Tags
Ainslie Park, Brechin City, Cowdenbeath, Dumbarton, Edinburgh City, football, friendly, Gala Fairydean Rovers, July 2015, Livingston, Netherdale 3G, pre-season, Real Sociedad, Spartans, wandywatson
Saturday 4 July 2015, Ainslie Park
Well that didn’t last long. We attend our first game of the 2015/16 pre-season six days after the last game of the previous season. Not the same league I grant you, but still. This afternoon sees the pre-season friendly between last season’s Lowland League winners Edinburgh City and Scottish Championship side Dumbarton. On 3 July the previous year we watched our first game at Vale of Leithen as they also took on Dumbarton.
City will be hoping to go one better this season, after losing out to Brora Rangers in the play off for a place in the Scottish League. They have managed to keep their squad together and have supplemented it with the signings of Dean Carse who was released by Berwick Rangers, Sean Muhsin from Spartans and Nicolas Narayaninsamy from South of Scotland side Edusport Academy.
This is City’s second pre-season game, having been away to another Championship side, Alloa Athletic during the week, where they lost 4-3.
Dumbarton only have three players in today’s squad who were in the squad at Innerleithen last year. Taggart, Kirkpatrick and Fleming. New Dumbarton manager Stevie Aitken hasn’t wasted any time in assembling his own team and The Sons have been very busy in the transfer market. There are also 3 trialists on the bench.
Former Falkirk and Hearts defender Darren Barr has joined along with another former Jambo, Gordon Smith from Stirling Albion. They have signed former Hamilton and Wigan Athletic midfielder Jon Routledge and have procured young Celtic defender Calum Waters on loan. Experienced goalkeeper Mark Brown has been snapped up along with Kevin Cawley and Mark Doherty from Alloa. Manager Aitken also went back to his old team Stranraer to bring winger Wullie Gibson and midfielder Grant Gallagher. Almost a brand new side for the season.
Dumbarton also have 3 trialists listed on the bench, although one of them in Routledge. (I assume the paperwork has yet to be completed). The others are Mark Thomson and Perdo Moutinho.
The game today is being played on the ground of City’s Lowland League rivals Spartans, due to earlier bookings at City’s usual Meadowbank home. The pitfalls of having a local authority ground.
Former Grade 1 referee George Smith and ex Hearts and Hibs favourites Donald Park and Gareth Evans are amongst the crowd of around 140.
Dumbarton look to start quickly and Taggart crosses in from out wide in the opening minute, but Donaldson deflects the ball into the hands of Stobie.
McFarlane robs Kirkpatrick on the half way line and heads towards the Sons goal in the 6th minute, but Buchanan blocks his shot. Guthrie picks up on the loose ball and shoots for goal, but Brown holds on to the ball with a diving save.
In 7 minutes, Gibson plays the ball wide to Docherty, who picks out Cawley in the box. His attempt to play the ball across goal is turned behind by Mbu for the game’s first corner. Gibson’s cross is headed away by Guthrie.
A lovely bit of skill by Gibson in the 10th minute before he passes to Cawley who is tackled by Harrison and the ball goes behind for a fruitless corner.
With 11 minutes gone, Cawley has an ambitious long range effort from a wide position which goes wide of the goal.
A good chance for Dumbarton in the 12th minute when a ball forward is flicked on by Smith and Fleming chases the ball through and nicks it past the keeper, but it trickles wide of the goal.
Some good ball retention by City in the Dumbarton half, but it ends with Carse conceding a foul.
A quick break by Dumbarton in 18 minutes sees Taggart race down the wing before his cross is headed behind by Mbu. Gibson’s corner is met by the head of Barr, but he can’t get it on target.
With 21 minutes gone, Docherty is on Dumbarton’s left and rides a challenge, but he is unable to pick out Smith in the middle.
Kirkpatrick tries a long range effort for Dumbarton in 22 minutes, but it’s off target.
A fabulous ball by City’s Allum wide right in 30 minutes finds Carse, whose cross almost finds Allum who had sprinted to the box.
City’s Muhsin is caught in possession after 32 minutes and pulls back Gibson as he heads for goal. Gibson takes the free kick himself, but it goes well over the bar.
