Tags
2015-16, August 2015, Bonnyrigg Rose, Dalbeattie Star, East Superleague, football, football blog, Forfar Farmington, Hearts Ladies, Hearts Women, Kings Park, Lowland League, Musselburgh Athletic, Olivebank, Penicuik Athletic, Penicuik Park, Scottish Women's Premier League, Selkirk, SWPL, wandywatson, Yarrow Park
Wednesday 12 August 2015, Olivebank
The second league game of the season in the East Superleague between last season’s Junior Cup finalists Musselburgh Athletic and last season’s Superleague debutants Penicuik Athletic.
Having seen both already in pre-season, it will be interesting to see how they match up. Musselburgh lost their opening league game by 4-1 at Carnoustie on Saturday, while Penicuik drew 2-2 at home with Broxburn Athletic.
Since seeing Musselburgh last, another member of their cup final team has moved on to pastures new with highly rated goalkeeper Ally Adams moving to Linlithgow Rose.
There’s a decent crowd in attendance for this evening’s game. Perhaps people trying to get away from the Edinburgh Festivals have added to it, but there looks to be around 160 in the ground when we kick off just after 7.
The home side are having a fast start and force three corners in the opening seconds of the match which come to nothing.
Martin continues the pressure with a run down the left in the second minute but his ball across the face of the Penicuik goal finds no takers.
Montgomery provides Penicuik’s first threat in the fourth minute with a ball which eludes Jackson, but there’s no-one there to finish it off.
Ross crosses from the other side in 5 minutes, but Montgomery can’t direct his volley on target at the back post.
Musselburgh force another couple of corners which come to nothing before Barr has a go from 25 yards at the other end in 7 minutes, but it goes well over the bar.
Barr is then close to getting on the end of a cutback from Gay in 9 minutes, but Jackson manages to push the ball away.
In 10 minutes, Janczyk is unlucky when he takes the ball forward and shoots just wide with the Musselburgh keeper beaten.
The home side continue to get corners without threatening the Penicuik goal.
With 20 minutes gone, after yet another Musselburgh corner has been cleared, Thomson finds McLeish on the edge of the box who strikes the ball well, but Bejaoui is down well to block, with Conaghan sending the rebound over the bar.
There’s some amusement when the Penicuik squad members who are not stripped to play and are standing nearby, make a discovery that the reason the “minging Bovril” is so bad is because it is actually a coffee. (Jordan Lister).
Both sides get free kicks near the opponents goal which don’t trouble the respective keepers.
Musselburgh attack again on the half hour and Thomson plays the ball to Jamieson who heads it to McLeish. He lifts the ball over Bejaoui, but the ball is headed off the line by White.
Penicuik’s Ross is a bit fortunate not to be booked after kicking the ball away in the 32nd minute.
Jamieson has a great chance for Musselburgh in 36 minutes when a ball over the top catches out the Penicuik defence, but Bejaoui manages to save.
Musselburgh were made to pay for that miss when Penicuik took the lead in the next minute. A great ball from Ross on the right picked out Montgomery at the back post and his first time half volley is blocked by Hall. The ball comes back to Montgomery and he pokes the ball past the keeper to give Penicuik the lead.
Barr receives lengthy treatment after being taken out by Hamilton in 39 minutes, but he is ok to continue.
As Penicuik players argue with the linesman in 41 minutes over a throw in, Thomson finds himself in acres of space and shoots for goal. Ross manages to block the shot, but Martin is there to smash the ball home for the equaliser.
An entertaining first half and end to end stuff for much of it.
Penicuik force a corner in the first minute of the second half and the ball is headed goalwards, but Myles is there to clear off the line.
They attack again in 48 minutes when Janczyk plays the ball wide to Somerville. His cross almost finds McCallum, but Hamilton manages to get a touch.
In 49 minutes, Penicuik regain the lead. Montgomery finds Barr out wide and his cross is met by the head of Somerville who heads home.
Jamieson races through on the Penicuik goal in 53 minutes after a through ball dissected the defence, but there is a very late flag and he didn’t look offside from where I was.
Both teams have fruitless corners before Penicuik have a great chance in 63 minutes. A Musselburgh corner by McLeish is headed clear and Penicuik break quickly. Gay finds himself clean through but Jackson manages to block. The ball comes back to Gay but the keeper is there again.
