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Our last game of 2002 and we were forced to play on a neutral park due to the fact that Hazlehead had been deemed unplayable yesterday. The cup tie was switched to Altens where we were to face Division 2 East league leaders Blackburn in the first round of our divisional cup, the Barclay Cook Trophy. At this time of year players can often be away on holiday and that was indeed the fact this afternoon as Tony Morgan called off in the middle of the week. Andrews, Fulton, Graham, M.Woods and England were all working so that saw our squad reduced in numbers. An sos call was put out to Gary Anderson and Halli legend Andy Brechin. Brechin up on holiday from down south reluctantly agreed to strip as a sub, although no doubt secretly harbouring a desire to get into the action at some point. We lined up with Michie in goals, Sim, Marlow, Robertson and N.Milne in defence, Keith, Longmuir, E.Milne and N.Wood in the midfield and G.Woods paired with Merchant up front. Our subs were Quirie, Anderson and Brechin. It was obvious to all who had taken part in our last match that a vast improvement was required if we were to take anything from todays game, in our last outing the work rate had been good enough however the general play was no where near as good as Halliburton can produce. The pitch was very heavy and in places there was surface water. Play opened up and in the main it was nip and tuck with both sides having equal periods on top. Halli began to take control and a great run forward by N.Milne forced a good save by the keeper. We then came close when Longmuir got his head onto to consecutive corners but just failed to direct the efforts goalwards. At our end Robertson and Marlow were closing down well and a solid Robertson block on the 18 yard line cleared a Blackburn attack. They then won a corner which Marlow did well to win at the near post. G.Woods broke through but shot weakly the on the half hour we went in front. Longmuir did extremely well to stretch for a ball on the right. He found G.Woods who turned it into the middle, the ball broke for Merchant who took a snap shot which flew past the keeper with the aid of a deflection. In 40 mins we were two up. G.Woods cleverly chipping the keeper from 25 yards (H.T. 2-0) Blackburn came out flying and despite being warned about this possibility at half time, we were far too slow to respond. The country side moved their sweeper forward into midfield and he went on to dominate the entire second half. We held out until the hour mark when they grabbed a peach although under controversial circumstances. Longmuir had been adjudged to have pushed his man just outside the box but there appeared to be very little in it. However up stepped Middleton of Blackburn to strike a marvellous free kick into the net. 5 mins later G.Woods raced back to cover when N.Wood had been skinned up the left. A clever low ball was bulleted across our goal and G.Woods slammed it into his own net! We were now rocking and all over the place as we gifted them a 3rd. Sim was hopelessly short with a pass back to Michie and the keeper came out inviting the attacker to fall down which of course he gratefully did to win a penalty. That was clinically despatched by their keeper! A strong header by E.Milne was cleared off the line before Blackburn lobbed a fourth. With minutes remaining they belted in a 5th to complete a convincing comeback.(F.T.2-5) What a collapse. Too many hid today Topman goes to Stuart Marlow, kept urging team.