Tom Kelly above is ranked our 3rd best player and is loan with us from our senior affiliate Ross County (So hopefully he’ll be back next year). He’s been a very solid right wing back, averaging 7.16 so far and adding to the fortress-like defence as well as a couple of assists.
Before our very important game versus Kelty Hearts (who played on Wednesday 5th so hoping they are lacking a bit of condition) at Christie Gillies Park our Reserves won 4-2 away to Inverness Athletic Res; Goals from Robbie Laird, Jack Downie, Ross Guthrie & Jordan Hopkinson.
When Scouted Kelty look like they have the stronger squad but their league position (7th) belies that. They have 5 points from their last 4 league games but won 2-1 last time out v Dalbeattie Star. They are playing a 4-4-2 Diamond Narrow so this will be an interesting clash of styles from a width perspective.
Hainey is back in up top and McCulloch is in for Devers as a DLP. McVitie is in a the DM as a BWM – I’ve found having Clappers as a DM has meant he is less involved, but I can’t have him as a BWM fo fear of him getting sent off and leaving us in the lurch….Both wingers drop back to support as well.
HT Civil Service 1 (McConnell 20) Kelty Hearts 0
A pretty even half of football, McConnell’s finish at the far post from a McVitie free kick separating the teams. The Strollers had slightly the better of it from a possession and passing perspective but Kelty are definitely still in this. Expecting a difficult second half. We’ve had trouble getting our Poacher involved this season – I’m going to change Hainey to an Advanced Forward just to see if he gets involved more this half. If he does its something I’ll look to train him towards.
FT Civil Service 2 (McConnell 20, Newall 77) Kelty Hearts 0 Att 66 (19 Away)
A relatively inauspicious start to the half led to me taking McCulloch & Faye off on 60 minutes; McVitie moving up to Centre Mid as a BWM on Support, Balfour moving to DLP, Barras moving over to AMR as an IF(A), Mair moving up to AML and Newall coming in at Left wing back. Kelty were creating very little and in the 77th minute a McVitie corner was met by Newall who placed a free header into the net for 2-0 and his first career goal. That’s how it finished – yet another 3 points and yet another clean sheet – 709 minutes without conceding for Josh Donaldson now!! 9 games in a row in the league now since we lost to Spartans. I would like to start getting a few goals from open play though….
Still 7 points back to East Kilbride who we play next in a massive game. BSC Glasgow are 14 points back in 3rd but have 2 games in hand, Cumbernauld 15 points back in 4th. Definitely a top 3 splitting from the pack.