MATCH REPORTS

JM ATHLETIC v MELCHESTER ROVERS 20.04.08 @ The Gyle

Spring league summer cup

On a dull Sunday morning at the Gyle the Trotters faced up against Melchester knowing a victory would give progression to the quarterfinal. Melchester themselves required a victory to stand a chance of progressing. Both teams were out to win the game.

The Trotters had 4 debutants; Armstrong at LM, Read up front and the German imports (Kristiansen and Begemann) in defence. The back 4 consisted on 2 Englishmen and 2 Germans – it was a guaranteed to be a solid defensive performance.

The game started off at a fast pace with both teams searching for an early goal. Both teams traded tackles and possession. Melchester forged the first clear chance with their forward shooting from outside the box aided by the wind. His controlled curled shot hit the cross bar and came out to an attacking player but a good block from Myers cleared the ball but it fell unkindly to another Melchester player but Again Myers blocked the shot.

The Trotters then had good possession and created two half chances, one for Armstrong which saw his shot sail just wide and from Muir who couldn’t get the connection required. No to be deterred both teams exchanged some tidy football and it was Melchester who grabbed the first opportunity. A low cross came to the back post and a half clearance from the Trotters full back allowed the Melchester forward an easy chance and he slotted the ball home.

0-1 Against the Trotters.

The first half continued in similar vein to the opening period with the Trotters having the lions share of the ball but were unable open up the Melchester defence. However, Melchester broke free on the counter and the striker managed to slip the ball past Wood in goals however Myers was there to stop the ball crossing the line with Wood recovering to clear the lines.

The half time whistle blew and the Trotters were down. Despite this the team were upbeat and confident the deficit could be overturned.

The second half kicked off with the Troters were running the flanks. A decent ball from the left saw Read presented with a half chance with the head. Decent contact was made but the ball whistled wide. Still pressing G stewart slotted a ball through the defence catching the Melchester back line flat footed presenting Muir with a chance. Having found some form of late he slotted the ball into the net.

1-1.

As the game progressed Melchester were fighting to keep the qualification dreams alive and threw the proverbial kitchen sink at the Trotters. The last 15 mins were all Melchester with the Trotters unable to move forward. A solid defensive line kept the draw safe and at the final whistle the Trotters were on their last legs. A good solid team effort to gain the 1 point means that the Trotters need a 2-0 defeat or better to qualify for there first ever quarterfinal.

Wood, Henden, Myers, Kristiansen, Begemann, Armstrong, A Brown ©, Faichney, G Stewart (Mackay), Read, Muir

MOM – Wood / A Brown / G Stewart

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Sunday 24 February 2008 v Meadowbank @ Saughton

On a fine Sunday morning at Saughton the Trotters prepared to take on a team in a similar position in the league. An even game was anticipated. As it turned out Meadowbank could only muster 10 men for the game. From previous experience of this the Trotters we wary not to expect an easy ride from 10 men!

The half kicked off with the Trotters enjoying early possession. The trotters started to move the ball around well finding the extra space with the additional man. New boy Lofty was eager to impress and did so with several runs from deep.

The trotters picked up the ball in midfield and moved it forward to Lofty who ran at the defence – turning once, then twice until he found the space and angle for a low shot. 1-0 the Trotters.

Eager not to take the foot off the pedal the Trotters pressed on but found it hard to break through a well organised outfit. As half time approached the Trotters forged out 2 half chances but were unable to convert. Lees came on for Robbo who was struggling with fitness and switched flanks with Garland to take advantage of his left foot. Half time – 1-0 to the Trotters!

The second half started in much the same fashion as the first. Lofty was again making runs from deep. A foul on Lofty saw the Trotters outraged for an X rated chop on him but the ref took no action. As the play continued the Trotters took there eye off the game and Meadowbank had a free kick deep in our half. The ball swept in and the forward lost his marker. 1-1.

This sparked the Trotters into life again and they pushed on in search of a second. A corner was won to the right and a quick thinking short corner was knocked in by Adso. Lofty found space and notched his second goal for the Trotters on his debut. 2-1 the Trotters.

The game restarted and on came Faichney (the talismanic one) for Garland. Meadowbank, to their credit, pushed on and found some possession which resulted in a corner. The ball was swung in and again there players found space on the 6 yard line to head down. 2-2.