Somerville comes forward for Penicuik in 72 minutes with a great run, but shoots wide of the post.
Thomson plays a free kick into the Penicuik box in 77 minutes and there are claims that it came off a defender’s hand, but the referee is not interested.
Some good play by Penicuik in 81 minutes ends with Somerville playing the ball back to Barr who hits a stunning shot into the top corner to make it 3-1 to Penicuik.
There’s a chance to put further gloss on the result for Penicuik in 83 minutes when substitute Cunnison picks out Montgomery, but he skies his effort at the back post.
The home side don’t give up and get their reward in injury time when a long cross in to the box by Christie falls at the feet of Martin who lashes the ball into the net.
A good game and a fine win for Penicuik. Barr was impressive and his wonder goal rounded off his performance. I’ve been impressed with Musselburgh’s Myles every time I’ve seen him, but it wasn’t his night and he committed more fouls than he usually does.
Full Time: Musselburgh Athletic 2 Penicuik Athletic 3
Admission: £5
Musselburgh Athletic: 1 Jackson. 2 Christie, 3 Martin, 4 Myles, 5 Hamilton, 7 McLeish, 9 Jamieson, 10 Thomson, 12 Hall (Gibson 64), 16 Conaghan (Palizcka 74), 18 Bruce. Sub: 6 Hunter, 11 Davie, 15 Gibson, 19 Palizcka.
Penicuik Athletic: 1 Bejaoui, 2 Ross, 3 McDermott (Cunnison 66), 4 White, 5 Young, 6 Barr, 7 Gay (Lough 66), 8 Janczyk, 9 McCallum, 10 Somerville (Mitchell 85), 11 Montgomery. Subs: 12 Lough, 14 Mitchell, 15 Cunnison, 16 Devlin, GK McGurk.
Referee: Scott Millar.
Programme: Free team sheet.
Saturday 15 August 2015, Yarrow Park
This afternoon we are at the Lowland League clash between Selkirk and Dalbeattie Star.
I’ve seen Selkirk twice in pre-season, but it’s a first viewing of Dalbeattie Star.
Dalbeattie Star Football Club was originally founded in 1905. They first played in the Scottish Cup as early as 1919. Despite a lot of success, the club folded in 1948. The current club was reformed in 1976 and played in the South of Scotland Football League. They also began a team playing in the East of Scotland League and had some success there, but when Annan Athletic were elected to the Scottish Football League they signed a number of Star players and they ended up resigning from the League. They won the South League cup in 2010/11 and the following season became champions of the South League for the first time in 23 years. They retained the title the next season with the However they team had a really good attempt at it as they retained the league title with a couple of games to spare, though their long unbeaten run in the league came to an end at 41 games. The League cup was won for the third year in a row. The club became members of the Lowland League in 2013 and have finished third and fourth in the two seasons to date.
Selkirk have won against Edinburgh University, Vale of Leithen and Spartans, and drew at BSC Glasgow in their opening League fixtures. Dalbeattie have won against Vale of Leithen and Gretna 2008 and lost to BSC Glasgow and Spartans.
Dalbeattie force the first corner of the game in the second minute and the ball is played to the edge of the box for Nicholl to shoot, but his effort is deflected wide. The resultant corner is played to the edge of the box again, this time for Sloan, but he shoots well over the bar.
Another corner for Star in 6 minutes and it finds Wells at the back post, whose effort comes off the bar before the defence manage to scramble the ball behind. Nicholl’s corner is to the near post this time, and Maxwell is there to powerfully head the ball into the net to give the away side the lead.
Gray has Selkirk’s first effort on goal in 8 minutes from fully 25 yards, but it is wide of the goal.
Addison finds himself through on the Star goal in 12 minutes, but Martin manages to push his shot round the post. The corner us cleared to Neave who tries a shot from distance, but it goes well off target.
In 14 minutes, Selkirk’s Harley plays a dangerous ball across his own goal in an attempt to clear and it comes to Sloan, but his shot is too high.
Neill swings a cross into the Selkirk box in 16 minutes which is met by the head of Muir, but he can’t keep his header down. The Selkirk defence is looking shaky.
Goalscorer Maxwell is replaced in 20 minutes. It turns out that his powerful “header” to open the scoring actually hit him full in the face and his vision is suffering.
