Before we chat about Regan our ressies, playing the 4-3-1-2 tactic beat Oakley Utd Res 4-0, Coll (Playing up top!), Andrew Mackay & Hainey with a brace were the scorers.
We’ve also had the Scottish 2nd Round draw. We are away to Preston Athletic of Prestonpans, just East of Edinburgh who somehow find themselves 14th in the Highland League (I think this happened as Queen’s Park came down, not allowing Preston Athletic to be promoted to the Lowland League because of team numbers, so they defaulted to the Highland League)
Regan Lumsden (20, 6ft 2in) signed for us on a free in early July in game on a Free from Edinburgh City, and his 13 heading and 12 jumping reach, along with 13 finishing are now being used as a Target Man in a front 2, scoring his first hat-trick for the club in the last match v Craigroyston. he is developing quite quickly so I’m hoping he can really kick on in the league and help us up the table.
Today we are away to Dalbeattie Star, who have had a very solid start to the season, winning their first 3 league games before losing 4-0 to an on-fire Edusport/Caledonian Braves IRL, and then getting a creditable draw at Hampden Park v Queen’s Park.
The scouts rate their squad as weaker than ours, but they have a few good loanees and their striker Archibald has 4 in 5. They have been playing a 4-2-3-1 W (2DM) which might be a strange one to play against. We go 4-3-1-2 with Churchill in for an iffy-form-wise Rory MacEwen, though to be fair Kieran Balfour has struggled as well so far in Centre Mid. I wonder if Paul Cairney is the issue, and players aren’t gelling around him?
HT Dalbeattie Star 1 (Anderson 15) Civil Service 1 (Lumsden 9)
A pretty even start, exchanging set pieces, before a beautiful interception from Gibb went to Cairney, who’s over-the-top found Lumsden, who ran on and scored. 1-0 in the 9th minute to Civil Service. Dalbeattie came back strongly however, and equalised in the 15th, a ball over finding Anderson unmarked, who slotted home. We then went to the 5-2-1-2 with wingbacks, but with Neil McVitie as a DM instead of CB (4-1-2-1-2) as the width from Dalbeattie was causing issues. Both teams had chances to take the lead but the half finished 1-1. We will go 5-2-1-2 in the second half – Hunter in at the Covering CB position, Churchill coming off (McVitie moving up as the BWM on defend). Trying Balfour as a Mezzala again also.
FT Dalbeattie Star 1 (Anderson 15) Civil Service 1 (Lumsden 9) Att 104 (3 Away)
A slow start to the half. Gibb off for Burbidge, both WB going Attacking. This seemed to spur the attacking play on. Docherty on for Glasgow up top. There was some real end to end stuff but the game finished 1-1.
Not amazing reading, now 2 wins and a draw off of top but we are getting chances. the 5-2-1-2 worked well in the 2nd half so I will persist with that. Next up are Gretna at Home in 3 days – See you then.