MATCH REPORT : RED away to Oxgangs, 26th March 2011

Match Reporter Neil makes it almost completely up from memory...

"Lovely day for a game of football..." commented one Red follower as the Red team set off for game v Oxgangs.  some last minute team changes and unavailability meant that we had to draft in a new loan signing with Robert making his Red debut in a reshuffled Red squad.  We  welcomed Hector back from his Highland training camp and soon saw the benefits of his

mid-season break.  Red started with Keir the Goalie in goal, a back pairing of Jack and Robert.  In midfield we had Danny in the centre, Kjartan on the right, Hector on the left with Struan up top.  Eyvindur started out on the bench but was soon involved.  Oxgangs seemed to have one or two giants in their team but since when are the Red team intimidated by a big of muscle?

The game opened up with both sides looking sharp, and one or two meaty challenges from the home team resulted in a series rolling substitutions with both Robert and Kjartan suffering

from some agricultural challenges.  First major chance fell to Kjartan after a great run down the right he exchanged passes with Danny and then fired a shot narrowly passed the post from a tight angle.  Nice play and it signalled a period of pressure from the Reds.  Another great passage of play saw the ball being fired from the right to Eyvindur arriving quickly at the back post who couldn't quite divert his shot on target.  The Red team continued to apply pressure.  A great move saw Hector spreading the ball wide and Kjartan fired in another cross - Struan dummied at the front post and - Eyvindur arrived once again at the back post and fired the ball just past the post.  Getting closer though!  Another fine series of passes from Kjartan, Danny and Struan saw the ball fall to - guess who?  Yup, this time though Eyvindur hit the target…but the Oxgangs goalie made a great save.

It wasn't always one way traffic though.  At the other end Robert and Jack were coping brilliantly with a rather robust series of challenges from the Oxgangs forward line.  Play was being built from the back with Robert's superb distribution being a great asset to the Red team.  Danny burst through midfield, cut inside the defensive midfield player and fired in a great shot.  The Oxgangs goalie saved well but spilled the ball.  Uh-oh.  Struan reacted first and fired the ball home.  0-1 RED.

Great start.  Most unlike the Red team!

Oxgangs were looking dangerous on the break though and the Red team had to be careful matching the strong running of the 'big number 9' who was rampaging through a series of challenges and peppering shots around Keir's goal.  Some excellent keeping and fantastic defensive pressure ensured that the Red goal remained intact.  Some nice forward running from Struan was stretching the Oxgangs defence and it wasn't long before the Oxgang goalie was tested again.  A great turn and shot from Struan had the Oxgangs goalie scrambling the ball clear but Danny controlled the ball on the edge of the box and fired home.  Great goal.  0-2 RED.

Oxgangs turned up the heat now.  Some very robust challenges saw more substitutions!  Keir raced out of his box and cleared the ball - only to be flattened by the ‘big number 9’.  Robert reminded the Red coach of his goalkeeping skills as Keir was taken off for ‘treatment’.  The Red coaching team were worried - Oxgangs were peppering the Red goal now.  One certain

goal was avoided when Robert carried out what we call the 'casual wonder save'.  What  happened was that we let an opponent smash one into the top corner from just inside the box.  Robert spots it nice and early and waits.  And waits.  And waits.  At the last minute as the opponent is wheeling away to salute the crowd Robert casually sticks out a paw and grabs the ball!  Wooo, what a save!

Half-time 0-2 RED.

A great start.  Keir is fit again, Robert slots into defence and the game kicks off with Oxgangs piling forward looking to get back into the game.  Keir has a couple of wonder saves to deny the 'big number 9' but was helpless when a series of shots eventually results in the ball breaking unkindly in the box to the big number 2 who fired the ball high into the net.  1-2 RED.

More Oxgangs pressure.  Keir and his defensive cover hold firm.  Oxgangs can't find a way through and resort to taking wild shots from distance.  One speculative effort is being ushered wide when it inexplicably swings inside the far post!  Disaster. 2-2.

Now the RED team really didn't deserve that.  However Oxgangs have the oxtails up now.  For the next five minutes the Red team were literally battered by Oxgangs.  Tackles flew, players raged and the Red team hung on for dear life.  Keir made some outstanding saves, Jack played brilliantly, Hector was busy mopping up anything nearby, Eyvindur worked hard trying to snuff out danger and Robert helped organise things with very useful direction and encouragement.  Kjartan meanwhile was being whacked all over the place by some very robust tackling.  The RED team held firm and always looked dangerous on the break.  In one brilliant flowing move Kjartan and Danny linked well in midfield and after a series of passed played the ball wide to Struan, who beat a defender and fired the ball across goal to...Hector!  How did he get there?  Hit it first time?  No, take a touch?  No hit it!  The coaches couldn't make up their minds and nor

could Hector - so he just whacked the ball but it just slid past the post.  What a tremendous move and where did Hector find the energy to get into the box?