Substitute Proudlock takes a throw in after 26 minutes and McHarrie flicks the ball on to Sloan who is tripped in the box and Star have a chance to double their lead. McHarrie sends Newman the wrong way to make it two nil.
Just past the half hour, Nicholl’s free kick from the corner of the box is tipped over the bar by Newman. The corner comes to nothing.
Some nice build up play in 32 minutes by Selkirk ends with a shooting chance for Gray, but his shot is blocked.
With 35 minutes gone, a nice one-two in the box between Star’s McHarrie and Sloan is halted by a good tackle from Harley. Nicholl takes the corner and Muir is there at the near post to head home and make it three.
Selkirk win a free kick in 38 minutes, although Reynolds looked to go down a bit easily. McInally curls it into the box where it is met by the head of Addison, but it’s over the bar.
Addison is almost through for Selkirk in 39 minutes, but Martin comes out to clear.
A minute before the break, another Dalbeattie corner causes havoc in the Selkirk defence but Neill’s downward header goes wide.
Selkirk’s unbeaten start to the season looks to have been blown away in the first half and their inability to defend balls into the box has to be a worry. Addison, McInally and Gray have looked good in flashes, but the defence has looked poor.
A sore one for Selkirk’s Neave in the first minute when he is fouled by Wells, and he needs treatment before continuing.
A better start to the half by the home side with a couple of efforts from distance, but neither trouble the keeper.
In 53 minutes, McInally picks out O’Connor inside the box and his low shot seems to go through the keeper and into the net to give Selkirk a lifeline.
Dalbeattie are looking strong at the back with Dunn particularly impressive. McHarrie and Nicholl look good going forward.
McInally nearly puts the ball into his own net in 59 minutes, but keeper Newman manages to deflect the ball away from the Selkirk goal with his foot.
A Star corner in 60 minutes is taken by Nicholl and Wells wins the aerial duel to head at goal, but this time McInally is there to clear the ball off the line.
A great crossfield ball by Reynolds to McInally in 63 minutes gives Selkirk an opportunity, and his cross into the box is met by the head of O’Connor, but it smacks off the bar.
Dunn does well to anticipate the Selkirk keeper throwing the ball out in 67 minutes, but he hits his shot over the bar.
In the next minute, another great chance for Star when McHarrie plays the ball through to Sloan. He runs in on the keeper, but his shot goes just wide of the post.
In 73 minutes, Star’s Nicholl picks out Baxter at the back post but he completely misses his kick and the chance is gone.
With 15 minutes left, Sloan takes a Star free kick into the box where Wells, completely unmarked, glances a header past the helpless Newman to restore the three goal lead.
Selkirk sub Hay finds himself through on goal in 78 minutes but he is off balance as he sends his shot wide.
Dalbeattie have their own chance one on one in 81 minutes when Baxter is through and he rounds Newman, but MacDiarmid is back to clear.
A Selkirk free kick to the back post in 84 minutes sees Bruce and Hay get in each other’s way and the ball goes wide.
Dalbeattie comfortably see out the rest of the game to give them a convincing win.
An impressive win for the away side, who had five teenagers in their 14 man squad. Although Selkirk’s defence were posted missing for the goals, Star looked a good team and could have won by a lot more.
Full Time: Selkirk 1 Dalbeattie Star 4
Admission: £5
Selkirk: 1 Newman, 2 Bruce, 5 MacDiarmid, 13 Addison, 14 Hendren (Ritchie 76), 6 O’Connor, 25 Neave, 15 Harley (J Hay 76), 21 Samson (Reynolds 27), 10 McInally, 11 Gray. Subs: 3 Christie, 7 Page, 16 Reynolds, 18 Ritchie, 19 G Hay, 20 J Hay, 26 Collin.
Dalbeattie Star: 1 Martin, 2 Maxwell (Proudlock 20), 3 Dunn, 4 Todd, 5 Wells, 6 Neill, 7 Nicholl, 8 Baxter, 9 Muir (Trialist 82), 10 Sloan, 11 McHarrie. Subs: 12 Proudlock, 14 Ferguson (T), GK Cathro (T).
Referee: D Doig
Programme: £2
Sunday 16 August 2015, Kings Park
The Scottish Women’s Premier League features the top female teams in Scotland and has been on the go since 2002. The league winners (who are invariably Glasgow City) qualify for the Women’s Champions League. Since 2009 the season has run from March to November.
