We make the 44 mile, 1hr 15min journey to Galashiels for our last match of 2018, expecting hail and 3C needing a win to remedy our poor form this month. I really hope we’re not a fair-weather team otherwise we’re stuffed 🙂
We beat Gala Fairydean 2-1 at the start of September, and we expect to be facing their normal 4-5-1 today. They are on a good run, not having lost in the league since mid November v Cumbernauld, a run that included a 6-0 spanking of Spartans in Edinburgh so they are definitely not a team to be taken lightly. the squad scout report is a fair bit weaker than ours, with just the one 3* current potential player, but we know this can be deceptive.
A few changes. Hainey is back in up top, Mackay and Faye replace Mair & Barras (I feel the wings have been a bit week in the last few games), Balfour as back as a Mezzala, Johnny Devers replaces McCulloch and plays as an Advanced Playmaker and McVitie replaces Clappers (Who is banned for the next game after picking up too many Yellows, surprise surprise). Leaving Newall in as the Wing back as he’s had a good few games recently. Gala line up in the 4-5-1 as expected – I’ll start Positive but may back this up (Sounds paradoxical but can drag defensive teams out a bit further to make some room) if it looks like the bus has been parked.
HT Gala Fairydean Rovers 0 Civil Service 0
Gala started the game very strongly, I quickly moved back to Cautious, and to be honest we were scrabbling about a bit. Our first shot was in the 38th minute. All in all we were a bit lucky to end the half 0-0 – it feels like the formation is getting a bit stale, I think I might go down the Gegenpress route in the 2nd half. Looking at the stats Gala definitely looked like they hit the woodwork a couple of times, though what I think is happening is that there is a lack of different goalkeeping animations for the saves, as raised recently by Loki Doki.
FT Gala Fairydean Rovers 1 (Addison 71) Civil Service 0 Att 218 (2 Away)
The Strollers started off the half more strongly than the 1st, but Gala came strongly. I made 2 changes in the 63rd minute – Barras on for Mackay and Garden on for Hainey in an attempt to force the issue (Clappers came on for Balfour at half time) but the inevitable happened – Gala took the lead on the 70th minute after a lovely move, Addison finishing unmarked at the back post. An that’s how it finished – very disappointing but on the stats Gala deserved the win. Really need to shake things up – The January transfer window will be very important, plus the dreaded Team meeting is required!!!
The only positive out of today is that both East Kilbride and BSC Glasgow dropped points, but we really need to find some kind of form soon or we will be back in the pack (Now training a 4-2-3-1 Tiki-Taka to try and use our passing prowess).