Under 19's Match Reports


Match Report - Civil Service Strollers 19s vs Tynecastle 19s – LEAGUE CUP
Score:- Civil Service Strollers 0 - Tynecastle 2

Scorers:- none

Details:- 4 October 2009, 2.00pm KO at Civil Service Sports Ground

Report:-

This is the very briefest of match reports given that the author of these reports was not at the game and the information has been provided second-hand.

The Strollers appeared to lack focus and were not on their best form on the day, whereas Tynecastle had prepared well and were clearly intent on getting a result.

While for the most part the game was well balanced, Tynecastle looked the more dangerous. Their first goal was well-worked and thoroughly deserved, and the second was aided by poor Strollers defending.

This was probably the Strollers most inept performance of the season so far, but credit must go to Tynecastle for their fast football and their determination to get a result against a Strollers team which had been showing good form.




*These match reports attempt to be objective and factual, but clearly do give an account of the game from a Strollers’ perspective. No opposition players are ever mentioned by name and no adverse comments will ever be made about anyone outside the Strollers. The Strollers are happy to change or remove any comment if asked.
0 Comments
Posted on 05 Oct 2009 by web master
Match Report - Civil Service Strollers 19s vs Edinburgh City 19s – LEAGUE
Score:- Civil Service Strollers 1 - Edinburgh City 1

Scorers:- Stuart Ogilvie

Details:- 27 September 2009, 2.00pm KO at Civil Service Sports Ground

Report:-

This game followed yet another two week break for the Strollers, but the staccato start to the season simply appeared to have enhanced the Strollers appetite for this game. Edinburgh City had a 100% record going into the game, so the Strollers knew they would have to be on their best form to get a result. A good crowd had turned up for the Strollers first home game and the contest was “well worth the entry money” (as they say) as it was excitement, incident and quality football all the way – with the final ten minutes (five in ordinary time and five in added time) providing a fitting climax.

After an excellent performance at Spartans two weeks previously, the Strollers management team decided to start with an unchanged team. The Strollers enjoyed the best of the early part of the game with the strong cross-wind slightly in their favour. Bradley Scott and Jordan Bate were linking well up front and were being fed plenty of ball from their midfielders. Andrew Cosgrove (who had his best game in a Strollers jersey to date) was consistently winning the high balls and the ever-in-motion Craig Williamson was picking up the loose ball and feeding the front men or the wide men as appropriate. Kevin (Bash) Brown and Denholm Pennycuick were teasing the Edinburgh City defence in the wide positions, but were finding it very hard to make an opening through the very solid Edinburgh City fullbacks.

The Edinburgh City defence was holding the line very well and when called upon their keeper was proving very competent and brave. Half way through the first half the best chance of the game fell to the Strollers, when Kevin (Bash) Brown fed a lovely through ball to Jordan Bate at the edge of the penalty box. As Jordan pressed into the box he dropped his shoulder and stroked the ball by the advancing Edinburgh City keeper. Incredibly, the keeper managed to drop to the deck and clutch the speeding ball in the fingertips of his outstretched hands – and to hold on to it too, despite the ball being at the feet of the forward. A very fine save indeed.

The Strollers continued to probe the Edinburgh City defence, but they held firm, and the Strollers were being limited to some speculative long range efforts. Meanwhile Edinburgh City were creating some good chances at the other end, and in one long spell forced a handful of corners in quick succession. Some creative play from Edinburgh City on their flanks was finding their tricky and fast-running forward in some dangerous positions, and Chris Matear in the Strollers goal had to make a couple of good saves to keep the score even.

A highlight for the Strollers was the way they were defending. Captain Greig Paris and James Lamb (who had a marvellous game from start to finish) were covering the wide positions well and using the ball intelligently. Meanwhile Paul Douglas was winning every high ball in the heart of the defence, and Ross Nisbet was sweeping with his usual composure and astuteness. The defensive performance was particularly notable when it came to corners and free kicks into the box, since the Strollers had lost three goals from such situations in their previous game.