As we approach half time, both teams have opportunities to send free kicks into the box from out wide, but the defences are on top.
Right on half time, Kirkpatrick shoots from distance, but it’s well over.
In typical friendly fashion, there are a raft of substitutions at half time.
With 47 minutes gone, McCallum has an early chance to make an impact, but the flag goes up as he sent through on goal.
The substitutes continue to come to the fore when Stobie gets his feet in a tangle in the City goal after 53 minutes and Routledge steals the ball and cuts back to Moutinho, but he can only shoot wide.
Some excellent build up play in 56 minutes by Dumbarton’s Routledge, McCallum and Moutinho, ends with Docherty played in, but he takes a very heavy touch and the goalkeeper gets to the ball.
Dumbarton’s 14 yells with an intensity that hasn’t been seen since the days of comedian Sam Kinison. (Look him up).
In 64 minutes, Gibson gets to the by-line and attempts to pick out a Dumbarton team mate in the box, but the ball is cleared. City escape with a very risky pass back soon after, with Dumbarton players in close proximity.
A sustained period of Dumbarton possession ends in 68 minutes with Gibson getting to the by-line for the Sons and beating defender. He tries a shot which is blocked, but comes straight back to him and from a tight angle, he rifles the ball high into the net to give Dumbarton the lead.
City try to get back into the game quickly and a free kick on the corner of the box in 70 minutes gives them an opportunity. They try to play a clever one, but the defence reads it and the ball is cleared.
In 71 minutes, Gibson controls the ball and plays it into the City box to the feet of Cawley, who shoots at goal. Stobie parries the ball away where it falls to the feet of McCallum, whose effort is deflected wide of the post.
A long ball forward by City’s MacDonald in 74 minutes sees sub Deniran and Carse in a two against one with Buchanan the solitary defender. Deniran though, decides to take the ball first time and tries to lob the keeper, but it drifts wide.
City have a couple of fruitless corners in the next few minutes, but Dumbarton look very comfortable.
In the 84th minute, Moutinho shows great control going past a couple of City defenders, but Mbu uses his considerable strength to win the ball back.
With two minutes to go, City’s Dunn floats a free kick into the box where it is headed away to the edge of the box where Deniran strikes. Nobody moves as the ball goes narrowly wide.
A good work out for both clubs and a deserved win for the Championship club. Dumbarton didn’t create much, but were totally in control of the game and City struggled to get out of their own half on several occasions.
Dumbarton have made a number of good signings, many who impressed today, with Gibson probably the stand out. On this evidence, they will once again survive in Scotland’s second top league.
Although City didn’t do much in terms of attacking against their senior opponents, I’m certain they will be challenging for the Lowland League title again this season.
Full Time: Edinburgh City 0 Dumbarton 1
Admission: £5
Edinburgh City: 1 Stobie, 4 Harrison, 6 Mbu, 3 McKee, 2 MacDonald, 5 Donaldson (Paterson 73), 7 McFarland (Dunn 62), 8 Muhsin (McConnell 62), 10 Guthrie (Deniran 46), 11 Carse, 9 Allum (Narayaninsamy 46). Subs: 20 MacNamara, 12 Narayaninsamy, 14 Dunn, 15 Paterson, 16 McConnell, 17 Donaldson, 18 Deniran, 19 Wishart.
Dumbarton: 1 Brown (Ewings 46), 2 Taggart (Thomson (T) 46), 3 Docherty, 4 Barr, 5 Buchanan, 6 Gallagher (Miller 46), 7 Cawley, 8 Kirkpatrick (Routledge (T) 46), 9 Smith (Moutinho (T) 46), 10 Fleming (McCallum 46), 11 Gibson. Subs: 12 Trialist [Routledge], Miller, Trialist[Thomson], 15 McCallum, 16 Trialist [Moutinho], Ewings.
Referee: Duncan Smith
Programme: £2
Thursday 9 July 2015, Ainslie Park
A quick return to Ainslie Park to see the usual incumbents of the North Edinburgh facility tonight, with Lowland League Spartans playing Scottish League One side Brechin City.
