Before we make the 187 mile journey north to the Moray Firth to meet Elgin in the replay our Reserves won 1-0 at Hillfield Swifts Res, David Churchill with his 2nd goal in 2 days.
Steve Docherty, who hasn’t really featured this season up front is out for 6-7 weeks with a thigh strain sustained in the above game.
I’ve had one of those “x has shown remarkable improvements” emails through regarding Kieran Balfour. I’ve also started getting contract renewal emails so will need to look at those soonish for the best players.
So – Elgin City again – We’re going to go for it – High Press, Positive mindset, may the Devil take the Hindmost etc. etc. with a game v Partick Thistle at stake for the winners.
Glasgow & Lumsden team up as a PF/AF, Cairney back in as an AP. Mair & Gibb back as wingbacks, the 3 CB’s back together, maybe for one last hurrah before we start with our Wingplay tactic. Lets give it a bloody good go! Elgin start with the same 4-2-3-1.
HT Elgin City 0 Civil Service 1 (Cairney 45+1)
A slowish start, with both sides having decent chances, though Elgin were being caught offside lots. And then in injury time the breakthrough – Gibb hit a crossfirld ball to Mair, whose cross found Cairney at the near post, who headed home smartly to make it 1-0 to Civil Service. I’d previously taken the Pass Into Space instruction off, made the keeper distribute to full backs and centre backs and slowed the tempo down a notch. 1-0 at HT, very pleased with the boys. We know its going to be tough to keep this up though. McVitie has come off for MacEwan, most probably will sub the wingbacks for fresh legs at some point too.
FT Elgin City 3 (Cameron pen 53, Macadie 67, Brotherston 90) Civil Service 1 (Cairney 45+1) Att 454 (14 Away)
Ok – A Penalty given against Niang for a non-trip after 52 minutes – Cameron converted to make it 1-1, but it came from an earlier mistake from Cairney. Both Wing-Backs subbed off, we go again. And then it was pretty much all Elgin, and they made it 2-1 in the 67th minute after a deep cross found Macadie. We pushed on, had some superb chances that should have been put away but as the game got stretched Elgin got more space and made it 3-1 in the last minute of normal time, Brotherston getting between the lines to score. Gutted, 3-1 it finished. Now to try and push-on in the league with a new tactic.
Next up is a tough game v Cumbernauld in 4 days, but there have been a few league games today also.
7th, but with a game in hand now on most, so could go as high as 2nd with a win. Queen’s Park look ominous now though. See you soon.