Citylink Scottish Junior Cup - 2nd Rnd

 

 

Billy's Bletherings

Today we welcomed Cambuslang Rangers to the Pleasure Park and the Scottish Junior Cup. The lads today showed we can compete agains physical and street-wise opponents. Our football today wasn't as fluent as we would have liked but our attitude was spot on. We defended for our lives, we battled in midfield and our strikers worked tirelessly for the cause. We scored 3 cracking goals and were breached only by a dubious penalty and a lack of concentration in injury time when we thought the game was won. If we can keep this same attitude throughout this season we will surely win more than we lose. Big credit must go to all the players today and hopefully we can now look forward to more enjoyable Saturdays.

 

My Shite

Before todays game even started there was a problem with Kris's team selection where Stevie Whyte had problems with his tootsies and so Steven Powell came in to swap with him which changed the formation slightly.

We started off brightly enough, taking the game to the Lang but the first effort on goal game from a free kick to them which seemed to go through everyone but luckily went past the post. Our first real effort on gaol came in the 14thminute when Gibby knocked the ball down to Ush but his shot was well over, but the ref had mysteriously given a free kick anyway. The first of many strange decisions. After 20 minutes we won possession in our own half, Molby took the ball forward and with Zander running in down the left and Ritchie down the right he laid off the ball to Ritchie who his a great shot which we thought the keeper had saved but the power of the shot took it over him and into the net, 1 - 0. There weren't many more efforts really at either end with the lads chasing down every ball and making it difficult for them to get any attacking move going. Half time arrived and Paul really hadn't a shot to save.

After 4 minutes of the 2ns half, Molby got the ball down their left, ran into the box but his shot hit the post and bounced to safety.  He had another chance a few minutes later from a free kick but the keeper collected it comfortably. However after 9 mites they started to push forward but Ush won the ball around the hald way line and ran towards goal, Zander got the ball on the left of the box and his shot was saved but Ian followed up and net thing we saw was the net bulging !!!  2 - 0 to us. Again the play was really around the middle of the park with no real chances except for a great knock on to Zander from Gibby which put him clear of their defence but somehow the ref saw an infringement, somewhere ?? then in the 24th minute when following a another series of strange decisions and with the game really looking like it was running away from Cambuslang, they suddenly were given a lifeline when the ref awarded a penalty to them. How he could give a pen when the shot was about 1 yard off our defender is a mystery if he could move his hands away at the speed the ref wanted he would be a soddin magician ! Anyway even though Paul got a great hand to the ball it went in and with 20 minutes to go it was going to be hard work to get through now, They were coming into it more but were getting frustrated because our defence was holding firm, then with a few minutes on the clock John Willox came on for Zander and we won a corner almost straight away. He took a short one and took it back to cross a great ball into the middle right onto Gibby's head to knock in the 3rd. Of course with only a couple of minutes to go we thought it would be a nice finish but this is Maud ! A couple of minutes later they scored their 2nd and with the ref indicating 3 minutes of injury time the sphincter muscles were working overtime ! However the lads held on and recorded our best ever win in the Scottish Junior Cup.

 

Grahame Report (the proper one)

 

MAUD VICTORIOUS IN SCOTTISH CUP TIE.

For the first few minutes Maud found themselves on the defensive as the Lang forced a corner which was cleared by Powell out for another corner to nothing. Lang won a free kick just inside their own half. The long punt upfield was met by the strikers head but could only flick on past the post, a wake up for Maud. Good midfield play from Maud saw the ball into the net only for the ref to deem it offside. Maud won a free kick about 22 yards out, Murray sent in a curling shot around the wall towards Stephen but Doak managed to get a toe onto the ball and send it out for a corner. Crossed in and cleared as far as Ligertwood who blasted it well over the bar. In the 20th minute an excellent run up the middle by Murray with A Davidson on his left and Ligertwood on his right. Passing onto the feet of Ligertwood who this time made no mistake and blasted his shot in and off the keeper for Maud to take the lead. Again good linking play by Maud allowed A Davidson a good cross in from the left but again Doak was alert and cleared for a corner. Crossed in play was stopped as Arthur and Ferguson went down with a clash of heads both required treatment. Stephen earned a yellow for disputing the refs actions. Lang bounced back and built up an attack to finish with a flashy overhead shot from Ferguson which shaved past the post. Ogilvy then earned himself a yellow for an off the ball kick at Leask in goals. A bad mistake by A Davidson gave Lang the chance of an equaliser from Devine who fortunately shot over the bar. A flurry of corners against Maud were all dealt with as the first half drew to a close. Right on half time Lang replaced Coyle with Docherty.

A brisk start to the second half as both teams came out fired up and in the 54th minute some great play by Maud and confusion in the Lang box caused by a superb dummy allowing Murray to finish off Maud's second goal. A flurry of yellows for the Langs Devine, Hughes and Ferguson was followed by Kennedy being replaced by Smith and the dugout being warned about it's conduct following an incident involving Murray. As Murray protested his innocence and stating a punch was thrown at him the ref booked him for the tackle that led to the scenario. Finally play resumed and Lang surged forwards. As they moved into Maud's box, Ligertwood found himself on the deck and with no chance to defend himself the ball was blasted against him and cries for a penalty were heard as the ref pointed to the penalty spot in the 69th minute. Up stepped Hughes and although Leask got his hand to it the power in the shot carried it on to the back of the net. Maud felt cheated for this very soft penalty but dug deep and carried on. As the Lang attacked down the right, an excellent piece of play by Powell who pulled out of the tackle on Lynch only to see him dive inside the box and claim another penalty. This time the ref gave the correct decision and booked him for simulation. Maud sent on Pirie for a tired Usher as Lang stepped up a gear. A good cross in was headed off the crossbar by Docherty and cleared out of danger. With minutes remaining Willox replaced A Davidson and immediately made an impression when he sent in a cross straight on to Stephen's head who flicked into the goal for Maud's third on the stroke of full time. Not to be out done the Lang kept up the pressure as Maud started to relax and paid the penalty when Lang scored in the 92nd minute. Maud ran down the last minute as Lang threw every up field looking for the equaliser but time ran out and Maud emerged winners.