Having won the Lowland League in its inaugural season, last year was a pretty big disappointment for Spartans. They finished in fifth place, a full 27 points behind champions Edinburgh City. To try and rectify this, they have signed Scott Maxwell and Dean Horribine from Berwick Rangers, Leith Athletic striker Keith Murray, David Greenhill from East Stirling and Dan Ward from Edinburgh University.
It’s an unrecognisable Spartans team for me, who saw them a few times last season. I’m not sure if they are still at the club, but I expected to see the likes of William Bremner, Jack Beesley, Errol Douglas, Jack Beacher etc.
Brechin managed to gain a place in the play-offs to gain promotion to the Championship last year, but lost out to Alloa Athletic in the semi-final. They have a new manager for the forthcoming season in Darren Dods, who will continue to play as well. He played for Forfar Athletic last season.
Dods has been quick to bolster his squad with Dene Shields signing from Xewkija Tigers in Malta, along with Kevin Buchan from Arbroath, James Dale from Forfar and Dundee United’s Jamie Montgomery. Several more signings are expected following a lot of departures and this is exemplified by their squad for tonight featuring 12 trialists, including all seven on the bench. One of the trialists is Edinburgh City’s Ortega Deniran who was playing for City in our trip here the previous Saturday. The bench also contains trialist goalkeeper Craig Nelson, who must be at least 75 by now.
We are 6 minutes late in kicking off from the advertised time as the game starts at 7.51.
In the second minute, Brechin’s Shields cuts in from the left and hits a shot at goal which Carswell takes well.
A Spartans ball to the back post in the fourth minute finds Stevenson in the box, but Tiffony manages to nick the ball away.
Some good work down the right by Brechin’s Johnstone in the 5th minute, but Shields can’t quite get on the end of his cross into the box.
Johnstone breaks down the right again after 7 minutes and this time his cross finds an unmarked Jackson, who heads wide of the goal when he really should have scored.
Spartans Grant and Murray have a good interchange of passes on the edge of the box in 9 minutes and claim handball when a shot is blocked by Dods, but the referee waves away appeals.
In 15 minutes, good build up play by the away side ends with Tiffony’s cross being turned behind for a corner by Atkinson, but it is cleared.
It’s sad to see the ref bringing back a quickly taken free kick because the ball was moving slightly in the 20th minute. You would think a pre-season friendly didn’t need to be that strict. He follows that up by penalising Spartans’ Thomson for winning the ball well in midfield.
Greenhill foils City’s Thomson twice in quick succession in 23 minutes, robbing the striker of the ball.
McLean brings the ball out from the back for City in the 25th minute and as he takes it down the left side, Grant takes him out after he knocked the ball past him. McLean doesn’t take this well and words are had.
With 27 minutes gone, Brechin break quickly and Jackson plays the ball to Thomson. There are claims for offside from the home side, but Thomson runs on and as he gets just inside the box, lashes the ball into the top corner giving Carswell no chance to give City the lead.
McLean tries to add to the lead with a shot from distance a minute later, but although Carswell spills the effort, he has plenty of time to gather.
In 31 minutes, Atkinson picks up on a loose header by the Brechin defence and shoots from the edge of the box, but it goes well over.
With 36 minutes gone, City’s Johnstone hits a shot from out wide, but it never threatens the goal. He has more success though a minute later, when he picks the ball up and from around 22 yards, rifles past the keeper into the corner to put Brechin two ahead.
Brechin continue to press and force a couple of corners before Shields has a shot which goes wide in 41 minutes.
Right on half time, Brechin create a chance for Thomson, but he shoots past the post.
The tannoy operator has the crowd scratching their head at half time as he announces that in the Europa League Qualifying fixtures, Aberdeen are drawing 0-0, while St Johnstone are “also” winning 1-0. Hmmmm.
Spartans had been unable to penetrate the Brechin rearguard in the first half, so they will be happy that City have broken up the central defensive partnership of Dods and the impressive Buchan. Johnstone looked lively on the wing and Dale accomplished in midfield. Two cracking goals as well.
Spartans, while obviously playing a team from a good bit higher up the pyramid, have looked a bit disjointed in the first half. MacKinnon has been impressive in defence and I thought Grant had been industrious in midfield, but he is moved to right back for the second half.