That moved signalled a turnaround.  Red team re-grouped and started to play again.  More great midfield play from Danny saw Eyvindur blast one into the arms of the keeper, Struan fired just over, Kjartan had a rocket shot saved.  This was much better.  Suddenly we relaxed.  Kjartan played the ball through to Danny who cut the ball back to Struan who fired the ball home first time from a tight angle.  Yahoo.  2-3 RED.

The game then became very feisty!  Oxgangs tackling grew in ferocity but the Red team continued to play well and soon had a fourth goal to celebrate.  A free kick on the left after Kjartan was fouled was played into the box, the ball was half cleared to Danny who stepped inside one player and fired the ball into the bottom corner.  Great, great, great finish.  2-4 RED.

With the RED team firmly on top now the ref blew the full-time whistle.  A great win for RED team over a good Oxgangs team.  2-4 RED FULL-TIME.

Well played to the entire Red squad Keir, Jack, Robert, Hector, Eyvindur, Danny, Kjartan and Struan.

MATCH REPORT : BLUE away to Liberton, 26th March 2011

Match Reporter Richard takes up the story...

So off to Double Hedges on a nice bright morning. Spring not quite arrrived and there is still enough of a chill in the air to make property paul regret his rash decision  not to don usual thermals, hat and three jackets. Team lines up in a familiar formation of Coll in goal, Joe and Murdo at the back, a midfield trio of Hamish, Alex and Sam with Jude the hitman up front Sasha starting off on the bench.

Sciennes got off to a cracking start and were two up with only a few minutes played. Hamish netted first after turning two defenders and finishing smartly in the bottom left hand corner.  Then Alex with probably the most fortuitous goal he has scored for the blues. A high punt into the the penalty area misses everybody, takes one bounce and then nestles in the roof of the net. They all count.

It was all blues for the first 10 minutes or so with numerous chances to increase the lead. The team were playing well and had a number of shots at goal. One effort was cleared off the line (although it looked well over from where I was standing). It was looking like it could be a bit of a massacre. But out of nowhere Liberton hit a long ball that took the blues defence out of the game. Their forward ran on and finished well. 2-1. The game became a bit of a midfield scrap at this point with the blues struggling to come to the terms with the rather tight pitch. Joe and Murdo at the back were  called upon more often to break up attacks as Liberton showed they had a few decent players and began to threaten more. One break up the right wing looked particularly dangerous with Liberton having men in the box and the blues defence caught out of position but Coll manage to block the cross and Sasha tidied up.

The blues were still making chances and Jude shot wide on 20 minutes after good work from Alex was followed by an excellent cross.

Then that rarest of things a headed goal. Nice cross which Jude meets from a yard out and the blues extend their lead. But almost immediately blues defensive frailties were exposed after some 'schoolboy' defending  Liberton were level. 3-2.

Sciennes respond well and Sasha has a great run brutally curtailed by a very dodgy tackle. Blues coaches shout for a foul but the ref  waves away their appeals.

Then from a throw in on the left touchline the blues defenders, despite the blues coaches frantic cries to get 'goalside', are caught on the wrong side of the attackers. The throw goes over their heads and the Liberton attacker runs on and manages to slide the ball past the outrushng Coll. 3-3 would you believe.

It was nearly half-time when the best goal of the match so far was scored. Coll rolled the ball out to Jude. Jude found alex on the left who danced off up the wing leaving a couple of defenders in his wake. His powered low cross into the back post was met perfectly by Hamish who buried the ball confidently.    Half-time 4-3. Blimey!

Half-tme team talk consisted of an explanation of the term 'goal-side'.

2nd half kicked off with some team changes. Sam swapped with Coll in goal and Alex and Jude dropped into defence. Liberton ambitiously tried a shot direct from kick off showing they were feeling confident.

Blues started well with Sasha making some good runs. Hamish had a chance and then Coll just failed to steer a clearance goalwards, the ball sliding just the wrong side of the left hand post. The first foul of the match was rightly awarded when Joe was cut down in midfield. Ball into box came to nothing.

