Friendly
Blackstoun United AFC v Abercorn AFC
6-0
K.O. 7pm Ferguslie Park Sport Centre Astro Referee Harry Love
Our second friendly of the season this time against one of the new teams into the league and they come with no known history, so you are never quite sure what you are going to get.
We kicked off at 7.10pm and right from the off we were at them, in the first few minutes Gary McLeod (Gaza) and Gary Stevenson both have chances to score.
5 min’s they push forward and are caught off side our back line Of Gary Hyndman Stuart Witherspoon (Spoony) John Murning & Paul Galloway is working well.
It is quite evident that they are also up for the game as it had started with both teams playing fast and hard but this over keenness was bringing about a lot of miss timed slicing of the ball. (The keenness is fine but they need to get their eye on the ball.)
10 min’s we win a free kick just out side their box to our right David Brewster comes over from the left mid to put in an in swinger, up jumps our captain for the day Alan McFadyen (Fudgie) and heads it home well. 1-0.
This at last settled us down.
15 min’s David B takes yet another corner Fudgie gets up again but this time they managed to clear his goal bound header. Gaza pounces onto the loos ball drives into the box and tries to lob the keeper. But to no avail the keeper gathers it in. A few moments later a great ball from Owen Gillespie sets Gary S clean through on goal, he shoots but the keeper saves again knocking it out for a corner.
25 min’s this time Kevin Kane gets a good pass into Gary S and is clear on goal again but this time he slots it home with ease. 2-0.
30 min’s Gaza is starting to show what stunning ability he has, if he can do this in a real game the opposition will stop playing just to watch him play, but in saying that the lack of experience in the opposition can make you look good. This ability is not confined to Gaza shortly for after that Owen’s vision sent Gary S on his way again, this time though, the keeper blocked his shot well.
The rest of the game was virtually all us but even when they did manage to get up to our end the defence handled it all with ease. The rest of the half saw some good one touch football with Fudgie at the heart of it all. David B had a good shot saved by the keeper. Gary S had another shot saved and Spoony headed a corner just bye the post.
Half time
Mark Elder made a few changes at half time on came Steven Kane in goals, Craig Carrigan out on the right wing, William Lafferty at the back and David Trainer at centre mid.
We kicked of at 7.55pm and right from the off Gary S shot just wide. They take the bye kick it falls to Fudgie who sets off on a brilliant solo run beating several players before slamming home a terrific goal to make the score 3-0.
4 min’s and we have a corner, the cross comes in to the edge of the penalty box David T gives a good shout and heads it just over the bar.
1 min later John M puts an excellent pass to Gary S who drives to their bye line dives it in low to Gaza he dummies it, it runs strait through to Kevin K who blasts it into the net giving the keeper no chance. 4-0.
In the eleventh min they get in a half chance but some good defensive work from Spooey mops up the danger.
15 min’s Fudgie gets in a good corner but Gaza fails to get a good head on it and it skims past.
A moment later and Gaza gets in a good strike from well out the box but the keeper saves.
19 min’s They take a bye kick it gets knock back to Fudgie who is standing on the edge of their box with his back to goal. He heads into the path of Gaza who leaps up into the air and bicycle kicks it right into the top corner keeper had no chance; it was a brilliant goal 5-0.
1 minute later and Fudgie gets his hat-trick once again a good driving run. 6-0.
25th min sees Craigie lining up well with Fudge who eventual splits and goes on another amazing driving run, holding off several and getting in his shot beating the keeper only to rebound of the cross bar.
The rest of the game was still pretty much us with some good solid football being played but failing to produce any further goals. I find that when using rolling subs it takes away a bit of the continuity of the game. In saying that it is important to give all players a good run out for fitness and honing the match sharpness.
The team to day was.
Liam Gray:-He didn’t have much to do, swept up well.
Gary Hyndman:-Knows his job and dose it.
Paul Galloway:-Worked out on the left to day not tested.
Alan McFadyen:-Our Captain for the day and rose to the challenge of leading by example. An excellent game.
John Murning:-Looking to play centre half this season I think, seems to be handling it well.
Stuart Witherspoon:-Getting better each time I see him.
Kevin Kane:-First time I have seen him in a actual game, I think he could develop into good player for us.
Owen Gillespie:-Gives no quarter and the sharpness is coming.
Gary Stevenson:-Was a real torment to the opposition.
Gary McLeod:-Getting better all the time and had a wonder goal to day.
David Brewster:-Looked much better on the wing, needs to work on his fitness though.
Steven Kane:-I don’t think he had a save to make so I cant really comment.
Craig Carigan:-Out on the right again and did a good job.
William Lafferty:-Got more of the game and didn’t have any problems.
David Trainer:-His first game in a while but didn’t look out of place.
We were not really pushed to day but it was a step in the right direction. I would just like to thank Abercorn for the game and wish them all the best in the P&D. I know it can be tuff getting beaten by a large margin but stick to it and it will come good in the end.
These comments are not necessarily the views and opinions of the management team but are solely mine and not meant to be taken seriously.
