Budget Blinds Premier League

HURLFORD THISTLE 2

DIRRANS ATHLETIC 1

TEN-man Dirrans suffered an agonising last minute defeat against the sevcn-time Premier Division champions at St Joseph's Academy.

The visitors competed well early on, taking the game to the hosts. However the first real chance fell to Hurlford when Lewis Walker slid in to an attacking player in the box who went down despite there being no contact to win a penalty. Gilgannon smashed the spot-kick over the bar.

Five minutes later Hurlford were awarded their second penalty when home player David Rocks and opponent Jarod Kiefer tangled in the box. This time Connell made no mistake to blast them in front.

Dirrans were dealt a further blow when Reece Boyd was sent off on the half hour for foul and abusive language to the referee.

The visitors defended doggedly and limited Hurlford to only a few chances but the defence and goalkeeper Ross Stewart held firm. They thought they had got their reward when Calvin Kemp scored an outstanding solo goal, firing into the top corner in 87 minutes.

Hurlford stepped up a gear and in final minute Currie scored at the back post to regain the lead for Hurlford.

Dirrans never gave up and Kemp nearly silenced the large home support with the last kick of the ball - a 40-yard strike which just cleared the crossbar. For the second time this season they walked away from a game against the league champions with no points but arguably all the plaudits

DIRRANS ATHLETIC: Stewart; Frew, Walker, Wallace, Strain (Hynard); Boyd, Kiefer (Dunlop); Bennett (Milne); Pirie (Lockhart), Stevenson, Kemp.