Liberton then hit the post and were unlucky not to score. But moments later they do as a long shot from midfield is well saved by Sam who cannot prevent the Liberton player following up and scoring. 4-4.

What turns out to be the winner is scored by Alex. Received the ball near the left hand corner flag. Is pursued by two defenders but twists and turns, eventually doubles back and fires in a shot with ....wait for it....his RIGHT foot. It takes a very slight deflection and creeps inside the right hand post. 5-4. Get in there!

The game become very tense with Liberton exerting a lot of pressure and the Blues happy just to hang on. Alex comes in for some rough treatment and is left in a crumpled heap on the grass after being felled by Liberton's impressive pony-tailed midfield enforcer a few minutes from full time. This player is more Mandy Carroll than Andy Carroll though. Neve (for that was her name) is asked to apologise by the Liberton coach which she does very sweetly and the game moves on.

Both teams have further chances to score. Murdo comes close and the Liberton goalie has the save of the match when amazingly he manages to push a blockbuster shot onto the bar from point blank range when a goal looked certain. Hat's off to the Liberton goalie!

Sam takes the ball down the wing in the last moments before the ref blows the final whistle.

An enjoyable game for the the spectator with some cracking goals. In the end I think the blues deserved the win. Liberton were a strong team with a couple of talented individuals and after a slow start came on very strong. We played some great stuff and at times passed the ball around impressively. Looking forward to next weeks game for more of the same..

Well done everyone.

MATCH REPORT : YELLOW away to Clermiston, 26th March 2011

Match Reporter Ron takes up the story...


It was a bright spring morning and the yellows approached their away fixture with Clermiston with renewed hope and a spring in their steps.  They astonished the coaching staff by asking for an exercise that let them practice passing in the warm up. Surely this must be the signal for the dawning of a new era.

They must have felt like East Fife entering the San Siro as they familiarised themselves with the pitch, lines everywhere and not a cone insight. What strange game was played here?

Ron (or the special one, as he is sometimes known) laid out his tactical plans as tension rose for a friendly game split into four quarters.

The team was set out with the ever reliable Freddie in goals, a solid looking back three of Dawood, and the two Joes, and an industrious, committed and skilful front three of Aidan, Connor, and Owen (the goal machine). Held in reserve to make their telling interventions later were Matthew and Feodor

The team started brightly and were rewarded when Owen broke free of his marker to run on a slot home the opening goal with a cool right foot finish.  With confidence rising Owen went on to “picked the  pocket “ of the Clermiston central defender, before running on to finish with his left foot this time. Is there nothing his lad cannot do! 0-2 at the end of the first quarter with the defence looking rock solid and able to deal with anything the opposition could throw at them.

2^nd quarter and with the special one keen not to rest on his laurels Matthew and  Feodor came on for the two Joes in a tactical reshuffle. Both settling quickly into the game and performing well. With confidence growing the yellow team were starting to out pass their opponents. Playing flowing football their passes traced an intricate pattern across the green sward. A scintillating move culminated in Aidan cutting in from the wide right to provide a low driven cross which was expertly converted by Matthew.  Alas at this point euphoria and over confidence (let’s face it, they are not used to being 3-0 up) got the better of the yellows and concentration went. Clermiston came back into the game with a well taken goal just at the end of the second Quarter.

The 3^rd Quarter saw further tactical refinements with the industrious Connor and Aidan being rested. The shrewd tactical changes quickly paid dividends as the yellows ran riot.  There was a fine finish from Dawood who had burst forward as part of his marauding mid field role, and latched onto a slide rule pass before beating the keeper. This was followed by Owen completing his hat trick, and not satisfied with that went on to back another one. Is this boy’s thirst for goals truly insatiable?! Both fine finishes. (He had been told before the start that if he scored less than three he was walking home. So it looks like he’s booked a lift next week as well). Yellows in complete control and playing some of the best passing football they have ever produced.

The 4th quarter saw even further tactical refinements (bit of OCD about this “special one “if you ask me). Feodor took over between the sticks, and performed well, leaving Freddie to make his customary surging runs in the outfield. Joseph Bartlett remained the rock at the heart of the defence, and Joe R put in his usual uncompromising shift in midfield and defence, despite having to leave the field briefly for an injury, with his distribution of the ball being very good. Owen produced yet another fine strike for his 5^{th (}yes, his thirst for goals is insatiable) and the teams 7^th. Clermiston carried on bravely and were rewarded with a late goal.

 7-2 to the yellows and spring is in the air!