Not wanting to waste 2 points the Trotters were piling forward. Faichney found space in the box but his half volley was blazed over the bar. Had he not been carrying an injury he would have buried the chance. The Trotters were not finished yet and a good through ball from Davey S found Adso 1 v1 but the keeper got down well to his left and saved it.

The final whistle blew and the Trotters had drawn 2-2.

Wood, Myers, Rhodes ©, G Stewart, Tant, D Robertson (Lees), D Stewart, A Brown, Garland (Faichney), Lofty, Muir

MOM - Lofty

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Sunday 2008-02-17 v Roseburn @ Jack Kane

Back on the hallow turf down at the Jack Kane Centre the Trotters were left waiting for first the opponents and then the ref. Oh, how we wished the ref had not turned up!

The Trotters kicked off and pressed forward from the off. Early ball from the Hawk saw the Trotters enjoy early territory. Several physical exchanges saw the ref blow up unnecessarily and the game became very stop start. The Trotters won a free kick just right of centre about the 30 yards out. Hawk took the ball and curled the ball to the far corner. The keeper could do nothing about the strike but the post came to the rescue however the ball bounced out and Ted Broon was first to react. He swooped (just like a Hawk) – 1-0 the Trotters!

The game restarted at a fast past and again the ref was hindering the football. Roseburn were being restricted to a few set pieces and long-range efforts and were unable to trouble Wood in goals. Davey Stewart picked up a through ball and he coolly passed the ball to midfield. 2 passes later Faichney had fed the ball through to Adso who strode towards goal. He slotted the ball past the keeper. 2-0 the Trotters!

As half time approached the Trotters were containing Roseburn well and looked solid from front to back. Half time – the Trotters 2-0 up.

The second half started and Roseburn attempted to push forward. Again they were unable to cut open the Trotters defence. Despite this they were enjoying some possession in our half. A ball came into the box and a tussle of bodies saw the ref blow for a penalty. Goal – 2-1 to the Trotters!

The Trotters were eager to bounce back and broke out of there half. A ball up to Faichney saw him presented with a chance but he was unable to take it. An evenly fought half progressed and Roseburn won a corner. A deep ball to the back post alluded Wood in goal and Myers on the back post. 2-2.

Despite the goals conceded the Trotters continued to play and press forwarded with Roseburn looking for an opening themselves. Lees came on at right mid for Ted. Again Roseburn won a corner that was dubious at best. The centre forward handled the ball but the ref (who had not moved from the centre circle all game) did not give the decision. Another corner to the back post again saw the ball elude both keeper and full back and the Trotters found themselves trailing.

With only 10 mins on the clock the Trotters tried to push on and Robbo came on for Muir up front to try and get a result from the game. The trotters won themselves 2 corners in quick succession and threw all but 2 forward. On the break out Roseburn fouled Hawk and resulted in a free kick. The ball rebounded off the wall and came out to Tant wide on the left. A ball to the edge of the box saw Myers swing his left boot on the volley hoping to make amends for his Diuof like efforts on the post. The ball was caught sweet enough but did not hit the target.

The final whistle blew and the Trotters had lost 3-2.

A blow to the b*llocks for the boys and 3 points lost but things to build upon at least!

Wood, Myers, Rhodes ©, D Stewart, Smith, M Brown (Lees), G Robertson, A Brown, Tant, Faichney, Muir (D Robertson)

MOM - Smith

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SUNDAY 2008-02-10 v Stables

Sunday’s game against 3^rd in the league was played at @ Pefermill on the Astro (hopefully the final match on this surface as the better weather will allow us to play back on grass).

The Trotters were on the pitch early for KO, pumped and ready to go! The game started at a fast pace and it wasn’t long before the trotters opened up the opposition defence. A pass from midfield found Faichney and his effort flew just wide. It wasn’t long before he was in again and this time hid didn’t disappoint the on looking crowd. A cool finish – 1-0 the Trotters!

Play resumed from the centre kick and the Trotters continued to press hard and chase the ball. It was this pressure that opened the defence again. A neat pass into Faichney saw him in find space from which he converted the chance with the coolness of a seasoned pro. 2-0 the Trotters!

The game became a physical battle and the Trotters were not the team to shy from this. After an altercation with the Stables captain a red card was shown to him. This meant Stables were faced with playing with 10 men for next 60 mins.

With tempers high play presumed and it was Whiteside with a cool head who found space from a sublime peace of midfield work from Robbo. Whiteside took the ball and finished with his second effort. 3-0 the Trotters!

