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TO REPORTS
MATCH DETAILS:-
DATE :- |
29th
March 2003 |
FIXTURE:- |
Auchnagatt
Barrons v Halliburton |
K.O. :- |
2:00PM. |
COMPETITION:- |
League |
VENUE:- |
Auchnagatt |
COLOURS:- |
Royal,
Royal, Black. |
|
|
SUMMARY:- |
Stuart Marlow |
RESULT:- |
Auchnagatt
1 Halliburton 2 |
SCORERS:- |
Wood,
Merchant |
TEAM:-
DEFENCE:- |
N.Milne
4 |
Shaw
4
|
Robertson
4 |
Michie
4 |
MIDFIELD:- |
Keith
4
|
N.Wood
|
Graham 4
|
M.Woods 4 |
FORWARDS:- |
|
G.Woods
4 |
Merchant |
|
SUBSTITUTES:- |
Sim
replaced Merchant 78 mins. |
HALLI-TOPMAN
Jason Keith |
|
Marlow
replaced Robertson 80 mins. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
REPORT:-
This
afternoon we reached the halfway mark in our league campaign and we were looking
to continue our recent impressive run of results. The squad was stretched when
call offs were received from Morgan, E.Milne, Fulton and England. That left us
with only 13 to choose from. The line up named saw 3 changes in midfield from
last weeks starting eleven, 1 in defence and 1 up front! Andrews, N.Milne, Shaw,
Robertson and Michie were in defence. Keith, Wood, Graham and M.Woods in
midfield behind the front two of G.Woods and Merchant. Back up was provided by
Sim and Marlow. A rock hard park provided a fiery surface as play got underway.
A pretty even opening until the 15th min when we went in front
through Wood he scored at the second attempt. This gave us a lift and Merchant
struck the post after a neat move up the right. Soon after a tremendous run and
pass from Robertson set up Wood but he hit the near post when it was easier to
score. In 30 mins Keith produced some magic to conjure up a tap in for Merchant
who gleefully accepted the chance to put us 2 up. From this goal until half time
we fell right out of it with passes going astray and defenders failing to clear
their lines. The midfield were not helping their back line much at all and too
often failed to track back. Robertson gave away a penalty in 43 mins. but for
the second match in a row Andrews got down to smother the spot kick (H.T.0-2)
Although 2 nil up it was pleasing to see every player complaining about the last
10 minutes of the first half. They were right to be disappointed as we had been
dreadful and were fortunate to come off with our 2 goal lead intact. We simply
had to up the tempo if we were going to keep the home side at bay. The defence
were instructed to keep it simple and clear their lines. It would not matter one
bit if all we did was keep the ball away from our goal as long as we held onto
the 3 points which were at half time in the bag. As play got underway Michie
dithered straight from the kick off and let the home centre in for a shot which
he struck wide. So much for adhering to instruction! Auchnagatt were now well up
for it and they pressured us from all angles. We were lucky to survive when
Milne was turned out on the right, a low cross ball was missed by everyone in
the box. Their constant pressure finally paid off when they pulled a goal back
in 58 mins. Michie stood up to claim for something from the ref? Andrews was
cross legged as the ball was sent past him. Soon after this G.Woods was swapped
with Wood and the big mans height made a difference in the centre of the park.
Keith was having an excellent match and threaded a great ball up the right off
which we won a corner. From the resultant flag kick, Robertson blasted an off
balance effort high over the crossbar. The centre back was then hurt in an
accidental collision with Michie. Both players went for a high ball in our box
with Michie getting to it first in doing so he smashed into Robertson who took a
knock in his lower back. Sim was introduced for Merchant which meant a change
around, Graham went up front, Keith moved into the middle and N.Milne forward
into midfield. Sim took up his position in the vacated right back berth. A swop
around that should have confused the opposition although it seemed to confuse
our players more than theirs! To further confuse only moments later Marlow came
on to replace Robertson which saw him in at sweeper, Michie into centre back and
Shaw out to left back! Following all of those moves it meant that only Andrews
and M.Woods had played out the entire 90mins in their starting positions! It
certainly gives squad rotation a new meaning. Andrews made an excellent save to
kill off any chance Auchnagatt had of nicking a point when he turned a strong
drive over the top. Marlow used experience to waste some vital seconds and
instructed M.Woods to leave the corner kick we had won to Keith, this prompted
shouts of time wasting from the home defence however its all part and parcel of
the game? N.Milne broke forward on a couple of occasions then Wood was forced
off with cramp in his leg. Merchant professionally indicating to our bench that
the player could not resume, good in theory but we had no substitutes left to
replace him with. (F.T.1-2) Another great 3 points. 6 wins from last 7 is ace.
Topman goes to Jason Keith.