.
The Burnie started well at a windy Purdie Worldwide Community Stadium and there were barely 20 seconds on the clock when Callum Heath cut in from the right for the first chance of the game. However, his shot was high and wide.
It was a fairly even start, with neither side really able to assert dominance and it would take until the 15th minute for either side to register their first shot on target. A long ball down field was cushioned by Danny Campbell to Heath but his effort was tame and handled easily by Robert Watt in the Penicuik goal.
Penicuik began to settle into the game and, on his 50th appearance for the Cuikie, Tansey was often the driving force behind it.
And he would open the scoring on 30 minutes with a thunderous, if slightly wind-assisted, effort into the left-hand side of the goal which left Craig Saunders with little chance.
The rest of the half would see few chances for either side, with each trying their luck from distance to no avail. Nicky Reid would have the ball in the net on 42 minutes but he had long been adjudged offside.
With the second half underway, Penicuik continued to threaten and on 53 minutes Forbes doubled his side's lead. Tansey once again broke free down the left-hand side and his cross took a deflection which almost saw it head goalwards before bouncing behind for a Penicuik corner from which Forbes rose the highest to head home from 12 yards.
Penicuik would have opportunities to add to their tally. First, Tansey met Reid’s through ball but his shot was well saved by Saunders and then, with 15 minutes remaining, Reid would head over when it seemed easier to score.
Blackburn would have chances of their own however. Good footwork from Heath down the right-hand side saw him find the byline before trying to work the ball back towards the penalty spot. There was no United player to take the bait and Penicuik were able to clear.
Richard Hutton would go close next for the hosts as his effort from 30 yards with five minutes remaining looked like it would rival Tansey’s first half strike in quality, but Watt produced a fingertip save to see it over the bar.
Eventually, United would get their goal. With seconds remaining on the clock, Jack Garrad was clumsily bundled over in the box and Browne would step up to dispatch his sixth penalty of the season.
That would prove to be the last kick of the ball as United fell to defeat. The two sides do it all again once more on Saturday at Penicuik Park.
