So a week after our creditable draw we host Annan at Christie Gillies Park. We’ve never been to the 3rd Round of the Scottish Cup (This is just our 3rd year competing in it) so a win here would be a little bit of history for the club, plus sets up a trip up the East coast to Montrose, which would be a really good test.
On Wednesday 24th our Ressies lost 7-0 away to Dunfermline Res, Aberdeen loanee Bruce Anderson scoring 5 goals – Scouting in progress š Onto the replay.
I’m giving Mackay the game in place of Mair at AML, Barras in for Faye at AMR, Devers as Advanced Playmaker in for McCulloch and McVitie in for Balfour as a Supporting CM. I’m also staying Positive rather than Balanced – we really want to get a result before extra time. Having Devers as an AP rather than McCulloch as a DLP is an attempt to take the game a bit more to Annan. I trust the defence to stay strong even if there is a little less help from Midfield. This will be Clappers’ last game before his 2-match league ban so I’m expecting him to run himself into the ground. Annan are staying 4-4-2 as well, so hoping our little tweaks will be positive rather than negative. Lets go.
HT Civil Service 0 Annan 1 (Wilson 45+1)
A bright start again, the Strollers had a lovely chance after 6 minutes, a shot from Barras pulling a great save out of the Annan keeper McAdams, who kept Annan in the game in the first half. However just into injury time a cross from Johnston found Wilson unmarked at the back post for Annan to make to 1-0. Again its the inability to put the ball away that is holding us back. A few changes are needed to break down the Annan back line.
FT Civil Service 0 Annan 2 (Wilson 45+1, 74) Att 96 (15 Away)
It wasn’t to be unfortunately. We really pushed and had some good chances, but when Clappers got himself sent off AGAIN (This one was a horror two-footed challenge right through the back of the Annan player – 69th minute – A weeks wage fine for that) we were really up against it, and just a few minutes later Wilson again was free at the back post to finish through Donaldson, who flapped a bit to be honest. I wasn’t hard on the guys, they are a league above and near top of that league and we were pretty level with them over 2 games which looks really positive for the near-future.
One cup run over. Lets go and concentrate on the league for a few weeks.