TEAM:-

REPORT:-

This afternoon we had the chance to make history, as for the first time Halliburton Football Club had the opportunity to lose twice in the same cup competition in the same season! Having already been beaten in the first round and then having gained entry to the second round, via the back door, due to a blatant infringement of the rules by our first round opponents Skene, we went out to face Burghmuir this afternoon with Skene no doubt more desperate for Burghmuir to win than Burghmuir were themselves! We have had a couple of weeks off due to cancellations and this afternoon we had a number of call offs. Keith, Andrews, Fulton, Quire, Shaw, E.Milne and England all unavailable. That said we had 13 to choose from and Morgan and Marlow came back into the side. This was Morgans first start since the aforementioned Skene match when he was forced off with a nasty injury and Marlow started for the first time in 3 months. We lined up with Michie in goal, Sim, Marlow, Robertson and N.Milne in defence. A midfield of N.Wood, Longmuir, Morgan and M.Woods and a strike double of G.Woods and Merchant. The park was very heavy and Muir had the first scoring chance. A long through ball caught us out and Michie was stranded amazingly in the middle of our half! Robertson got back to clear. Another ball up the left got in behind Sim, Michie came out to force the attacker wide and Marlow blocked the shot before clearing. It was the visitors who were on top but we stole the lead in 20mins. A long ball from Michie went straight through to G.Woods and he finished well. Michie made a superb save to keep us in front but it was Muir who were dominating (H.T 1-0) The pattern of play did not change in the second half and we were under the cosh. M.Woods did well to intercept a pass but tried to dribble out of defence, the ball was taken off him and it was 1-1. Michie blundered a goal kick and despite being taken by surprise Marlow failed miserably when trying to control, the ball broke off him 1-2. Merchant grabbed the leveller again against the run of play when he nodded home a net bound G.Woods header off a corner in 65mins 2-2. M.Woods then repeated his earlier mistake in almost similar fashion to set up another Muir goal 2-3. Robertson got onto a corner but directed his header at the keeper, them Marlow was pulled up for leapfrogging an opponent! With 5mins to go Longmuir chased back to defend on the left however his attempted pass back was miles short and we had gifted Burghmuir goal number 4 to finally kill off the game. (F.T.2-4) So there it is history is made in typical Halliracket fashion if it was possible to cock it up twice then it was odds on we would give it our best shot! An over all poor performance throughout the side. Hallitopman who did well is Neill Milne.