There is no sign of Brechin being disrupted by the substitutions though as they break forward quickly right at the start of the second half. Thomson plays the ball wide to Denarin whose first time effort clips the post.
The home side look to make a dent in City’s lead when they come forward in 48 minutes and Horribine finds Greenhill, who plays the ball wide to Stevenson, but his inviting cross has no takers.
Spartans’ Thomson does well to block his namesake’s shot on the edge of the box with 49 minutes gone.
A great piece of skill from Ward then a pass out wide to Dishington sees Spartans win a corner in 52 minutes and it looks like they are back in the game when Malone’s header beats the keeper, but Dale is there to head the ball off the line.
For the second time in the game, Brechin defender McLean gets a sore one, this time from Dishington in 56 minutes. He still isn’t happy.
Murray shows great persistence for Spartans in 62 minutes when battling through two challenges on the edge of the box. He shoots and sees his shot come back off the inside of the post. Very unlucky.
While I can accept that there will be lots of substitutions in these games, it’s infuriating when teams keep bringing subs on after they have just made one moments before, as is evident when both teams bring on subs in 63 minutes, then Spartans bring on another four minutes later.
In 70 minutes, Spartans’ sub with 19 on his back (whoever he may be) plays a one-two with Murrell, but can only hit the side netting when he shoots.
Both teams have unrewarding corners before Spartans get themselves back into the match. And the high standard of goal continues.
Murrell receives the ball in 76 minutes and hits a raking drive from outside the box and sees the ball go into the net via the post. O’Neil had no chance of getting to it.
Two minutes later and Spartans are coming forward again. Greenhill passes to Horribine and from the edge of the box, he finds the corner of the net. After the first half it looked very unlikely, but Spartans are level.
It’s all the home side now and in 82 minutes, Spartans’ 19 tries to play the ball forward, but it ricochets off the defender’s legs and comes back to him, but he then drags his shot wide.
With five minutes left, more good skill by Spartans’ 19 before he passes to Dishington who seems to wrestle with a defender and the ref looks like he was going to give a penalty for a second but signals for a corner which is cleared.
A minute later, a quick break forward by Spartans sees Ward release Murrell, but he shoots straight at O’Neil.
Murrell picks out Dishington in the box in 87 minutes, but he can’t get enough purchase on his header.
Brechin finally create something again with two minutes to go when Denarin passes the ball wide to Tiffony, but his shot from distance is easy for Carswell.
In the last minute, Murrell breaks the offside trap and runs on before lobbing the keeper to give Spartans the victory and complete the comeback.
Murrell still has time to rifle another shot at goal before the full time whistle, but Spartans will be more than happy to settle for 3-2.
A great comeback by the home side when they looked dead and buried, but the aforementioned substitutions certainly played a part in the turnaround.
Ward and Greenhill were much more prominent for Spartans in the second half and gained control of the midfield while the lively youngster Murrell looked a handful.
Full Time: Spartans 3 Edinburgh City 2
Admission: £5
Spartans: 1 Carswell, 2 Herd (Dishington 45), 3 Malone (Number 19 63), 17 Stevenson, 5 MacKinnon, 6 Greenhill, 8 Grant, 9 Murray (Murrell 67), 10 Ward, 16 Thomson, 11 Atkinson (Horribine 45). Subs: Brown, 12 Blaikie, 14 Murrell, 15 Dishington, 18 Horribine, Gilpin (GK).
Brechin City: 1 O’Neil, 2 Tiffony, 19 Dodds (Weatherstone 45), 4 Buchan, 5 McLean (Montgomery 63), 6 Fusco (Jackson), 7 Johnstone (Coll 68), 8 Dale, 9 Thomson, 10 Jackson (Deniran 45), 11 Shields (Smith). Subs: 12 Weatherstone, 14 Jackson, 15 Montgomery, 16 Denarin, 17 Smith, 18 Coll, 21 Nelson (GK).
Referee: Gavin Ross
Programme: None.
Saturday 11 July 2015, Netherdale 3G
Once again we are seeing a team from the Lowland League up against a Scottish League side. This time, it’s Gala Fairydean Rovers versus Cowdenbeath in another pre-season friendly.
