Mike says -

“I’ve seen Heriot-Watt twice this season so when we heard they were playing Forfar on Tuesday Sam skipped training to take in most of the game at Riccarton. My co-manager was impressed. The students played very well against SFL opposition and only lost to the odd goal in three near the end. I saw the Watt win at Muirhouse earlier in the season and I also took in their home defeat to Tynecastle where an early sending off helped shape the result against them. Student teams are never easy to play against and now that the University year has started Michael will have his full intake of players to choose from. We are looking forward to difficult 90 minutes.

For our part it looks like our spate of injuries is finally clearing up. Ross Archibald managed part of the Stirling game last week and both Alex King and Jack Beesley though lacking match fitness are back to full training and will be stripped tomorrow. The biggest plus for us is Chris Townsley who looked to have put himself out for some time after an awkward fall last Saturday. He didn’t do much on Tuesday but completed last nights training and should there be no reaction he’ll retain his position at the centre of our defence.

Our only absentee tomorrow is David Etale who is down south kicking a football for the Army.  With Edinburgh Uni on Scottish Cup duty there is a chance we could move to the top of the league table albeit temporarily perhaps. That is our aim.”

Mike

Mike says -

“We all travelled through to Stirling knowing it was going to be a difficult afternoon and we weren’t disappointed. It was a game Stirling could easily have won but despite not being at our best we showed great character in closing the game out with 5 clinical spot kicks and Flocks great save.

We scored early and got our goal too easily. Robbie sent over a great ball but as the referee blew for the restart less than 6 minutes in I had a feeling that on the park and on the sideline we thought the job was done. It should have been few minutes later when our best player so far this season headed over when it was easier to score. I hope Omar doesn’t play that chance over and over in his head as he heads back down to London today. At that time we were on top and playing as well as we’ve done all season but Stirling took a lift from not being 2 down and we lost our way a bit. We lost our first goal in weeks and it was all to play for at half-time.

Stirling started the second half the better team and had chances to go ahead. The penalty (another great save from Flocks) had the reverse effect of Omar’s miss in the first half as it deflated the students and spurred us on to do better.  We finished the half the stronger team and we carried that into extra-time without really threatening the Stirling goal.

Big Chris Townsley going off is a worry as he’s been magnificent for us. We are waiting and hoping that it’s not too serious and he’ll be back sooner than later. On the other hand it was great to get Archie back on the park and that’s 2 weeks in a row Stewart has come on and looked fitter than he did all last season. We’ve had a settled defence over the last few weeks and Stewart has patiently waited his chance and it looks like his patience has paid off.

Our small squad is being severely stretched at the moment and David is away on Army football duty next weekend. With Jack, Alex and now Chris very doubful for Riccarton there’s a good chance one or two of the Under 19′s will be pulled into duty for us. More on that later in the week.”

Mike

Mike says -

“Exactly a month after our first official visit to Stirling on East of Scotland Premier League duty we head back up tomorrow and try to retain our hold on the South of Scotland Challenge Cup. The league encounter was a very close affair and we are expecting more of the same when the teams run out on Saturday.

I said in the summer that Stirling would establish themselves as big players in East of Scotland football over the coming years and I am being proved right. The Universities sports scholarship programme sees young ex-senior footballers from all over Britain balancing studying at Stirling with playing in our league and cups. They are a breath of fresh air and greatly enhance the quality of football at our level.

Raleigh, Stevie and Ian were still coming to grips with their new charges when we played on August 18th but they will now have a better idea of the players at their disposal. We know we will have to put in a very hard shift tomorrow if we are to still be in the competition come the final whistle.

For our park Alex King and Ross Archibald managed to complete training last night for the first time in a couple of weeks. They will both be in the squad tomorrow barring any ill effects from their efforts. Jack Beesley is still a week away from resuming training so once again our resources will be stretched.

We played well at the Vale last week and it’s consistency of performance Sam and I will be preaching tomorrow before the game. That and professionalism, commitment, tempo, respect etc, etc.”

Mike

Mike says -

“Our victory yesterday was tainted slightly by the problems Keith Stewart had in getting a team on the park but all you can do in football is play against the opposition in front of you. For our part the early season rustiness has gone and we are beginning to find our feet all over the park. Two clean sheets and seven goals in two games helps the confidence of players right throughout the team. Edinburgh Uni have had a remarkable start to the season and all we can do for now is hold on to their shirt tails.