Stables started to edge their way back into the game and an attacking move saw Smith playing at right back take a knock. This forced a substitution from the Trotters. On came Hawk he took up position up front, Adso move back to midfield and Henden filled in at right back.

With half time approaching Stables forced a corner. A far post corner was knocked back in and the Trotters were unable to clear the lines – Stables score. 3-1 the Trotters. The half time whistle blew with the Trotters taking a 3-1 lead!

A half time chat and a substitution saw Muir come on up front for 2 goal Faichney to apply fresh legs up front. The trotters started well and pushed forward and create some good chances. However we were unable to convert these chances – we were made to pay for these misses.

Stables had there second when their CM picked up the ball from a clearance and with the GK out of position fired it in from 40 yards out. 3-2 the Trotters! It wasn’t long before the score was level when Stables fire a thunderbolt shot from some 35 yards out. 3-3! A couple of knocks and fatigue forced a few changes and Foley came on fro Robbo with some 30 mins left.

As the Trotters pressed forward Stables managed to counter and found themselves with some position in our half. A goal line scramble saw a miss kick shot and then an effort from 4 yards, which Wood brilliantly saved, but the ball bounced unkindly for the Trotters and the Stable forward shot again but Myers/Wood were unable to clear. The Trotters were trailing 3-4!

With some 15 mins left the Trotters were aiming to avoid only there second defeat in 5 games. With another injury Ted Broon was forced to dust down his injured body and come on up front. This action epitomised the team’s effort with Henden and Garland carrying on with ankle knocks. The midfield pushed on in search of the equaliser and Foley found himself 1 v 1 with the keeper. Under the huge pressure of having the Folster bearing down on him the keeper spilled the ball and Foley slotted into the empty net. 4-4!

The game finished with the honours even. A good game for the neutral to watch but the Trotters will feel its 2 points lost. Nevertheless, many pluses to be taken from the game and we can move on having just played the top 3 teams in the last 3 games (1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss and 11 goals scored and 9 goals conceded).

Wood, Myers, Livingston, Rhodes ©, Smith (Hawk), Whiteside (M Brown), Henden, Robbo (Foley), Garland, A Brown, Faichney (Muir)

MOM - TBC

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SUNDAY 27.01.08 v SPORTING ICAPB

Sunday’s game against the league leaders was played on the astro pitch at Pefermill.

Although we had a couple of late arrivals / no shows, a debut in goals for Sac and at CB for new squad member Livingston we started the game brightly. Each team had early half chances but were unable to put them away. We lost striker ‘Ted Broon’ early doors due to injury so on came the talismanic Faichney. He quickly got into the game and ran clear from a long clearance from Sac. He pounced on the chance and slotted it past a helpless keeper. 1-0 to the ‘trotters’.

As the half progressed and the wind swirled the ‘trotters’ imposed their football style on the game. We pressed forward and forced several corner kicks. Finally, the pressure paid off when Adso headed in from a corner kick. 2-0 to the ‘trotters’.

At this point there were still 20 mins to run in the first half. Ball retention and possession was the key to coming in at half time in front. Sporting did manage a few chances but these were restricted to mainly long range efforts. No match for Sac in goals.

With 10 mins left we lost Robbo to injury (well throwing up). On came the returning Myers having been absent for a couple of games. It didn’t take long for him to make his mark. A crunching tackle (well, foul) on the opponent to mark his return. The half time whistle blew with the ‘trotters’ 2-0 up.

One change at half time saw Scotty S come off and Hawk come on up front. A slight reshuffle in defence to accommodate the change and we were off.

Again, the ‘trotters’ started the brighter and managed a few half chances. Eventually, we forced an error from there left back resulting in a corner. A quick cut back caught Sporting napping. The Hawk swung his foot – CRASH, as the ball hits the roof of the net. 3-0 to the ‘trotters’.

The result was almost in the bag and Sporting were hurting. Heading for only there second defeat in 10 games. The ‘trotters’ pressed forward with purpose and flare. Rob took the ball inside the box and smacked the ball past the keeper into the net. Munch, crunch, cranking it up. 4-0 to the ‘trotters’.

The game outcome was in the bag but resilient defending from the ‘trotters’ kept the score at 4-0 and meant we had kept our first clean sheet.

Muir, Henden, Rhodes [C], Livingston, Smith (Hawk), Muz, D Stewart, Robbo (Myers), Whiteside (MaCaulay), Adso, Brown (Faichney)

MOM - Livingston