Rovers have been another team who have been busy over the close season after finishing eighth in the Lowland League. New signings Daryl Burdett , Ryan Grant, Sean Guiney, Taylor Hope, Ryan Clapperton and goalkeeper Mark Wilson have all been added to the squad.
They were meant to begin their pre-season the previous Saturday at Eyemouth, but heavy rain made the pitch unplayable. (In July!)
Cowdenbeath are playing their first game under new player/manager Colin Nish following the resignation of Jimmy Nichol at the end of the season. In what was probably the toughest second league in Scotland ever with the likes of Hearts, Hibs, Rangers, Falkirk and Queen of the South, Cowdenbeath fell through the trap door to League One on the last day of the season.
As well as registering himself, Nish has also signed defender Bradley Donaldson and Jack Beaumont from Livingston, local lad Cameron Muirhead and Alloa’s striker Greig Spence.
With both squads containing their fair share of trialists today, I expect that the signings haven’t finished yet.
Slightly concerning as we left the Costa coffee shop in Galashiels at 2.30 that there were three young men with Cowdenbeath tracksuits there. Although I’m sure that Cowden have fans all over the world, I expect that these were actually part of the playing squad, and leaving it very late to arrive at the 3G Arena for a three o’clock kick off. Around 100 supporters have made it into the ground in time for kick off.
Apologies on the teams. Gala started with a number 7, but I clearly wasn’t paying attention as I already had 11 players listed for them, and it didn’t include a seven. One of those listed clearly wasn’t playing!
An early free kick for Gala is crossed to the back post by number 7 where Guiney gets his head to it, but can’t direct it on target.
In the 5th minute, Burdett plays the ball to Noble to create a chance for Gala, but he doesn’t get hold of the shot. Hope almost manages to get to the ball but Andrews is there first.
Swann send a dangerous cross into the Rovers box in the 7th minute, but it is just too far in front of Nish.
Rovers’ Clapperton gets to the by-line in the 11th minute, and Hope is in space for a cutback, but he doesn’t pick him out and the chance is gone.
With 13 minutes gone, Armstrong wins Cowdenbeath a free kick on the edge of the box. There had initially been a good tackle by Guiney, but he was eventually brought down. Brett takes the free kick and Amos doesn’t move as the ball is curled round the wall and into the net to give Cowdenbeath the lead.
A quick break by Cowdenbeath in 15 minutes culminates in Swann crossing into the box where Nish is lurking, but Stephen manages to just get a touch to the ball to take it away from him.
The away side come forward again in 16 minutes and Hughes plays the ball into the feet of Armstrong on the edge of the box. He turns quickly and shoots for goal. His shot is half blocked but spins into the net to make it 2-0 to Cowdenbeath,
In 22 minutes, Rovers’ number 7 plays a great ball into the box, which just eludes the strikers.
Some nice build up play by Rovers in 24 minutes when Thomson plays the ball forward to Noble, who back heels it to number 7, but he drags his shot wide.
Cowdenbeath win a corner in 33 minutes which is half cleared before being knocked back into the area where Armstrong sends the ball goalwards with a diving header and it goes over the line before the defence can clear giving the Fifers a three goal lead.
Armstrong almost picks up a first half hat trick after 35 minutes when Brett plays the ball into his feet and he turns a defender inside the box, but Amos is out quickly to halt his progress.
Cowden continue to keep the pressure on, winning a succession of corners and putting dangerous crosses into the box in the remaining minutes of the half which ends with Kane heading a corner from Swann wide of the post.
An impressive first half from Cowden with Brett, Kane and Armstrong very good. Their other Armstrong, defender John, is a bear of a man and will be difficult for anyone to get past.
For Rovers, Bonnar looks accomplished on the ball as usual and Stephen is his usually combative self. The elusively named number 7 has also shown good flashes of skill.
A long range effort by Cowden’s Thompson is the first effort on goal of the second half, but it’s straight into the arms of Amos.
A curling shot by Cowdenbeath’s Johnston from the edge of the box in 51 minutes is spectacularly saved one handed by Amos. The ball is crossed back into the box and Johnston is there to hit the ball high into the net from close range.
