Some photos from last night
March 11, 2010
Omar about to win the penalty
Keith's second goal
Management thoughts on a King Cup victory.
March 11, 2010
” Even before the first sending off I think Sam and I put to bed any conjecture that by changing the starting 11 around we in some way weaken the team. Although we left out Stewart, Archie, Sean and Cloudie we were two up and had missed a penalty before Lothian were reduced to 10 men. The further dismissals killed the game and although we scored some spectacular goals I was more concerned about our players not getting involved with the referee and in saving their energy for the more important league game on Saturday.
Lothian, who must be sick of the sight of us, have good young players and I’m sure they’ll regroup and finish the season strongly. There is always debating with referees going on and some allow more back chat than others. In Mr McLennan’s defence I did hear him warning the Lothian management about cutting out the remarks directed to him by players as we walked off at half-time. The rest is history and we progress to a tie at Rosewell.
For our part we score goals from all over the park as a team. I’ve often been urged by people involved with the club in the past to sign an out and out striker (a goal poacher) and someone way ahead in the goal scoring charts is held up as an example. Although he’s more of a target man or leader of the line than an out and out striker if there’s a player on a better goal scoring run than Keith McLeod at the moment his name must be Wayne Rooney. I’ll remember to check the EOS goal charts at the end of the season.
As I say we score from all over but along with Keith, Gavin is also on fire in front of goal at the moment. Despite playing in midfield or wide most of the time Gav has an eye for a goal and a sweet strike which is second to none at our level. The pair of them have scored three dozen goals between them this season and there’s more to come.
Recently after scoring 7 goals we’ve struggled to hit the net the following game but I kept that stat quiet between the Crichton and Lothian games. And although the sending offs had a lot to do with it we’ve put that worry to bed and we can all look forward to Preston on Saturday and another vital three points to play for.
I’ll give my thoughts on that game tomorrow.”
Mike
Big win in King Cup
March 10, 2010
We opened well and after 2 minutes Omar Kader went flying in the box but Alex King’s spot kick was comfortably saved by Swain. We had most of the possession as the game progressed with Danny coming closest when he flicked it over from close range. We took the lead in 38 minutes, a fine move involving Robbie Manson then Gavin then out to mar whose cross was headed back across goal by Donal for Jorge to head home.
We opened well in the second half and scored a second in 55 minutes, a fine drive from Gavin from the edge of the box. Lothian then lost the plot, with three players sent off in five minutes…two for dissent and one for a lunging tackle on Jorge. We then kept the ball well with further goals from Keith 3, Gavin and Ross.
Team: Flockhart, O’Donnell, Hoskins, Gerrard, Sivewright, Kader, Manson, King (Mcauley 63), Henretty (McLeod 58), Vinelli (Archibald 67), Malin Subs not used: McGarrie, Fowlie
1000 Club Winners
March 10, 2010
Oct 09
1. Stuart McMillan £235
2. S Falconer £141
3. John McCabe £91
Nov 09
1. Patrick Hutton £233
2. Neil Cairns £140
3. Bob Dryburgh £93
Dec 09
1. Mark Robertson £235
2. Alistair Arnott £141
3. Walter Martynuik £94
Management thoughts on Lothian tonight.
March 10, 2010
“The fact that Lothian went down to Gretna on Saturday in the South Cup will make them very difficult opponents this evening. They’ll be hurting and wanting to get that defeat out of their system and we just happen to be next on the agenda. Add to that the return of their talisman striker from suspension and the fact they feel aggrieved at not taking something from our league game at the Academy in January and you have a very motivated group of individuals.
As a club Lothian are on the up. They had a good season last time round and are looking to improve on that this term. In my almost 20 years of managing in EOS football the balance of power has changed every 5 or 6 years from the Border giants to a South influence and always a threat from Midlothian. More recently Edinburgh itself appears to be “where it’s at” as Lothian along with City, Tynecastle and the Uni clubs to a lesser degree have all challenged near the top of the table.
It’s testament to how far Lothian have come that their fixture is one of the first to be noted down when a set of games are released. They are a very good team well managed and coached by people who know the game.
