Management thoughts on a historic day at Innerleithen.

Posted on Sunday, May 15th, 2011

Mike says –

“I think we made a little piece of history yesterday. With only a home cup game and one or possibly two Cup Finals at neurtal venues to play the boys have now completed two full seasons of East of Scotland fixtures without a defeat away from home. You have to go back to Lothian Thistle’s 4-2 victory (Kevin Sivewright assisted) in April 2009 since we have lost a competitive game against East of Scotland opposition on their own ground. A remarkable achievement and one the players should be really proud of. 

The game was very even in the first half yesterday and it wasn’t played like an end of season game as both teams went for it.  The Vale play the ball out from the back, through midfield and have strength and pace up front. Everything changed on 52 minutes when the The Vale pulled a goal back to make it 2-1. Instead of being a catalyst for a come back they got a player sent off before the kick off was taken and that gave us the upper hand. Two quick goals with just over quarter of an hour to go and we were thinking about Stirling and the King Cup Final on Wednesday.

Now here I seemingly owe quite a few people an apology. If I was self indulgent and disrespectful to anyone by putting myself on with fifteen to go I unreservedly apologize. A bit of background though. With the season coming to a close our squad is getting smaller hence our reliance on help from our Under 19’s. After the Heriot-Watt game on Tuesday we asked Alex Cunningham for two players as cover for yesterday. Alex King and David Etale were injured and we wanted to rest Keith McLeod with his hernia problem for the Stirling game. Even when Stewart Fowlie asked to be excused for family commitments on Thursday we had three outfield subs with Cloudie as back up. Chris Smith phoned around 11.30 yesterday morning and called off sick so I immediately called Clouide to bring his boots with him. As it transpires he was feeling his stomach problem so despite being named as a substitute he didn’t strip leaving goalie Craig McGarrie, two boys and myself on the bench.

Several players are carrying knocks, one or two have tight hamstrings and we have a midfield player on 15 disciplinary points. Andrew Sinclair had already replaced the injured Donal Henretty, we had just gone 4-1 up against 10 men so 2 midfield players, one on 15 points and another with a tight hamstring were replaced by Jordon Finnie and myself. Mike Irving could have replaced this old man on the bench but his wife is pregnant and overdue so he had his running shoes on for the day.

As I say I seemingly upset quite a few but at least they could raise a glass to the broken nose I got for my troubles in my 15 minute cameo. I won’t be stripping at Falkirk Stadium on Wednesday. More of that later.””   

Mike