Management thoughts on a close run thing against Strollers

Posted on Sunday, December 18th, 2011

Mike says –

“There was dubiety during the week over the kick off time of yesterday’s game and I think our players thought it ended up being 2.30 because we didn’t start playing until the referee blew his whistle after half-time. Strollers are second in the Premier Division and we knew they’d be fired up and playing at the top of their game and so it proved. They hit the bar, scored and at times ran us ragged in the first half and it took a full 35 minutes before we managed a move of more that half a dozen passes. Strollers played very well before the break and we were fortunate to go in only one behind.

Unlike Leith a few weeks back there was no shouting in the home dressing room at half-time. The players knew they could and would improve after the break and Sam and I thought it unlikely Strollers could keep the pace and intensity of their play up for 90 minutes. Both assumptions proved correct and although dangerous on the break our visitors were on the back foot for the remainder of the game. Having said that they defended very well and it took two pieces of individual brilliance from Omar Kader and Keith McLeod to win the game with Cloudie’s winner coming in the 91st minute.

It isn’t easy to win leagues and it isn’t easy to retain league titles and so it should be. Whitehill won yesterday to keep up the pressure and having played away to Gretna, the Rosewell club and ourselves the students from Stirling remain unbeaten and must fancy their chances. The bottom line is any team on their day can beat any team in our division and there will be a  few unexpected results across the board between now and the end of the season. As it is we go into the winter “break” at the top of the pile albeit having played more games that some of our rivals. Sam and I are happy to be where we are and we’re looking forward to 2012 and our remaining fixtures.

I’ll leave my season greetings to all until after our bounce game against Hibs Under 19’s on Tuesday where we will introduce some of our younger players. I’ll comment on that game on Wednesday morning.”

Mike


Next Fixture

                     
Date: 02/11/24
Opponent: Peterhead
Venue:Balmoor Stadium
Competition: SPFL 2
Kick off: 3.00pm

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