Management thoughts on progressing to the League Cup Final

Posted on Saturday, May 21st, 2011

Mike says –

“As I warned the players and anyone who read my programme notes today or my Web ramblings on Friday the demise of Preston Athletic is greatly exaggerated. A team who have only lost twice in their last eleven games aren’t ready for the knackers yard just quite yet. Preston were a good team today. They were solid in defence, used their possession of the ball well and caused us problems all over the park all afternoon. Mike and I were discussing what we might do to brighten things up in extra-time when Chris Smith decided the semi-final.

Jack Beesley and Chris Townsley did very, very well to play at Falkirk Stadium on Wednesday with Chris lasting the full game and Jack over an hour. Although named on the bench Jack had no chance of taking part but Chris had a good chance of making extra-time had it been needed. With these two “rested” we intended starting Stewart Fowlie and Chris Smith as I hinted on Friday. As it was Stewart and his brood have been below par for a few days and he did well to make the bench. That meant Jonathan Seeley and Chris Smith were the two onfield changes and as it turned out they were our two heroes.

Dr Jon has hardly played and hardly trained this season but he’s such a good athlete and the biggest  compliment I can pay him is that Chris Townsley who’s been immence for us this season wasn’t missed. Chris Smith texted me this morning to tell me he was at his mums in Edgehead near Pathhead and would be a little late. When I saw his bike in the changing rooms I assumed his mum had given him a lift into his flat in town and he’s cycled down to the Academy.  As it turned out he spent nearly an hour and a half cycling in from his mum’s and still had the energy to run about for 90 minutes and chipped in with the winning goal 5 minutes from time.  

We now play Edinburgh University sometime midweek in the final. Chris Townsley should make it, David Etale, Alex King and Keith McLeod won’t, we assume Omar Kader will be stuck in London and there has to be a doubt about Jack Beesley. Sam and I will spend the time before the final trying to lift the boys for one last huge effort against a very good University side. Time will tell if we can be successful.”

Mike


Next Fixture

                     
Date: 16/11/24
Opponent: Stirling Albion
Venue:Ainslie Park
Competition: SPFL 2
Kick off: 3.00pm

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