The 12 teams play each other once before the league splits into a top and bottom six. The top half play each other home and away for the title while the bottom six do the same to try and avoid relegation. The bottom two go down to the First Division.
From next season there will be a Premier League 1 and 2 with eight teams in each league.
This afternoon sees a bottom six clash between Hearts Ladies and Forfar Farmington at Dalkeith Thistle’s ground, where Hearts Ladies are currently playing their home games.
I’m disappointed that Hearts midfield general Amy Harrison is no longer with the club, having returned to Canada. The few times I’ve seen the team in action I’ve always been impressed with her ability.
Forfar are without captain Davidson and keeper McNicoll. Former Aberdeen keeper Sangster is playing as a trialist.
The game is only two minutes old when a long free kick into the Hearts box comes off a defender and falls at the feet of Sousa in the middle of the box, who despatches the ball into the corner to give Forfar the lead.
Napier tries to add to the lead in the 5th minute with a shot from distance, but it’s off target.
As the home side struggle to get a foothold in the game, Napier tries from distance again in 10 minutes, but Farrell has it covered in the Hearts goal.
Hearts threaten for the first time in 12 minutes when a ball into the box is won by P McLaughlin, but K McLaughlin can’t get her effort on target from a tight angle.
Good build up play in the 19th minute by Forfar is halted by a great tackle in the box by Malcolm.
A clever one-two by Hearts gives Anderson a sight of goal from around twenty two yards in 20 minutes, but it’s wide of the post.
A chance comes for Hearts in 22 minutes when P McLaughlin wins a header in the box, but Robertson eventually lifts the ball onto the top of the net.
With 25 minutes gone, another long ball into the Hearts box causes problems and hesitation by the defence sees Sousa latch onto the ball for Forfar and shoot just wide.
McLaren has a chance for Forfar in 26 minutes after Johnstone had won her team a corner, but the defender’s header is comfortable for Farrell.
Some good work by Hearts’ Faughnan in 28 minutes sees Anderson latch onto the ball across goal, but she can’t make a good connection and Sangster gathers.
In 37 minutes, Forfar win a free kick just inside the Hearts half and Napier sends a high ball into the box which, to the surprise of everyone, comes off the bar. The rebound falls to Dunbar, but she slices wide.
Napier continues with the long range efforts in 40 minutes, but her effort is wide of the goal.
A Forfar corner in 41 minutes is swung over by Napier and cleared to the edge of the box, where Sousa strikes for goal, but it’s over the bar.
Anderson takes a pass on 43 minutes as Hearts come forward and she cuts inside before shooting for goal, but it doesn’t have the power to trouble Sangster.
Right on half time, Hearts win a corner and K McLaughlin’s cross is met by the head of Farquhar and comes back off the post before Forfar manage to clear.
Hearts don’t seem to be on their game today and this is probably the poorest I have seen them. Forfar look a decent side and deserve their half time lead.
Hearts make a couple of substitutions at half time to try and get back into the game.
It’s Forfar who start the second half better with Johnstone off down the right in 46 minutes where she hits a powerful shot towards goal which ends up in the side netting.
Substitute Halliday and P McLaughlin fashion a chance for Hearts in 47 minutes which results in K McLaughlin rifling a shot just wide.
Dunbar wins the ball for Forfar with a good challenge in 48 minutes before releasing Gallacher who runs on and shoots for goal, but she can’t beat Farrell.
In 54 minutes, Napier plays the ball to McLaren who is around 25 yards from goal. She hits a low shot towards goal which should have caused no problems for Farrell, but she somehow dives underneath the bouncing ball and can only get fingertips to it as it bounces over her and into the net to double Forfar’s lead.
K McLaughlin tries to create something for the home side in 57 minutes, but Faughnan’s shot from the edge of the box is well over.
Some good build up play by Forfar in 60 minutes ends with Sousa playing in Gollan, but the flag is up.
In 66 minutes, Sousa finds Johnstone with a through ball, and the striker finds the net, but the flag is up again.
Summers tries a shot at the Forfar goal from distance in 69 minutes, but she skews it wide.
P McLaughlin plays a lovely through ball for Robertson in 72 minutes, but Sangster races out to smother before she can get her shot away.