The first half was a story of all out action and half-chances at both ends, with some fine football in the middle of the part by both sides, despite the high winds. Both defences were looking very professional and solid, with both sides holding their shape well.

Up until the last five minutes of the second half, it was very much a continuation of the first half. Both sides created chances, but none had been clear-cut. The Strollers had introduced the partnership or Daniel Gillie and Stuart Ogilvie up front, and this had given the Edinburgh City defence something to think about. Daniel was holding up the ball very well and intelligently bringing the advancing Strollers midfielders into the game. Meanwhile Stuart was making some good moves along the line of the Edinburgh City defence.

Despite the Strollers making more of an impact in the latter stages of the game it was looking like a goalless draw was on the cards. “And the crowd were making their way to the exit gates when…….”

With only minutes to go the Strollers won a corner on the right hand side of the park. Kevin (Bash) Brown whipped in a corner, but it wasn’t quite cleared by the Edinburgh City defence. As the ball was returned low into the box from the right Stuart Ogilvie reacted quickest and curved a low shot into the bottom of the net - a fine and skilful goal from a quick-thinking player who can turn a half-chance into a goal within the blink of an eye. The goal resulted in an explosion of Strollers celebration both on the park and on the sidelines.

But Edinburgh City were not finished, and what was about to happen reflected their fighting spirit and professional approach throughout the game. With the referee’s whistle simmering in his lips a fine through ball evaded the heads of the Strollers’ central defenders and fell to the feet of the Edinburgh City forward. He controlled the ball exceptionally well and pushed into the box. As he was about to shoot, the Strollers sweeper Ross Nisbet slid in to intercept the ball. In the challenge the Edinburgh City forward was knocked to the deck and all eyes were on the referee. He was very close to the play and awarded a penalty kick, and therefore had no option but to also send the Strollers player off (which was a pity as the intention had been to play the ball – but I suppose rules are rules). The Edinburgh City left fullback took the penalty kick and gave Chris Matear little chance.

With the game now in the third minute of added time you would have thought “that would be that”. But the game had a final incident and talking point to throw to the crowd. The powerhouse of the Strollers in midfield, Craig Williamson, played a one two on the half way line and found himself running unopposed towards the Edinburgh City goal. As Craig approach the penalty box he was pulled back from behind by an Edinburgh City player. The player started to walk off the park even before the referee could bring out his red card. Unfortunately from the Strollers point of view, the free kick from the edge of the box cleared the cross bar and the game finished one goal apiece.

The game was a great advert for East of Scotland Under 19 football, with two teams playing good football and playing with real commitment. In the end the Strollers can perhaps feel a slightly unlucky not to have taken all three points.

*These match reports attempt to be objective and factual, but clearly do give an account of the game from a Strollers’ perspective. No opposition players are ever mentioned by name and no adverse comments will ever be made about anyone outside the Strollers. The Strollers are
0 Comments
Posted on 29 Sep 2009 by web master
Match Report - Spartans 19s vs Civil Service Strollers 19s – LEAGUE
Score:- Spartans 3 - Civil Service Strollers 6

Scorers:- Jordan Bate, Bradley Scott (2), Kevin Brown (2), Craig Williamson

Details:- 13 September 2009, 2.00pm KO at City Park

Report:-

After a two week break enforced by the withdrawal of Gretna 2008 from the League, and then wet weather the following week, the Strollers were itching for a return to action. Although now looking rather down on its heals compared to its heyday, City Park still has a unique atmosphere that invariably leads to an exciting game. And the fair sized crowd were treated to just that.

