BACK TO REPORTS

MATCH DETAILS:-

TEAM:-

REPORT:-

The new campaign got underway this evening when we faced F.C.Charlotte in the first of what will be an annual Gary Longmuir Memorial Trophy match. This will be a great way to keep Garys name connected to the club. We had started training a couple of weeks ago but this was to be our first game which of course meant we were going into it without match practice. The turn out at training so far has been in the main disappointing, apart from the first meeting, but those who have been there have worked very hard. It is disappointing to report that we have lost two players from last seasons squad as Bryan merchant and Nic Wood have decided to move on. On a plus we have signed two new faces in the shape of Peter Stubbs and Steve Mitchell. Both these lads are young and hopefully they can be valuable additions to our squad. Stubbs was working and is carrying an injury and so could not take part tonight but Mitchell was available. Stuart Marlow had to make a long dash from Scarborough for the game and failed to make it in time for the start. In his absence Jim Ritchie took charge and sent out the following eleven to kick start our season. Andrews in goal, Fulton, Shaw, Michie and N.Milne in the back four. The midfield saw Mitchell making his debut wide left with Keith on the right and E.Milne joining Morgan in the centre. Up front were G. and M.Woods. We had Sim, England, Robertson and Marlow in reserve. To add to the occasion our referee for tonights game was Morag Pirie who has recently been appointed as a highland league official becoming the first woman ever to attain this status. Shaw had posted his intention as the game kicked off with a trusty call of "Keep it tight early on " he then went and allowed the ball to go under him inside the first 60 seconds setting up Farquhar who went one on one with Andrews. The keeper bailing out his sweeper with a fine stop. For the next 20 minutes Halli went on to totally dominate the proceedings and produced some excellent football which had F.C.Charlotte reeling. Several good opportunities were set up but missed before we opened the scoring in 22 mins. E.Milne drilling in a shot to give us a very deserved lead. We added a second just before the interval when a deep cross from the right was well met and powerfully headed home at the back post by G.Woods. (H.T.2-0) We opened the second half slowly but played ourselves back into it. We went on to create many good scoring chances and in the main it was brothers Graeme and Mike Woods who scorned the lions share. One chance missed followed a great through ball from Fulton which G.Woods raced onto. As Rielly in the Charlotte goal advanced a shot was sent wide with brother Mike screaming dogs abuse for not being given a square ball which would have been a much better option. Not to be out done Mike failed to find the net when he sent in a pretty tame effort which went straight at the keeper. Moments later Graeme was again clear after skipping past Gary Anderson. This time Rielly pulled off a superb stop. Andrews was then forced into action and got down well to block a near post shot as Charlotte broke through. We put the final nail in the Charlottes coffin in 74 mins when we scored what could, even this early, be the goal of the season. Keith did well to release G.Woods out on the right and he sent over a neat front post chip cross. E.Milne dived in almost horizontally to head home despite a hefty challenge. A goal that Gary Longmuir himself would have been proud of. Sim had replaced Mitchell at the interval after the youngster picked up a bit of a strain, England took over from Michie, Marlow replaced Shaw and Robertson came on for Fulton ensuring that everyone played his part. As we began to tire F.C.Charlotte woke us up when a cross come shot hit the cross bar the ball was scrambled away and our clean sheet was secured. (F.T.3-0) A very encouraging start to the season with everyone doing very well. In particular E.Milne who dominated the centre of the park, Mitchell who had an impressive debut, Fulton who showed up well in a variety of positions and N.Milne who had one of his best games in a Halliburton jersey. The full back picking up the Hallitopman award for that display. After the match everyone went back to the Charlotte where Gary Anderson who of course has major connections with both sides organised the presentation of the trophy which was collected by skipper Jason Keith. We have further matches on Saturday and next Wednesday prior to the league campaign getting underway on the 9^th of August. Great to get off to such a good start tonight, a start, which should build confidence throughout the squad. Tonights performance must be our benchmark.