Match Report: Sandys 4-3 Ratho Athletic

Stephen Fruzynski Photography

Match Report: Sandys 4-3 Ratho Athletic

Ratho Athletic bowed out of the Logan Cup after a thrilling contest against league leaders Sandys, with a controversial late goal proving the difference.

First Half

Ratho started brightly, pressing Sandys high and taking the game to the hosts. However, a lapse in concentration at a free kick allowed Sandys to open the scoring with a strike from distance.

Twelve minutes later, Ratho responded as Chris Hendrie whipped in a dangerous free kick that evaded everyone and found the back of the net to make it 1-1.

Parity was short-lived, though, as Sandys again found the net from range to regain the lead. But Ratho refused to back down and levelled once more in the 35th minute, when another pinpoint Chris Hendrie free kick was met by Liam Ritchie, who got the slightest touch to guide it home. The sides went into the break at 2-2.

Second Half

The second half continued at a high tempo, with both teams battling hard. Sandys went ahead again, this time from a header inside the six-yard box to make it 3-2.

Once again, Ratho showed their resilience, fighting back to equalise for a third time through Sean Higgins, setting up a tense finale.

Then came the game’s biggest talking point—a moment of madness from the referee. A Sandys striker clearly controlled the ball with his arm before finishing, yet the goal was allowed to stand, giving Sandys a 4-3 lead.

Ratho threw everything at it in the dying moments but, despite their efforts, couldn’t find a late equaliser.

Gaffer’s Thoughts

Manager Bradley Crane was full of praise for his team:

“Overall, I thought the boys were excellent—competed well all over the park and were right in the game going into the last couple of minutes. Feel really hard done by with the decision at the end, but sometimes you get them, sometimes you don’t. So proud of the performance today, all credit to the lads.”

A tough result to take, but an incredible effort from the team. We go again!