We make the 2hr 20min, 118 mile journey to deepest, darkest Dumfries & Galloway to face Dalbeattie Star, as I type in 14th, in another really important game for the rest of our season. Dalbeattie had 2 draws only in 11 games from the start of November until the start of January but have won their last 2 games 1-0. The scout report says we should have no problem, experience tells me different.
The day before this game our Ressies played Hillfield Swifts Res, winning 3-0 (OG, Joe Boyle & triallist Lewis Buxton) but Tom Kelly (Banned for today’s game) picked up a bruised thigh and will be out for 5-8 days. However we have no competitive game after this until Edusport (H) on 16th Feb so he’ll be back and fit before then. Indeed that is our only competitive match in February!
We are pressing the Gegen; Trying Balfour as the Box to Box. Fee in for the banned/injured Kelly, Mackay starts on the Left Wing. Dalbeattie line up in the 4-5-1 which is so prevalent in this league. Its a drizzly 5C, Lets give it a go.
HT Dalbeattie Star 0 Civil Service 0
A pretty even start, Barras stung the keepers hands in the 15th minute and Donaldson pulled off a couple of majestic saves to keep the game 0-0. And that’s how the half finished. Pretty even overall, we shaded it if anything. I’m bring Faye on for Mackay, Barras switching to the Left Wing. Think I’ll give the boys the hairdryer and give Tiki Taka a go in the 2nd half. It seems so difficult to break the wall down by rushing at it – lets try to pick it apart.
FT Dalbeattie Star 0 Civil Service 5 (Waugh 52, Balfour 53, McVitie 61, Hainey 66, Clapperton 78) Att 91 (2 Away)
A lively start to the half, then the breakthrough in the 52nd minute – A McVitie free kick thundered home at the back post from Big Kev Waugh for his first career goal and a Balfour thunderbolt from 22 yards -2 goals in 2 minutes. McVitie made it 3 on 60 minutes, pouncing on Foster’s error, carried it 15 yards and finished beautifully from the edge of the area. What a change!!! From the fast pace of the Gegenpress to the sitting-back very slow pace of the Tiki Taka. Hainey made it 4 in the 66th, a beautiful 60 yard ball over from Kyle Fee, Hainey taking it in his stride and finishing in the bottom right of the goal via a deflection. Clappers came on for Balfour and we reverted to a 4-1-4-1 – him as DM, Devers (on for Cairney) as AP in CM, and almost immediately he made it 5 – a McVitie free kick again causing panic, Clappers was in the right place to fire home. A stunning second half, and a real feeling that a breakthrough has been made tactically.
Both East Kilbride & BSC won today – the lead stays at 4 points. We only have 1 game between now and 3rd March (Edusport at Home on 16th February) – BSC will make their game in hand up in that time. 6 league games left 🙂