We wanted to hit the ground running with a good performance today but it never looked like happening. Even though we had a few players newly in the team we should have made better of this game and as early as the first minute a good passing move between Gavin Middleton, Ritchie Ligertwood and Gibby Stephen ended with Gibby taking a shot that was just wide of the post. Warning signs were there though and in the 4th minute, new signing  Scott Mackie made a great tackle on one of their forwards only 6 yards out as he was about to shoot. We soon got a free kick that was put into the box and Gibby won his header, the first of many today, but it went wdie. Gavin then took a free kick about 25 yards out after 11 minutes but it was straight at the keeper who held onto the ball. Another free kick after 17 minutes on the right was again won by Gibby this time knocking it on to Graham Pirie coming in at the far post but he couldn't convert. After 30 minute however our old failings of not clearing a long ball into the box as the ball was played back into the middle and easily put into the net , 0 - 1. In the space of 5 minute just after, Mike Townson kept us in the game with two breathtaking saves. The first one a point blank save at the near post as we again failed to clear the ball, then just after an amazing one handed reflex save at the same post pushed the ball round for a corne when it looked like it was on its way in. We never really took advantage of the let off, even though a Gibby shot from 15 yards went over the bar because 4 minutes before half time East End scored again with another long ball into the box to the far post. So into half time 0 - 2 down and with only 1 shot on target, Gavins free kick, we needed to up the pace in the 2nd half if we were going to salvage anything.

After 2 minutes of the 2nd half it looked like we were given a lifeline when after a bit of argy bargy by their No 11 with Ian Arthur, the East End forward was first of all booked for yapping, then a minute later he was sent of with a reckless challenge. After 1 minutes another Gibby header looped across the goal but wide then after 13 minutes we got a corner, it was put into the box but cleared, however Bruce Davidson put it back into the far post where Gibby challenged the keepr, he dropped it and it came out to Andrew Whyte who battered it into the net. 1 - 2.  Although we were back in the game we never really took the game to them, Gibby had another header wide after 22 minutes and then after 23 minutes another ball in from the left was again played onto Gibbys head, he knocked it onto Zander in the box and he cooly beat the keeper from 12 yards, 2 - 2. Even with a win in sight and East End down to 10 men we didn't look convincing or confident to go for a winner, too many players looked tired and after half an hour a mistake at the back from a long ball down the middle (how many time did I write that last season!) was mixed up between Mike and Scott at the edge of the penalty box and the East End forward jumped in between them to nod the ball over them and into the net 2 - 3. That goal really killed us off and the frail confidence of our equaliser went out of the window when 6 minutes from time another defensive mistake resulted in their 4th goal. Ritchie was very lucky not to be sent off for a horrific challenge right at the end of the game, although not an excuse it looked like a challenge out of frustration, no excuse cos it was awful so hopefully he will learn.

It was really dissapointing to too such a tired looking display after Wednesdays game, maybe it took its toll and maybe too many of todays team hadn't got enough pre-season under their belt. However the effort from Wednesday was totally missing, or so it seemed. I'm sure each of the players felt like they had worked but from the side lines we didn't play as a team and the result reflected that. The fact we only had 4 shots on target, 2 of which were goals, highlights one of the problems,

Still the lads have a chance to put it right against Cruden Bay on Tuesday, hopefully !