Match Report 32

           

 

 

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MATCH DETAILS:-

 

DATE :-

23th April 2003

FIXTURE:-

Bankhead v Halliburton

K.O. :-

6:30PM.

COMPETITION:-

League

VENUE:-

Bankhead

COLOURS:-

Royal, Royal, Black.

SUMMARY:-

Stuart Marlow

RESULT:-

Bankhead 1 Halliburton 2

SCORERS:-

TEAM:-

GOALKEEPER:-

Andrews 4

DEFENCE:-

Sim

Michie 4

Shaw 4

N.Milne

MIDFIELD:-

Keith 4

Morgan 4

E.Milne

M.Woods 4

FORWARDS:-

Graham

G.Woods

SUBSTITUTES:-

Robertson replaced Michie 70 mins 

HALLI-TOPMAN Mike Woods

 

England replaced Sim 75 mins

Merchant replaced Graham 85 Mins.

Marlow not used.
Fulton not used.

 

 

REPORT:-

 

Nothing less than 3 points would be acceptable this evening against bottom dogs Bankhead. We had already trounced this once proud club earlier in the campaign and defeat tonight would be unthinkable. In the changing rooms Stuart Marlow detailed his intention to rotate the squad as much as possible between now and the end of the season and wasted no time in starting by leaving himself, Robertson and Fulton on the bench for tonights encounter. The 11 starting were Andrews, Sim, Shaw, Michie, N.Milne, Keith, E.Milne, Morgan, M.Woods, G.Woods and Graham. England and Merchant were the other subs. The pitch is dominated by a slope which the home side chose to play down first half. They were intent on the long ball tactic and this was causing us some problems. N.Milne never the most accomplished in the air struggled to cope with this but credit to the full back who twice used his pace to retrieve what could have been potential scoring opportunities. They came close (ish) on a couple of occasions before we produced our first real attack in 20 mins. Keith picked up inside his own box, found Morgan and continued on a lung bursting run. Morgan held it up before releasing a great ball into Keiths path. He collected at pace, drove into the box only to have his low shot turned away by the keeper. G.Woods was becoming involved with his opponent but had the upper hand as he put us in front in 30 mins. He got onto a ball, cut inside and drove a low shot home. In truth their keeper should have done much better in his effort to stop what amounted to little more than an average shot. Bankhead equalised 5 mins later when our defence was too square. A through ball saw their diminutive striker pick up, waltz past 3 of our finest and sink it past Andrews. In 40 mins. G.Woods and his mate clashed again on this occasion the striker retaliated and both were shown a red card. (H.T1-1) We moved to a 4-3-2 formation as we now surged down the slope. Morgan came close with a long range effort then M.Woods was not too far away. Bankhead never troubled us in this half however it took us until the 70th min to regain the lead. M.Woods was felled in the box and Shaw confidently stepped forward to drill home the spot kick. Michie was forced out of the action with a foot knock and Robertson replaced him. England took over from Sim and Merchant went on for Graham. It was all Halliburton but we could not get the goal that would have killed off the game. Merchant had a shot saved, Robertson hit the rebound wide. Both Milnes had and missed chances as did M.Woods then Merchant was left red faced when Morgan did everything for him to set up a chance which he knows he should have buried. The wee man hit it straight at the keeper when it was easier to score. These missed chances of course could have been so costly, thankfully that was not the case and despite the tight score line, we ran out pretty comfortable winners. (F.T.1-2) We had spoken about the need to tighten up at the back and to start taking the many chances that we have been creating before the game. The goal we lost was a bad one and yet again we created and missed countless opportunities. That said it would be far more worrying if we were not creating the chances in the first place, however that does not camouflage the fact that too many of these chances have been wasted and a quick look at our recent results proves that we have done ourselves no favours at all. Great first half from Mike Woods earns him the Hallitopman accolade.