Craigroyston hail from Warriston, a suburb in North Edinburgh, just 3 miles west of Christie Gillies Park. IRL they are in the EoS Conference A, so 2 tiers below, but in game there is no Premier level so are just the 1 level below. They have 6 real players in game.
The day after the disappointment agains BSC Glasgow our Reserves, playing a 4-3-3 Direct Counter, beat Burntisland Res 3-1, 16 yo Callum Brown, Pooler & Docherty with the goals. Looking at the match stats in that game there was a lack of possession so for today’s game I will use a Control 4-3-1-2.
Personally I think the wing play has been ineffectual; opposition centre-backs at this level seem to win over our best headers a lot, and when we do win the challenges up front I’ve noticed the headers are very weak. The 3 in the middle I hope will break up the dominance of the 4-5-1 we (invariably) come up against, and I hope above all hope Lumsden & Docherty can form a partnership. Craigroyston have a narrow 4-4-2 Diamond as well so it should be interesting to see how this plays out.
HT Craigroyston 0 Civil Service 1 (Lumsden 33)
A pretty dull half, MacEwen hitting the post in the 30th minute, before a 33rd minute corner from Cairney found Lumsden unmarked, who volleyed home to make it 1-0. We looked a little bit more of a threat, but against weaker opposition. 1-0 at half time. Liking the 2 up top though.
FT Craigroyston 1 (Gallagher 49) Civil Service 4 (Lumsden 33,61,80, Glasgow 67) Att 99 (83 Away)
Unbelievable – another 20 yard rocket goes in for the opposition, Gallagher in the 49th minute. Glasgow on for Docherty. 2 minutes later a lovely cross from BWM D McVitie finds Lumsden who heads home at the back post to make it 2-1. Burbidge on for Balfour, we go 4-2-4 with Cairney as the AP on the left. And in the 67th a hoof from Burbidge over the middle found Glasgow, who took the ball on and fired home to make it 3-1. Glasgow is looking a real handful up top as a Poacher. It was 4 in the 80th, Lumsden completing his hat-trick after a ball over from Cairney found him just off the shoulder of the last man, and he fired home well. Glasgow hit the post in the 86th minute while clear as well (Not showing as woodwork so thinking its one of those weird ones where the Kepper has saved but the match engine don’t have enough graphics to show it properly). Thinking Glasgow and Lumsden may be the partnership!! 4-1 it finished, great play after Glasgow came on and Cairney went out on the left as an AP.
Also we took 83 fans to an away day!!!
And in the 3rd round we will be travelling to Dalkeith Thistle, based just SE of Edinburgh, who beat Camelon Juniors 2-1.
Next game is in 7 days, away to 6th place Dalbeattie Star who have started the season well but are playing on the Saturday in the Scottish Cup before our game on the Wednesday. See you then.