Some good passing play by Gala in 55 minutes ends with Hope laying the ball off to number 7, whose shot goes close, but wide of the post.
A clever one-two between Hendry and Spence in 58 minutes sees the former with a chance, but he is unable to get his shot on target under pressure from a defender.
In 61 minutes, Cowdenbeath show good patience in their build up play until Callaghan has a shot from distance which goes well over the bar.
The strangest substitution of the afternoon comes when Cowdenbeath take off their trialist goalkeeper, who hasn’t had a save to make all afternoon.
Cowden win a corner in 67 minutes after Stephen’s attempted clearance balloons up in the air and lands on the top of the net. Swann’s corner is met on the volley by Adamson, but it’s well off target.
Callaghan dispossesses Grant in 73 minutes and passes to Hendry, but the Cowden sub’s shot is blocked.
In 74 minutes, the ball is played through to Spence whose shot is half saved by Amos, but the ball still goes over the line to make it five.
Callaghan takes a Cowdenbeath free kick 25 yards from goal in 82 minutes and his effort is going in the bottom corner, but the keeper does well to turn it behind for a corner which is overhit.
Gala force a couple of late corners, but can’t get anything on target, and a last minute Cowdenbeath corner is equally futile.
While I understand the desire to give as many players a run out as possible in these games, I will never understand why teams insist on bringing on subs in the second half every few minutes, rather than en masse. It’s very frustrating to watch and completely disrupts the flow of the game. This is undoubtedly the worst I’ve seen. With 3 substitutions taking place at half time, the game was stopped seven times in the second half for subs to come on.
Moans aside, this was a comprehensive victory for Cowdenbeath who are the best team I’ve seen so far this pre-season by some distance. I’m sure the manager will be trying to tie up two goal Armstrong who looked very good. Gala looked a bit short of match fitness and didn’t trouble the away rear-guard at all and will be hoping for an improvement in their next game, who are unlikely to be of the same standard.
Full Time: Gala Fairydean Rovers 0 Cowdenbeath 5
Admission: £5
Gala Fairydean Rovers: 1 Trialist [Amos], 2 Thomson (Swanney 70), 3 Stephen, 4 Bonnar, 5 Guiney (Chalmers 75), 6 Hope (Grant 56), 8 Burdett (Howell 84), 9 Noble (Kenny 45), 10 Clapperton (Paterson 64), 18 McColm, 19 Trialist [Galbraith]. Subs: 12 Trialist [Paterson], 14 Trialist [Swanney], 15 Trialist [Kenny], 16 Grant, 17 Trialist [Chalmers], 18 Trialist [Howell], Trialist GK [Anderson].
Cowdenbeath: 1 Trialist [Andrews] (Sneddon 63), 2 Brett (Adamson 59), 3 Thompson, 4 Donaldson (Wright 59), 5 Armstrong, 6 Kane (Callaghan 45), 7 Swann, 8 Hughes (Scullion 54), 9 Nish (Spence 45), 10 Trialist [Armstrong] (Hendry 54), 11 Johnston (McDonald 63). Subs: 12 Adamson, 14 Callaghan, 15 Scullion, 16 Spence, 18 Wright, 19 Hendry, 20 Trialist [McDonald], 25 Sneddon.
Referee: Duncan Smith
Programme: £2 (This programme covers all five of GFR’s pre-season games)
Monday 13 July 2015, Energy Assets Arena
A Monday night game this time as the pre-season friendlies continue and a break from watching Lowland League teams against Scottish League opposition. Tonight it is Scottish Championship team Livingston against La Liga side Real Sociedad.
It’s a while since I have made the trip through to this part of West Lothian and it’s the first time I’ve been to Almondvale under its new name.
Livingston’s origins began through the works team Ferranti Thistle, formed in 1943. Due to league restructuring, a place became available in the football league and in 1974, Thistle beat Inverness Thistle in the final vote.
Upon their elevation to the Scottish League, they changed their name to Meadowbank Thistle due to the electronics manufacturer name breaching the rules about advertising and took up residence in Meadowbank Stadium (the current home of Edinburgh City), which had been built for the Empire Games in 1970 (when it was considered to be ultra modern).