The very early breaks mostly fell to the Strollers as they had the perceived advantage of shooting down the infamous City Park slope. But Spartans defended resolutely and were making the breakthrough very difficult for the Strollers. In fact the breakthrough came after five minutes at the other end of the park when Spartans scored from a viciously whipped in corner from the left. This rocked the Strollers for a short while and Spartans continued to look dangerous from the long ball – especially on the Strollers left hand side - and James Lamb and Kevin Brown had to work hard to stop the Spartans surging into the box from that side of the park. However, the Strollers did hit back quickly through tenacious hard work from Bradley Scott who won the ball at the edge of the box, and played a fine ball across the goals for Jordan Bate to force in. No sooner had the Strollers equalised that they were leading 3 – 1. Firstly, a fierce volley from the hard-working Bradley Scott rocketed into the net and then quick thinking Kevin Brown coolly lobbed the ball into the net from 25 yards, following extremely hard work from Jordon Bate as he blocked a Spartans clearance. At this point the Strollers probably had the upper hand and the Spartans keeper had to pull off a string of fine saves in a row to keep the score at 3 – 1.

Spartans worked hard to get back into the game and were rewarded with their second goal when the Strollers failed to properly clear another excellent Spartans corner. As the Strollers defence moved out in unison (well almost) Paul Douglas was left in the box playing onside at least three Spartans players. As the ball was lifted back into the box he tried to clear the ball but it fell to one of the Spartans players who proficiently placed the ball by the advancing Strollers keeper, Chris Matear. Paul was to more than make up for this lapse with some tremendous defending in the second half when he won every ball in the air shooting against the slope.

Exciting football was being played by both teams and it was only fitting that the next goal should be a beauty. Craig Williamson and Andrew Cosgrove had been playing superbly in the centre of midfield for the Strollers and had been creating chances for the ever-running Strollers forwards. However, Craig Williamson decided to go it alone on this occasion and picked up the ball midway in the Spartans half. He pressed by a couple of Spartans player and let fly a rocket that sailed into the net. This even resulted in applause from the flats opposite the pitch where a few folk had been watching from their windows. Not content with that goal Craig tried his luck a few moments later with another thunderbolt that just went wide of the far post. The first half finished with the Spartans keeper making an extremely brave save at the feet of Bradley Scott when another goal seemed inevitable.

Spartans came out well fired-up in the second half, knowing that the slope was in their favour and that, although two goals behind, they had created adequate chances in the first half. The Strollers defence was put under early pressure, but Ross Nisbet was in his element sweeping at the back, picking up the ball as it came over the heads of the Strollers defensive line. Both Strollers fullbacks, Greig Paris and James Lamb (replaced half way through the second half by the equally proficient Luca Cortellessa) had to have their wits about them as the Spartans wide players were making good runs on the flanks, picking up some well placed passes from their midfield colleagues.

The game was well balanced at this point and it took a touch of brilliance (or was it good fortune) to break the deadlock. From a free kick on the Strollers right hand side Kevin Brown curled in a shot that found its way into the far side of the Spartans goal. However, this goal was cancelled by another goal from a fine Spartans corner, which was well deserved given the balance of play.

Although two behind, Spartans continued to press for another goal and forced a number of corners in a row which the Strollers had to work hard to deal with. Also, Chris Matear had to be lively to save a number of shots by Spartans from the edge of the box.

Danny Gillie and Mark Mitchell were brought on by the Strollers and they injected some pace back into the Strollers game. A great run from Mark on the right hand side saw him break through the Spartans defence. The ball was picked up by Danny Gillie who raced in on goal and cut the ball back to Mark. Some good defending by Spartans players stopped the initial shot, but the ball spun on the Spartans goal-line. Danny, Mark and Bradley Scott were all on hand to bundle the ball into the net, but Bradley Scott got the last touch. And that was effectively the last touch of the game.

Credit goes to both teams for playing such good quality football and for making the game so exciting for those who had came out in the sun to watch.

*These match reports attempt to be objective and factual, but clearly do give an account of the game from a Strollers’ perspective. No opposition players are ever mentioned by name and no adverse comments will ever be made about anyone outside the Strollers. The Strollers are happy to change or remove any comment if asked.
0 Comments
Posted on 14 Sep 2009 by web master
Match Report - Tynecastle 19s vs Civil Service Strollers 19s – LEAGUE

Score:- Tynecastle 2 - Civil Service Strollers 2

Scorers – Jordan Bate, Kevin Brown

Details:- 23 August 2009, 2.00pm KO at Fernieside Park

Report:-

The Strollers fielded a young side for their first game of the season, with no less than eight players making their debut at East of Scotland level.

