Camelon Juniors ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camelon_Juniors_F.C. ) play at Carmuirs Park (seen above) in Camelon – just west of Falkirk on the banks of the Forth & Clyde Canal and within a few hundred yards of the famous Falkirk Wheel. The currently (19/20) ply their trade in the East of Scotland Premier Division, one step below the Lowland League, and in 18/19 they were in the East Of Scotland Conference C. As such this should be easy enough, but with our form as it is I just don’t know. They did beat BSC Glasgow 3-1 in the last round in November though, the game after we beat BSC 1-0. We will be without ever-present Mark McConnell and Clappers through suspension.
Our Reserves Manager Gerry Fleming is now the new manager of Strathspey Thistle in the Highland league. They currently sit 17th, and would be 18th & bottom if it weren’t for Fort William’s points deduction, so good luck to him, I hope it goes well. This has opened up the Reserves Manager role, and we have offered the job to a legend of Scottish Football – you’ll have to wait, maybe to the next post to see if he took the role at £30/wk 🙂
We start with the Control possession tactic, but with a few tweaks (Countering & Pressing) to try and capitalise on our fitness and speed.
Jordan Garden gets a game as does Johnny Devers. Milligan is in for the banned McConnell. Camelon are playing a 4-4-1-1. Lets go.
HT Camelon 1 (McCroary 27) Civil Service 1 (Barras 3)
Camelon started the game like a Falkirk Barcelona but in the next highlight and the 3rd minute a lovely cross from Newall found Barras unmarked at the back post and he finished on the volley. Soon after we hit the bar. But in the 27th minute a cross found McCroary unmarked at the back post and he fired home to make it 1-1. We are tweaking the tactic for the 2nd half – Cairney is on for Devers and moves to the Number 10 – McVitie moves up to BWM Defend in Central Midfield with Balfour initially as the BBM. We’ve moved back to Balanced with a little bit less urgency on the pressing.
FT Camelon 1 (McCroary 27) Civil Service 3 (Barras 3,66,82) Att 92 (1 Away)
A fairly even start to the second half, we made a double change, Faye on for Mair (Swap sides with Barras) and Churchill on for Balfour, and 4 minutes later the breakthrough – a Faye cross found Barras at the far post and he powered home a header – 2-1. Camelon kept on pressing but Barras got his hat-trick in the 82nd minute, taking the ball into the box and finishing well in the bottom left of the goal. 3-1 it finished, and we have a semi-final place booked. Solid. Barras was exceptional today.
Youth Intake – Blah, blah, blah, Golden Generation blah, blah, blah
This needs fixing in FM20. Might keep Jamie Innes and Eddie Kirkwood, I’ll wait until after the trial game.
Gutted – Apparently we don’t need a Reserve Team manager – Ally McCoist(!) was willing to come in at £30/wk 🙂 🙂 🙂
South Challenge Cup Semi Final Draw – We get the only East of Scotland conference side left, Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic at Home on Wed 10th April. Bonnyrigg gained promotion to the Lowland League for 19/20 and are top as I type and beat Stirling Uni on pens in the Quarters. If we can win we will play the winners of Gala Fairydean and Vale of Leithen in the Final.
Its 10 days until our possibly-title-deciding match at Home to BSC Glasgow, lets get ready 🙂