MRS Cup Semi Final Saturday 23rd April 1988 Blackburn United 5 Temperley 23mins, Simpson 43mins, Penman 76mins & 83mins, Walker 89mins Fauldhouse United 1 Strange 40mins

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After a Quarter Final victory over strong going top division side Broxburn Athletic was earned by goals from strike partners Brian FLEMING and Colin PENMAN, it was another Division A side that had to be overcome if the dream of hoisting the MRS Cup was to be realised and an enthusiastic crowd was present at Murrayfield Park to see if our first ever Final could be reached. In a tight opening fifteen minutes or so it was the visitors who looked slightly the more threatening but their early dominance didn't last. With Blackburn begining to win the vital midfield battles, a clumsy challenge inside the 18-yard box presented Hugh TEMPERLEY with a gilt edged chance to open the scoring and the midfielder made his usual immaculate job from the spot. Soon after, Fleming almost made it two but his shot was well parried by the visiting goalkeeper. However, against the run of play it was all-square just before the break. Gary Finlayson made space wide on the right and flung in a cross that was met by Davie STRANGE and his guided header brought Fauldhouse level. Parity, though, was not to last long and only three minutes later Blackburn deservedly restored their lead with a well worked goal, Alan 'Audie' SIMPSON getting on the end of a slick passing move to prod home his second goal of the season. The second 45 minutes opened as the first had ended and the only real surprise about the fourth goal of the game was that it took quite so long for Blackburn to manufacture it, PENMAN nodding home his twenty-third of the season from a Charlie Spence cross to open up a two goal lead. With chances coming thick and fast now PENMAN duly secured his twenty-fourth goal from his fruitful partnership with Fleming, running onto a Stuart Dunn pass to round Maxwell and fire high into the unguarded net. The scoring was completed and a trip to Albyn Park for the Final assured when Peter WALKER slammed an unstopable 20-yard free kick into Maxwell's billowing net.