Mike says -

“I thought it was a good advert for East of Scotland football last night with Selkirk contributing greatly to an entertaining  game played for 90 minutes at a fast and furious pace. Selkirk have good players and gave it their all in what was their second visit to the Academy in a few days. They are playing catch up having been told to replay two league games but I think they will pick up enough points to see them easily finish in the top half of the table.

We started very well as we did on Saturday and as the game unfolded I was left wondering how long we will be able to keep up that pace and spark about our play given the fixture pile up we face.  Once again John Dodds made numerous great saves during the game but we found the net four time through four different players and could have scored a few more.

A special mention to young Jordan for his first “senior” goal. Not the most athletic of players it’s all the more surprising that at 17 years old he doesn’t look out of place on the big stage. The young man has two good feet, plays with his head up and has a football brain way beyond his years. He shows you don’t need to run around like a headless chicken to play the game. Well done young Scholesy.

Before I turn to Saturday and beyond I received a text from Robbie Manson last night unhappy that his 45 yard lob which bounced back off the bar for Beezer to cushion a header back to the keeper was given to Cloudie by both Craig I presume (Oops! Craig’s been on - it was Cameron) on this website and Grim on P&B. In the technical area we weren’t sure if it was meant or just another misplaced pass from our sitting midfield player but believe me Robbie, the players and management know it was your audacious chip – don’t worry yourself about it.

We have a very important league game with Preston on Saturday followed by a midweek King Cup game against Ormiston which is scheduled for next Wednesday . This is puzzling as we played last night (Tuesday) and play Whitehill in two weeks time also on a Tuesday. They are all at the Academy and we prefer midweek games on a Tuesday to give ourselves more time to prepare for the Saturday fixture. Jimmy Murray is querying the date for next week with the League secretary today and will try to get it changed to the same night as Barca v Arsenal. We all know what will be the better game that night.

We have Preston Athletic first this weekend and that is all we are concerning ourselves with for now. Omar will available and I’ll give an update on the game on Friday morning.”

Mike

Mike says -

“After the teams best performance of the season all we wanted to do was get back out there as quick as possible and try to keep the upward momentum going as we approach the Scottish Cup. Disappointment at how Saturday turned out is an understatement especially with our Scottish Cup opponents having two games this week which will help their fitness for a fortnight’s time.

When I got down about 12.15 on Saturday it was a clear day but there was still a good bit of water on the Academy end of the pitch and with our opponents having to drive up from the Borders the cancellation was the right decision.  We gave one or two carrying knocks the afternoon off and the rest of us took part in a half pitch training game. That gave Sam and myself the time and opportunity to travel through to Broadwood to watch an SFL Third Division match.

Andy Gray watched East Stirling win convincingly in the last round of the Scottish Cup and Sam and I saw them beat Clyde on Saturday as we build up as much information on the Shire as we can before our Third Round tie. They were organised, experienced where it mattered and had too much know-how for a young looking Clyde side. East Stirling play their home games on the field turf at Ochilview and you could see that in the neat passing game they played with their midfield especially very comfortable on the ball. Sam and I will give the Manchester derby on the box a miss on Wednesday and travel through to Larbert to watch the obviously more appealing East Stirling v Arbroath game.

As for the players it’s training as usual tomorrow and the Scottish Cup will be put on the back burner as we concentrate on Ormiston this Saturday, weather permitting of course.”

Mike