Noble brings the ball forward for Forfar in 74 minutes and plays the ball to Dunbar, who finds Gallacher, who tries her luck but it goes over the bar.
Gallacher picks out Gollan in 81 minutes as Forfar come forward again, but Farrell is out quickly and tackles with her feet.
P McLaughlin plays a good ball across the face of the Forfar goal in 87 minutes which comes to Halliday at the back post, but she can’t get her effort on target.
A disappointing afternoon for Hearts, but a good three points for Forfar.
McLaren was big and strong for Forfar on the right hand side of the defence, with Dunbar showing good energy in midfield and Johnstone was impressive up front.
A bad day at the office for Hearts with K McLaughlin looking good on the ball and Faughnan showing plenty of skill.
It still seems odd to hear the ladies shouting “man on” at these games and I still haven’t got to grips with the substitution arrangements in the Women’s Premier League (Hearts made five during this game). I would recommend those skeptical give it a try though. It tends to be of a better standard than you might think and is free of the diving which if often so prevalent in the men’s game.
Full Time: Hearts 0 Forfar Farmington 2
Admission: £4
Hearts Ladies: 1 Farrell, 9 Kidd, 2 Diey (Noble 74), 16 Nicolson, 5 Malcolm, 4 Farquhar (Halliday 46), 10 Faughnan (Paterson 74), 11 Anderson (Summers 46), 17 K McLaughlin (Smith 74), 3 Robertson, 14 P McLaughlin . Subs: 8 Summers, 15 Halliday, 6 Paterson, 12 Noble, 7 Smith.
Forfar Farmington: 13 Sangster, 5 McLaren, 3 Burns, 2 Milligan, 4 Collier, 8 Sousa, 18 Gallacher, 6 Dunbar, 9 Johnstone (Noble 74), 16 Gollan (Russell 85), 11 Napier. Subs: 17 Noble, 12 Russell.
Referee: Emma Hingant
Programme: £2
Wednesday 19 August 2015, Penicuik Park
Tonight sees a Midlothian derby in the East Superleague between Penicuik Athletic and Bonnyrigg Rose.
Following Penicuik’s opening day draw with Broxburn, won at Musselburgh and lost at home to last season’s champions Kelty Hearts. Rose lost on the opening day at St Andrews before beating Newtongrange and then losing to Linlithgow Rose. Both teams are in need of the three points tonight.
Rose’s Turner has the opening effort on goal in the first minute, but it’s well wide of the Penicuik goal.
McGachie almost has an opportunity in 3 minutes, following a flick on by McLaren, but Bejaoui is quickly out of the Penicuik goal to smother.
It’s a fast and furious start to proceedings.
As Penicuik break forward in 7 minutes, Hoskins catches Somerville with a late tackle and the Bonnyrigg full back receives an early booking.
A very poor decision by the linesman in 9 minutes when Janczyk finds Montgomery with a crossfield ball and the flag goes up. He was well onside when the ball was played.
Montgomery finds Somerville on the edge of the Bonnyrigg box with a good pass on 10 minutes, but Moyes halts his progress with a good tackle.
Kidd tees up a shot at the Penicuik goal in 11 minutes, but it’s too high.
A long kick out by Bejaoui almost catches out his opposite number in the Bonnyrigg goal as Grant catches the bouncing ball just under his own bar.
McLaren is the next Rose player to have a shot at goal in 15 minutes, but it’s off target and goes into the burn behind the ground.
Good build up play by Rose in 17 minutes with Kidd, McLaren, Turner and McGachie all involved and they win a corner which comes to nothing.
There is a bit of a scramble in the Penicuik box in 19 minutes with feet seemingly tangled, but Bejaoui eventually claims the ball.
Rose seem to be getting on top and they make the breakthrough in 22 minutes. Young is short with an attempted header back to the keeper and Turner is onto it in a flash and rounds Bejaoui before stroking the ball into the empty net to give Rose the lead.
Some good play out in the wing by Penicuik’s Gay in 24 minutes before he cuts the ball back to Barr on the corner of the box, but the midfielder’s curling effort is just wide.
Gay finds Somerville in 26 minutes as Penicuik try to grab the equaliser and he chips the ball to the back post where Montgomery comes in and puts the ball in the net, but the flag is up.