Things settle down a bit this week with no midweek games and two nights training where Mike gets more time to work with the players. We’d hoped Alex King would be back but his heroics at Stirling have cost him and us dearly. The wee man was limping yesterday and it will obviously take a bit longer for his groin to heal. Chris Smith has a strained Achilles which is hindering him at present but on the plus side Danny was able to get back on the park in the closing stages yesterday.

It was good to see Gavin, Cloudie and Deano among the goals. We are expecting a good return from that trio this season as well as a good few from Donal and David. I’m sure all our midfield players will be looking to hit the net regularly and as Chris Smith gets stronger he’ll get his chances in front of goal. Seeing you defenders go up and score from set pieces is always pleasing and Chris Townsley’s chest-in from four yards yesterday was the first of many I’m sure.

A happy Saturday night for all and today our minds turn to Tynecastle who’ll be smarting from their result yesterday. I might just remind our players on Tuesday that our worst performance by far last season was in the corresponding fixture. Back down to earth time.”

Mike

Mike says -

“We travel the short distance to Muirhouse tomorrow on league duty. Sam and I will be reminding the players of our last visit to the Civil Service playing fields at the end of January where we conceded a late equaliser and nearly lost the game in injury time.

I’m sure Keith Stewart would have settled for his side staying in our league after their promotion the previous season but a late run saw the Strollers climb to equal fourth only four points behind Whitehill in second place. Like the majority of the teams in our league Civil like to get the ball down and play football and if the wind stays away tomorrow it should be an excellent game on a magnificent surface.

For our part Sam and I are tempted to go with the same team which gained three points against the Vale on Tuesday. Danny O’Donnell was on the bench that night but Sam and I would have been loathed to put him on. The big fellow was able to train fully last night however and looks like he’s back in contention for a starting position. Alex King on the other hand is probably another week away and we hope to have the wee man back training on Tuesday.  

The season has still to settle down as each and every team finds its feet. I have always been in favour of League Cup sections over the first two or three weeks to allow every team to bed in but what do I know about football?  As a consequence there have been some strange results and I’d expect a few more tomorrow. We can only take care of our own business and Sam and I will have the players well prepared for a hard game at Muirhouse.

Get yourself along.”

Mike

Mike says -

“We started last season very slowly and it’s taking us a few games to get into gear this time round. The Vale are a very good side and when they realised there was half an hour to go and despite creating one promising opening after another we were only one up you could sense from their players and their technical area that they thought they could get something out of the game. Thankfully Gavin’s strike settled the outcome but I sat the players down after the game to explain that teams take heart from our inability to capitalise on our excellent build up play and that we’ll pay for it some day if we don’t score a second and put the game to bed. I’m not sure if that went down too well but the players know I’m right and I also know that someone is going to be on the end of a good few goals from us as we settle into the season. 

We have moved into second place in the league and Sam and I are happy that we are on the right track. We haven’t peeked too soon, that’s for sure.

Stewart and Sean both played well on Saturday but Sam and I went for the younger legs of Deano and Gavin last night. Donal is on fire just now and edged David out up front. Both Danny and Alex hope to get back to training on Thursday so hopefully Sam and I will have a headache picking the team for Muirhouse on Saturday. 

More of that on Friday.”

Mike

Mike says -

“Tonight is the first league meeting between The Vale and ourselves for a number of seasons but let’s hope we do better than we’ve done in cup-ties over the last couple of years. Two seasons ago we only played tonight’s opponents once and that was in the League Cup 2nd round down at Innerleithen where the home side won 2-1. Last season we only met at the Academy on 12th December and The Vale once again came out on top 2-1 in the semi of the Image Printer’s Cup.

What does that tell us? The Vale have done well recently in cup-ties against us at home or away. It also tells us that those players who played against us last December will be coming here knowing they have turned us over in the past and will run out and play with no fear. Also with Robbie Horn in charge for the first time either as caretaker or in a permanent position, The Vale players will have an extra spring in their step as they try to impress the new man in charge.

Sam and I will have to wait until the last minutes before picking our side. Danny is almost back fit while Alex is struggling. Donal, Cloudie, Sivie and Chris Smith all had knocks or strains going into Saturday’s game at Gala and may not be 100% depending on the reaction to their ailments. I’ve kept in touch and they all think they will be available but we’ll get them out for a run and kick of a ball before Sam and I make our final decision on tonight’s team.

Wee Sammy said on Saturday after their victory over Whitehill that the Uni had won another yellow jersey. They did that and after three wins they currently lead the pack. We can’t take that off them this evening but we can get a bit closer to them in the title race. A very good Vale side stand in our way and it’s up to us to raise our game and go for the win. We hope our players can rise to the occasion and Sam and I are looking forward to watching them try.”

Mike