The youngsters made a promising start as they took the game to the home team and created a few half chances early on. Tynecastle were very quick on the attack and the Strollers defence had to be sharp-witted to ensure that they did not loose an early goal. The main Tyncastle threat was coming from their right-hand-side of the park and James Lamb and Kevin Brown were being pinned back and having to defend rather than push forward and create chances.

The game was flowing from end to end with no team making any particular impression until a Tynecastle forward made a good run into space at the edge the Strollers’ box. He showed excellent skill to cut inside the Strollers’ full-back, who caught the striker’s back foot. The referee took at long and hard look at where the incident occurred and correctly awarded Tynecastle a penalty – and despite a brave attempt to save by the Strollers keeper, Chris Matear, Tynecastle went one up.

This shook the Strollers for a little while, as up to that point the balance of possession had been with the Strollers. Chris Matear had to make a couple of good saves to keep the score as it was. Also, Paul Douglas and Ross Nisbet had to work hard in the heart of the defence to prevent another Tynecastle breakthrough. Paul was consistently winning the aerial ball and Ross was sweeping up the loose ball with aplomb behind.

Tynecastle were coping well with the Strollers’ dual forward of Danny Gillie and Stuart Ogilvie and it looked as if half time would come with the Strollers trailing by one goal. But an exquisite through ball from the classy Craig Williamson in midfield set his fellow midfielder Jordan Bate free through the centre and Jordon fired the ball low beneath the advancing keeper to make honours even at half time. This was a just reward for Jordan’s tireless effort in midfield, defending and attacking.

In the second half the Strollers came out with all guns blazing and made a few good early changes. The introduction of Bradley Scott up front had injected pace and purpose into the Strollers’ attack and this was enabling the mercurial Kevin Brown to find space on the right and make runs at the Tynecastle defence. Both Danny Gillie and Bradley Scott came close to putting the Strollers in the lead, but it took an unusual goal to break the deadlock. After a few corners that were hit long (one of which was narrowly headed over by Ross Nisbet) from the right hand side, Kevin Brown decided to whip an in-swinger to the front post. To everyone’s amazement it cleared all heads and went in the net. With 20 minutes to go the Strollers were one up and looking reasonably comfortable.

Unfortunately, the influential Craig Williamson picked up an injury and had to be replaced, and this seemed to upset the rhythm of the team just when Tynecastle were beginning to push for an equaliser.

From the last 15 minutes onwards Tynecastle appeared to win every ball and forced numerous corners. It was from one of those that they got their equaliser. A powerfully struck corner flashed across the face of the Strollers’ goal and a Tyncastle forward buried the ball in the net as the Strollers defence stood motionless.

Before the end Tynecastle created a few more good scoring changes, but a combination of strong defending (Paul Douglas, Ross Nisbet and Greig Paris in particular) and good fortune kept the score at two a piece.

At the end of the game, although the Strollers felt they should have capitalised on their lead and dominance of the first part of the second half, they had to satisfy themselves that a point away from home against a strong Tynecastle side was a good start to the season.

*These match reports attempt to be objective and factual, but clearly do give an account of the game from a Strollers’ perspective. No opposition players are ever mentioned by name and no adverse comments will ever be made about anyone outside the Strollers. The Strollers are happy to change or remove any comment if asked.
0 Comments
Posted on 30 Aug 2009 by web master
Tynecastle vs Civil Service Strollers (23 August 2009)
STROLLERS GET A CREDITIBLE AWAY DRAW IN THE FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON

Match details to follow.
0 Comments
Posted on 24 Aug 2009 by web master
Content Management Powered by CuteNews