Penicuik almost gift Rose another goal in 27 minutes when Barr is short with a passback and Bejaoui just gets there before Kidd to clear.
Ross plays a ball through the Bonnyrigg defence in 28 minutes for Somerville, but Grant is out quickly to clear, as both keepers show their sweeper skills.
Penicuik attack in 37 minutes and Montgomery passes to Sommerville who turns well and beats a couple of players before he lays the ball off to McCallum. His shot takes a deflection and goes straight into the arms of Grant.
Turner wins Rose a free kick in 38 minutes after being fouled by Ross. The free kick is taken to the back post where Archibald hammers it towards goal and the volley and Bejaoui makes a great save.
Bejaoui is there again in 40 minutes when Turner finds Hoskins whose cross is met by McGachie, but it seems only a matter of time before Rose score again.
Penicuik are still trying to get back in the game though and in 42 minutes, Ross plays a free kick wide to McCallum. His cross finds Bruce right in front of goal, but a defender somehow manages to deflect the ball over the bar for a fruitless corner.
A first half which Rose had the better of, but Penicuik still look a threat and I would expect more goals in the second half.
McLaren latches onto a long ball forward in 49 minutes a tries to lob the keeper, but his effort sails over the Penicuik goal.
In 51 minutes, Somerville wins the ball for Penicuik and feeds Gay. His cross is met by the head of McCallum, but it comes back off the post.
Janczyk plays the ball forward in 57 minutes and Barr heads on for Somerville, who finishes well, but the flag is up again.
Penicuik do seem to be getting caught offside with increasing frequency in the match.
Ross fires the ball across the face of the Bonnyrigg goal in 59 minutes, but there are no takers in the middle.
Penicuik’s McCallum is forced off with a head injury on the hour, which a few players are claiming was caused by an elbow. I didn’t see the incident.
A Rose free kick in 71 minutes from the touchline is floated to the back post by Nelson. The ball is headed back across by Kidd and Moyes half volleys just wide.
In 72 minutes, Penicuik sub Lister goes up for an aerial challenge with Rose’s McLaren. The Bonnyrigg player yells in pain and lands on the turf. Neither of us saw anything untoward, but we must have missed something as there doesn’t appear to be too many complaints when Lister is shown a red card.
Penicuik have a chance on the break in 74 minutes, but defenders manage to get back in time to block.
With 75 minutes gone, a long ball into the Penicuik box finds McLaren, who volleys over the bar under heavy pressure from the defence.
Turner has a low shot at the Penicuik goal in 77 minutes, but Bejaoui gets down to save.
The referee seems to be making some increasingly erratic decisions, giving fouls that nobody else can see.
In 78 minutes, Ross receives his second yellow card for a challenge from behind which looked a bit harsh, and Penicuik are down to 9 men.
Bonnyrigg are making increasing use of the space available with the extra players and Hoskins strides into the box in 84 minutes and curls the ball just wide of the post.
In 86 minutes, a good turn by Rose sub Thomson on the by-line sees him then cross into the six yard box where Turner and McGachie are free. They almost manage to make a mess of it, but McGachie turns the ball into the net to double the lead.
A minute later, Rose made it three. Whitson latches on to a long ball and ran towards goal before cutting back for Thomson to score.
A convincing win for Bonnyrigg in the end in what had been a pretty close game before the sendings off. I was disappointed with Penicuik after their previous performances I had seen, and Bonnyrigg look strong for the season ahead.
Full Time: Penicuik Athletic 0 Bonnyrigg Rose 3.
Admission: £5
Penicuik Athletic: 1 Bejaoui, 2 Cunnison (Devlin 76), 3 Ross, 4 Young, 5 Bruce, 6 Barr, 7 Gay, 8 Janczyk, 9 McCallum (Lister 60), 10 Somerville, 11 Montgomery (Lough 66). Subs: 12 Lough, 14 Lister, 15 White, 16 Devlin, GK McGurk.
Bonnyrigg Rose: 1 Grant, 2 Brown, 3 Hoskins, 4 Stewart, 5 Moyes, 6 Archibald, 7 Turner, 8 Kidd (Whitson 82), 9 McGachie, 10 Nelson, 11 McLaren (Thomson 80). Subs: 12 Gray, 14 Whitson, 15 Thomson, 16 Trialist, GK Bald.
Referee: Simon MacLean
Programme: £1.50.