Friendly
Blackstoun United AFC v Ashvale Victoria
3-4
K.O. 7pm Ferguslie Park Sport Centre Astro Referee Bill Adam
This team came with a reputation of being good, so we were expecting a severe challenge.
In the first minute Stuart Witherspoon (Spoony) intercepts their attack and lays it off to Ryan Pirie. Ryan spots Gary Stevenson bombing down the let wing and puts in the perfect pass, Gary S drives the ball in low from their bye line James Orr lay’s it of for Ryan who blasts the shot in but it just sails over the bar.
A minute later Kevin Kane has a half shot that goes well wide.
A minute later they push up get a corner, which we clear.
6 min’s Ryan forces a good save from the Ashvale keeper who puts it out for a corner.
They break out, drive to the edge of our penalty box and try to muscle it in, but Gary Hyndman comes across and forces the danger away.
15min’s they push forward and have a shot that sails well over.
Two minutes later Gary S gets in a shot that goes wide of the mark.
22 min’s the ball goes out wide left to Ryan who sprints to their bye line and puts in a great low driven ball but just out of the reach of the on rushing forwards.
25 min’s they take a goal kick, it comes down wide they pass it into their centre mid, Spoony has it covered but it slips under his foot which left the way clear for Ashvale to get their firs goal. 0-1.
Five minutes later. They make it 0-2. The fact the guy was about five yards off side didn’t seem to bother the ref.
We come back at them angry and hard. Gary S gets a shot in but the keeper pulls off another good save but James O was onto the rebound and this time the keeper had no chance 1-2.
We had several more chances after this but failed to convert them. Despite this did not feel that the game was beyond us. They were a good side but I felt that we were good enough to get it back.
Half Time
K.O. at 4.15pm
A few minutes into the second half and James has a battling chance he gets through three players but puts it over the bar. A couple of minutes later and Ashvale get an indirect free kick in the box which the fail to convert.
It is very much a to and fro game with each team getting their share of the ball.
It wasn’t until the 20th minute that we finally got our break Gary S snaps up the ball on the far left, he looks up and spots George Harkins (Hagi) making a run in to the box, he puts in a perfect ball Hagi brings it down well and slots it home with consummate ease. 2-2.
3 min’s later Ryan gets in a good cross to Kevin but is forced wide, he still gets in a shot but the keeper is equal to it.
30 min’s and Ryan get’s in another shot but the keeper saves well.
It was still a fairly even game and drifting towards a draw when we make a mistake at the back that allows them in to snatch the winner. 2-3.
One again we played some good football and were a harshly dune by in the end. No complaints though. They were a decent side and took their chances, which at the end of the day is what it’s all about.
The team to day was
Steven Kane:-Had a good game but could do little about the two goals.
Gary Hyndman:-Worked well.
Craig Larkin:-A bit better to day.
Stuart Witherspoon:-With out his usual partner and tried a little too hard.
Gordon Larkin:-Always a solid performance.
Kevin Kane:-Good in spells, we need a bit more from him but considering his age he did well.
Ross Pirie:-Worked well but tired towards the end.
David Brewster:-Tried hard but still short of match fitness.
Ryan Pirie:-Had a good game to day.
Gary Stevenson:-Also had a good game, I would like to see him take more of his chances though.
James Orr:-Big and strong had some good chances needs to work on his fitness.
William Lafferty:-Works quietly away and gets the job done.
Liam Gray:-Had a couple of saves to make, on chance with the last goal.
Craig Carrigan:-Had a bit of a nightmare to day, trying to hard to impress.
George Harkins:-Came on late and got the equaliser.
These comments are not necessarily the views and opinions of the management team but are solely mine and not meant to be taken seriously.