Sam and I like to think we know the game as well and we’re ably assisted by Mike, Eric, Walter and Dougie. We have a very good squad of players this time round and are looking to improve on last season. We went out of the King Cup at the first stage last year and want to improve by a few rounds at least this time round. Having said that we are in the middle of 4 fixtures in 2 weeks and Saturday’s was a sapping park at Crichton.
The players are aware Sam and I like to keep everyone ticking over and there’s a good chance we’ll freshen the team up this evening. Jorge who came on and scored twice as well as assisting Gavin to his hat-trick will definitely start as will the returning Flocks and maybe one or two others. As I say the players are more aware than comfortable with our selection policy but to a man they’ll agree that Sam and I can change things round without weakening the team.
We are all looking forward to playing a team who like to get the ball down on the ground and play football.”
Mike
Big Fin Update
March 8, 2010
As ever, the big man thoughts were never far away from thinking about his next big night out. He and Dave Bryce have been planning “The Spartans Party” on the 20th March in Edinburgh’s best venue The Caves for a while. The night will feature a band and international DJ Crutches (Big Fin). It will be a great night, no raffles, no speeches, just a chance for all Spartans teams across all parts of the club to have a party, all friends/partners will be welcome. Tickets available now for £10
TO buy a ticket please contact
Dave Bryce 0754 005 0548 dave@lsetechnology.com
Ross Hutchison 0773 6052543 ross@dunalastairestates.co.uk
Fin Clark 07773 321713 finlay.clark@bigmouthmedia.com
Sunday scores
March 7, 2010
The EoS 19s lost 3 – 1 to Tynecastle in the league at City Park.
The Sunday Spartans won 4 – 2 in the league away to St Vincents after being 2 – 0 down. A hat trick from Phil Johnson with Johnny Ssemteu the goal scorers.
Phil - 3 more to his Spartans goal tally
King Cup R2 Wed 10th March
March 7, 2010
Junior pics
March 7, 2010
Nick with one of the chances we had in the first half
Adam tucks home his first goal
Nick confirm the ball is over the line for the second goal
Management thoughts on the trip to Crichton
March 7, 2010
“Yesterday was a journey into the unknown and because of that I was slightly apprehensive as the referee blew his whistle to start the game. Don’t get me wrong I knew that if the players were in the right frame of mind and applied themselves our football would take care of matters but we didn’t know the opposition and Sam and I had altered the formation to fit the 11 we wanted to start. We also had Chris Flockhart unavailable so Craig McGarrie was starting his first game in the quarter final of our biggest domestic cup.
Ten minutes in and Craig had already been called into action 2 or 3 times as the home side pushed forward. When he bravely dived at the feet of an onrushing forward and received a cut to his eye which would see him heading straight to the A & E of the Hospital who’s grounds we were playing in and you could imagine my blood pressure rising. We carry 2 keepers this season but with Flocks in London and Craig heading for stitches we were left with Danny and Donal fighting over the goalie gloves.
As it turned out, Danny donned the gloves and the rest of the team didn’t bat an eyelid going about their business in a professional manner. Cloudie who’s on fire at the moment, opened the scoring and Gav put us 2 up before the referee finally called time on a 53 minute first half (Craig had company in A&E as the Crichton goalie pole-axed one of his defenders going for a corner resulting in a second lengthy stoppage).
The half-time team talk was about not getting involved with the opposition and scoring the next goal to kill the game. To that end it was mission accomplished as our superior fitness showed in the later stages. Cloudie and Kingy came off as one is carrying an injury and the other is carrying a few disciplinary penalty points. Deano and Jorge went on and the Spaniard started with a delightful flick which sent Gav through to score and followed that with his first cup goals for the club.
A great performance, a great result and as I say above, mission very much accomplished. Crichton were game but they caught us on a good day. They are a friendly club who provided excellent hospitality and it was a great away day all round. Danny, Gav, Kevin (for his first goal) and Jorge take the plaudits on the park and a big thank you to our travelling support who made it more like a home game. With Annan, Threave and Dalbeattie no longer in our league the bonding trips down South are sorely missed.
It’s Lothian next this Wednesday and one or two changes on the park. I’ll talk more about that on Tuesday or Wednesday morning.”
Mike
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