Thistle had many ups and downs but struggled to attract much of a support and a deal was made in 1995 to move to Livingston and change their name to Livingston FC. Much to the annoyance of its hardcore support.
Crowds improved dramatically and the club peaked when finishing third in the top division in 2002/03.
A year later, they were forced into administration with debts of £7.2m, with players and staff made redundant. They somehow managed to pick up their first major honour though in 2004 when they beat Hibs 2-0 to win the League Cup final.
There have been several black days since then with the club seeming to lurch from one financial disaster to another and two spells in administration, often looking as if they wouldn’t survive.
Things seem a bit more settled these days which hopefully will continue.
They escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth last year against all the odds (including a points deduction), so will be looking to stabilise this season. Having the signings ban they were under lifted, manager Mark Burchill has signed Musselburgh Athletic goal machine Jordyn Sheerin, Kieran Gibbons from Aberdeen, Liam Buchanan from Alloa, Dunfermline’s Ross Millen, Alloa’s captain Ben Gordon and Bulgarian Spas Georgiev.
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D., usually shortened to Real Sociedad (meaning Royal Society) or La Real are on a tour of Scotland from their usual base of San Sebastian in the Basque Country.
Since their formation in 1909, they have won the La Liga title in 1980–81 and 1981–82, and last finished runners-up in 2002–03. They were founder members of La Liga in 1928, and their longest spell in the top flight was for 40 seasons from 1967 to 2007.
Up until 1989, they only ever signed players from the Basque region, with their first outsider being John Aldridge, who they signed from Liverpool.
They were relegated from La Liga in 2007, but returned in 2010. They are regular participants in European competition, twice in the Champions League and just last season, they knocked Aberdeen out of the Europa League.
David Moyes became their fourth British manager when he took the reins in November last year and La Real finished the season in twelfth place.
This is the final match of their trip to Scotland. They have previously lost 1-0 to Celtic and drew 0-0 with St Johnstone.
With Sociedad bringing their whole squad for the trip, there are many of the players sitting just along from us at the front of the stand who won’t be playing tonight. Moyes is given a round of applause by the crowd as he comes to the away bench. I’m not entirely sure why.
It’s a rainy night, although still relatively warm in Scottish terms. Disappointing that only 828 have bothered to come along.
La Real start well and a good ball out wide in the first minute by Zaldua finds Muguruza, who gives him it back and he swings a ball in which is met by Capilla, and Jamieson saves well.
The team from Spain are pinging the ball about nicely in the rain.
A quickly taken free kick by Livingston almost gets Buchanan away, but the ball skids off the turf and is too far in front of him.
La Real get a couple of corners one after another, but they don’t come to anything.
Sociedad are putting themselves about a bit, and there are some hefty challenges going in.
In 13 minutes, Gibbons passes to Mullen who creates some space for himself on the edge of the box, but his shot is deflected wide for a corner, which is taken by Hippolyte and is cleared.
A great ball out wide by Gibbons in 17 minutes finds Buchanan, who back heels the ball. The cross picks out Gibbons on the edge of the box, but his shot is wild.
Zurutuza shows great skill along the by-line in the Livingston box after 19 minutes, but Jamieson claims the ball.
Canales shoots from distance in 20 minutes, but it’s wide of the goal.
A great crossfield pass by De la Bella in 21 minutes picks out Muguruza, but his attempted cross is claimed by the keeper.
Strong play by Mullen in 27 minutes, but his pass through to Buchanan is too strong.
De la Bella plays the ball down the left to Canales in 28 minutes and he swings the ball into the box where a completely unmarked Zurutuza fires into the net, although Jamieson did get a hand to it, to give La Real the lead.
On the half hour, Mullen tries a shot from the edge of the box, but Rulli saves comfortably.
Zurutuza has a great chance to double the lead in 31 minutes when he runs onto a through ball and draws the keeper, but he drags his shot wide.
A Livingston free kick taken by Longridge in 35 minutes finds Sives in the box and he meets it well, but it’s straightforward for Rulli.
The tackling from the home side is becoming equally fiery as the half wears on.
Man of many clubs, including Livingston twice, Jim Hamilton is in the crowd.
We reach half time without any further incidents.
