Management thoughts on an Extra-Time win at Gala

Posted on Sunday, August 22nd, 2010

Mike says -

“First of all any plaudits from the game must go to the home side. With two or three experienced players and a lot of young legs Gala defended stoutly in the first half against waves of attack, scored two early goals in the second (the first a peach from their point of view) and then thankfully tired as we turned on the pressure. Paulo was immence as was Waldie beside him, Henson in goal did very well in the second half and extra time, I like the look of young Smith and McBride in midfield while Anderson was always a handful up front. Fraser and Ally must be looking forward to a successful season.

For our part it was hard to be critical of the boys at half-time. We’d preached respecting the opposition and playing at our tempo before the game and we certainly took the game to Gala in the first half. Omar was doing his Walcott (on a good day) impression and it appeared only a matter of time before we scored. We weren’t firing on all cylinders up front but we also weren’t getting many breaks. We had umpteen balls delivered into the box mostly from the right but not once did the delivery or subsequent second and third ball drop at a Spartan’s foot or head. Although we had the territorially advantage and the majority of the ball, the Gala keeper never had a real save to make in the first half and it finished 0-0.

Sam and I and encouraged the boys to keep the pace up, provide a bit more movement in the box and not to be frightened to have a pop at goal whenever we could. 12 minutes in and we’re 2-0 down.  By this time Graeme Ford (a good friend of mine who once marked Paul Mason out of an Aberdeen v Arbroath reserve game for me a long, long time ago) was on the park and I was thinking “is this going to be one of these days?” and ”how am I going to face Graeme’s brother?”. Thankfully our boys kept the faith and more importantly kept the pace of the game up. The Gala keeper was being called into action more and more and when Omar equalised with 12 minutes to go we might have won the game in 90 minutes.  As it was it took us 120 minutes and the happiest people at the game were the Vale committee as they watched our tired players leave the field.

Danny was still unavailable yesterday and Alex King suffered for his heroic efforts playing with an injury at Stirling. Sivie and Donal were struggling before the game and Chris Smith has a problem with his Achilles. Jorge chose a right good time to go elsewhere to look for a game.

Over the piece Sam and I can’t be unhappy with the effort and desire we showed yesterday. The guys who came in put in a good shift and Sam and I will check the fitness situation of all the players before we pick a team for the Vale on Tuesday.

More of that later.”

Mike