Seniors lose to Annan

Posted on Saturday, July 21st, 2012

The Seniors lost 2-1 to our former East of Scotland rivals Annan Athletic today. Manager Douglas Samuel had 7 first team regulars missing in a team which saw a number of trialists and players played out of their usual position.

We had the first chance to score when Mark Whatley fed the ball to trialist Alistair Woodburn, however he fired wide. Just moments later Annan should have taken the lead when Steven Sloan crossed the ball into the box, where the unmarked Michael Daly managed to head wide when it looked easier to score. Annan took control of the game and deservedly opened the scoring in the 15th minute. Graeme Ramage rocketed a strike from 25 yards out which Chris Flockhart did well to turn onto the post, the ball however fell to the feet of Daly and he made no mistake this time as he coolly slotted the ball into the goal from just a few yards out. Jordan Finnie and Keith McLeod both fired just wide before Scott Chaplain headed home a freekick for Annan, only to be ruled offside. Annan eventually did double their advantage on the stroke of half time when Michael Daly made up for his earlier miss with an impressive header from 12 yards out that flew into the top corner for his, and his sides second.

The start of the second half was end to end with Daly inches away from completing his hat trick in the 50th minute before Sean Wringe fired just over for us in the 53rd. As the half went on and as both sides made several substitutions , the momentum of the game slowed. Annan sub Andrew Donnelly had a number of chances as the game neared an end before John Grant scored in the 86th minute with a beautiful lob to ensure an interesting last few minutes. Robbie Manson had the final chance of the game in the 92nd minute, he cut inside from the right wing and found himself in the box, however his shot curled wide of the far post.

Douglas Samuel commented after the game: “It was a great work out for us. It was Annan’s sixth pre-season game and our second. That showed in the first half however in the second half I thought we did well to squeeze the game and were much more involved.”

Spartans: Flockhart, Manson, Cennerrazzo, McCuish, O’Donnell, Whatley, Woodburn, Grant, Finnie (Palizcka), McLeod, Wringe (Anderson) Unused: McTurk