Substitutions galore at half time as you would imagine.
La Real win the first corner of the second half in 47 minutes, but Jamieson catches.
In 50 minutes, a long throw by Hippolyte is headed behind for a Livingston corner. The ball is headed clear but when it is played back in, Hippolyte latches on to it and goes down in the box and grabs the ball with his hands claiming for a penalty, but the referee gives the decision the other way.
Livingston attempt to take a short free kick in 53 minutes which doesn’t work, but the ball eventually comes to Longridge who hits a powerful shot from outside the box just over the bar.
Sociedad break quickly in 56 minutes and Hervies passes inside to Granero, but the ball is deflected behind for a corner which is caught by Jamieson.
Nice play down the left by Hervies and Hernandez in 57 minutes ends with the latter’s cross headed behind by Sives. Granero’s corner is met by the head of Ansotegi at the back post, but he can’t direct it on target.
Quick feet by Hervies wins La Real another corner in 59 minutes, and again Granero picks out Ansotegi whose header is wide.
Hippolyte seems to tackle with his hands.
In 67 minutes, Hernandez’s cross into the box is headed back across goal by Ansotegi, but the ball drifts narrowly wide.
Zurutuza brings the ball forward with purpose in the 69 minutes and plays to Oyarzabal in the box, but Jamieson is out quickly and blocks with his feet.
Two of the Basque side’s half time subs, Hervies and Hernandez are linking well down the left and causing problems for the Livvy backline.
White shows good feet on the edge of the box in 70 minutes to create some space for himself, but drags his shot wide of the La Real goal.
Some great skill in the middle of the park by Granero in 75 minutes before he is pulled back by Livingston sub Faria.
In 81 minutes, White uses his body to lever himself in front of Ansotegi, but the Lions striker can’t get power in his header.
Granero takes a quick free kick in 83 minutes to Hervies whose cross from the by-line is met by the head of Finnbogason, but it goes over the bar.
White has a shot in 84 minutes from the right hand side which goes out for a throw in on the other side.
Finnbogason is almost through for La Real with five minutes left, but Millen halts his progress with a good sliding challenge.
Livingston bring on two further substitutes in the last minutes, both with no number.
A great move in the last minute by La Real ends with Finnbogason having his shot blocked by the keeper.
An decent evening without the game ever really catching fire. Real Sociedad look like a pretty good team and I felt that they played within themselves a bit. Livingston have a lot of players who will play with desire which bodes well for them in the Championship this season.
It would be interesting to know what the Real Sociedad squad members sitting in the stand made of the Scottish midges. It was the perfect weather for the scourge of Scotland with the rainy warm weather and there were a lot about.
Full Time: Livingston 0 Real Sociedad 1
Admission: £12
Livingston: 1 Jamieson, 2 Millen, 3 Longridge, 5 Sives, 15 Trialist [Neil], 10 Mullen (Faria 45), 11 Hippolyte (Currie 69), 7 Pittman (Glen 45), 16 Gibbons (Knox 87), 17 Georgiev (White 45), 19 Buchanan (Smith 45). Subs: 38 Quinn, 31 Glen, 9 White, 18 Sheerin, 37 Trialist [Faria], 20 Currie, 36 Trialist [Smith], Knox, Trialist.
Real Sociedad: 1 Geronimo Rulli (Tena 45), 20 Joseba Zaldua (Aritz Elustondo 73), 24 Alberto De la Bella (Hernandez 45), 3 Mikel Gonzalez (Ansotegi 45), 6 Inigo Martinez, 5 Markel Bergara (Granero 45), 17 David Zurutuza, 16 Sergio Canales (Finnbogasson 73), 27 Eneko Capilla (Hervies 45), 29 Igor Zubelvia, 28 Joseba Muguruza (Oyarzabal 45). Subs: 13 Jon Tena, 19 Yuri Berchiche, 15 Jon Ansotegi, 21 Hector Hernandez, 23 Aritz Elustondo, 14 Ruben Pardo, 8 Esteban Granero, 22 Pablo Hervies, 30 Mikel Oyarzabal, 7 Alfred Finnbogason.
Referee: Andrew Dallas
Programme: £2.50