In many ways, the match was like the whole summer in miniature - a promising start followed by a loss of direction in the middle leading to ultimate disappointment.

It looked at the start as if the Lochside side were going to put in the type of dominant performance the home fans have been waiting for all season.

Dale Sweeney opened the bowling and was unplayable for the first 40 minutes of the High School innings. By the time he was relieved by the spinners Dale had claimed five top order wickets and the visitors were reeling.

It soon became clear that visiting skipper Dougie Kyles was having some end of season fun with his batting order as he and his brother (both more usually seen at the top of the line-up) firstly steadied the innings before kicking on towards a respectable closing total.

For Strathie, Andy Cooper pitched in with a couple of wickets later on to ensure the final target should not have caused too many alarms.

Nigel Hazel and Gary Hewitson were steady early in the second innings, the more expansive stroke players in the middle order never asked to have to score at more than four an over for victory.

Unfortunately for the home fans too many players looked badly out of sorts and unable to find a way to penetrate the field regularly enough to keep DHSFP out of the game.

The visitors sensed that a win was on and, as wickets fell, it became more and more obvious it was not going to be Strathie's day, with them eventually coming up some seven runs short.

The 2nd XI (who still have a few friendlies scheduled over the coming three weekends) also came off second best in their final league fixture of the season.

Mattie Simpson top scored to continue his impressive form and young leg spinner Drew Orr once again demonstrated his great potential.

Unfortunately the visitors from Perth were able to pass their target in a close finish.

DHSFPs 149 for eight (D. Sweeney five for 12).

Strathmore 142 for nine.

Strathmore XI 149 all out (M. Simpson 31).

Perthshire XI 151 for six (D. Orr four for 45).

The Strathmore second team to travel to take on a Stonehaven Thistle Select on Saturday is as follows (players to meet at 12 noon):-

Craig McDonald, Angus McCormack, Jamie Conran-Smith, Douglas Sayers, Gary Hewitson, Stuart Lumsden, Fraser Couston, Norman Milton, Matthew Simpson, Liam Sweeney and Victor Mazella.

All call-offs should be intimated to William Ferguson on 07738-415327.

The Strathmore second team for the home match with a Falkland 2nd XI on Sunday (players to meet at 1 pm):-

Craig McDonald, Angus McCormack, Drew Orr, Mubeen Danish, Russell Booth, Douglas Sayers, Andy Sturrock, Andrew Cooper, Dale Sweeney, Gary Hewitson and Danny Sturrock.