Hat-trick helps guide Fauldhouse United to win over Harthill Royal

Blair MacDonald fired Fauldhouse United to their first win of the season as the srike bagged a hat-trick in last night’s 3-1 home win over Harthill Royal.

The three points ensured the Hoose are off the board in their East of Scotland Division Three campaign.

The opening exchanges were cagey but the Royal created the better of the chances.

William Gardner headed over the bar on 15 minutes before United keeper Matthew Wallace produced a terrific one-handed save to deny the energetic Steven Armstrong’s angled drive from the left.

But two goals in the space 10 minutes would swing the game firmly in favour of the hosts.

MacDonald opened the scoring just before the half hour mark with a fine finish across goal before making a perfect run to latch onto a whipped delivery from Ritchie Kirwan to slam home his second on 36 minutes.

The frontman had the perfect opportunity to make it a treble shortly after the break as United were awarded a penalty when Harthill keeper Scott McDaid brought him down after the MacDonald raced on to a ball over the top.

It wasn’t to be, though, as his thunderous strike bounced back off the crossbar.

That miss seemed to galvanise the Royal who enjoyed their best period of the game.

And they got themselves back into it on the hour mark in stunning fashion as Gary Bonness curled a majestic 30-yard free-kick into the top corner.

Adam Carmichael fired wide as the visitors went searching for an equaliser while the referee waved away penalty claims after Wallace and Bonness collided inside the box.

Having weathered that storm, United wrapped up the points nine minutes from time when MacDonald found the bottom corner.

The Royal defence were furious, claiming the striker was offside, and that frustration