MATCH REPORT : BLUE at Gracemount, 11th September 2010

Match Reporter Richard takes up the story...

So Blues kicked off their season with an exciting game away to Gracemount at Double Hedges. Early rain had given way to a clear blue skies with a brisk breeze. Warm up went well. A few of the Blues players expressed doubts about the veracity of the opposition claims to be in P5 as a couple of them were huge and had obviously spent much of the summer loitering in there parents green houses with their feet in gro-bags. However, Coach Flavours steadied the ship with some well chosen pre-match words of the 'size doesn't matter' sort.

(Ed : veracity?  Cool word...)

Pitch had a distinct slope and the Blues started of playing up it and into the wind. If we could hold them in the first half we new we would have the advantage in the second. Gracemount started off well and the first few minutes were played mainly in Blues half. Gracemount tactic was to try and play the ball in behind the defence. However, the wind and the slope was making it difficult for them to judge the pace. After about 5 minutes one such attempt was brilliantly cut out by Robert. He quickly released Alex who scampered off upfield and beat the Gracemount goalie comfortably. 1-0 BLUE

Celebrations were cut short a miute or two later when the Blues failed to clear thier lines and Gracemount forward fired a low shot past Coll to equalize. 1-1

At this point Blues were on the back foot and for a period just could not get out of their own half. Sciennes were limited to the odd counter attack, notably from Alex and Jude who drew good saves from the effective Gracemount goalie. Sciennes were fortunate not to go behind on 15 minutes when a ball over the top saw the Gracemount forward run in on goal. His attempted lob came off the Blues crossbar. As the half wore on Blues came more into and probably should have gone ahead. A goal looked certain during a huge stramash in the Gracemount goals when three or four shots were fired in in quick succesion. The Gracemount goalie was in inspired form though. Gracemount had a good chance to score just before half time but Coll saved well at the near post to deny them the advantage and teams went in 1-1 at half time.

HALF TIME 1-1

So second half kicks of with Blues feeling confident with the wind behind and shooting down the slope. Roddy takes over from Coll in goal after a good performance in defence. Almost straight away Alex catches a Gracemount defender dallying on the ball and fires home with his RIGHT foot to make the score 2-1 to the Blues. 2-1 BLUE

The blues are looking the better team now and are starting to put some passes together. Then out of nowhere a Gracemount midfielder picks up the ball some way out from goal and fires in a speculative shot which dips under the cross-bar leaving Roddy no chance to save. 2-2

All of a sudden the Blues early second half confidence has evaporated and for a minute or two we are looking as secure as Manchester United defending a 2-goal lead going into injury time. Gracemount exert all sorts of pressure but great defensive work by Joe, Sam, Murdo and Roddy helps to prevent Gracemount taking the lead. With the crisis averted Jude has a great shot well saved and then Hamish manages to latch on to a pass and finishes clinically from 8 yards to give the Blues the lead. 3-2 BLUE

Then the best move of the match sees the Blues forwards and midfield exchange five or six passes before the ball came to Alex who sylishly completed his hat-trick with a shot into the corner of the Gracemount net. 4-2 BLUE

Gracemount are deflated now and a sharp interchange of passes releases Hamish who's shot is turned round the post for a corner. The corner leads to Alex's fourth and the Blues fifth of the match. 5-2 BLUE

There is time for one more goal from the Blues. A good turn and shot from Hamish sees the Gracemount goalie pull of a good save but the ball squirms from his hands and Coll is on hand finish it off from close range. 6-2 BLUE

Gracemount manage a consolation before full-time. Final score 6-3 BLUE.


A great performance from every boy and the team as whole against what I thought was a really strong opposition. Stoic defending and counter-attacking in the first half and then some really good passing moves in the second with some great goals. Look forward to seeing more of the same in the coming weeks.

(Ed : stoic?  Another cool word...)