Clayhole Blue

Based on yesterday’s fiasco at Stenny - no!

Can’t argue with any of that - good summary of a forgettable afternoon!

By actually putting that on here you’ve probably buggered us now! Looking forward to this one, if only to see who’s in our injury and suspension hit defence!

A lot of enthusiasm for this one!

Two goals in two games though - desperate stuff!

Lost our last two what?

Well that was a kick in the baws right at the end which made it feel like a defeat. Have seen a clip of the penalty and have no arguments with it. Similarly with Craig Ross’s straight red - he got it wrong and gave the ref no choice. Thankfully the guy he fouled got back up an looked ok. Keystone Cops moment in our defence for Rose’s first goal meant that we did our regular trick of conceding immediately after we scored. That’s the negatives out of the way. I was heartened by our overall performance from start to finish, particularly with the intensity of our start, and nobody could have complained had we been a couple up after the first 25 minutes. We also coped well when down to ten men, almost until the end! Malky was still running in that heat right till the end and we put in some great crosses from Luke Watt and Anton Brady. Good to see Matty Grant starting - he will make a difference to us. And plaudits to Kyle Girvan who has slotted in apparently seamlessly. Disappointed with only a point, but we showed enough to make that disappointment reasonable.

Wanted to wait until the Rose got their brush with the glamour of the Challenge Cup out of the way before starting the thread for the first meeting of these sides at Stair Park on Saturday. A consistent and inconsistent start for us. Inconsistent in that we’ve won one and lost one. Consistent in that it appears to be written in stone that we’ll lose at Forfar on every visit. Look forward to welcoming new visitors on Saturday and see which Stranraer will turn up. Will many make the trip? We know through experience that a lot of visiting fans say they’ll be there, but then look at the map and journey times and don’t bother. Encouraging that Hawkshaw came off the bench on Saturday. Will Shifty or Gall be available for this one?

Simply wasn’t a pen! Tbf Forfar had one against us at Station Park last season that wasn’t one either - you guys managed to score from it though!

Still same issues for us - as well as inconsistency. First half we more than matched Forfar, but failed to score during the spell that we were on top. Second half we played second fiddle and were repeatedly guilty of overplay at the front of the Forfar box - trying to do over-elaborate play instead of just going for goal. Still not creating enough chances and still not finishing the ones we do create. When we did get a chance - from a penalty that looked anything but a penalty - it was an unconvincing attempt which was easy for the home keeper. Forfar were ok - they certainly deserved the points, and we could learn from their direct play. On the plus side we did see some very decent football in the first half, and new-signing Matty looked impressive. We never win at Forfar anyway, so onwards and upwards.

And Matty Grant at Stranraer

Never said they did, but thought you guys would be very excited after a decent season last time and your impressive League Cup showing! Coming through tomorrow?

Surprised no thread on this one 24 hours before the new league season kicks off. Thought there would be hordes of Annan fans on now that everyone is assuming they will lift the title this season?

Now signed

You can add Sean Burns as an ‘out’ for Stranraer. Think he has now joined Pollok.

Sounds like insanity. Can’t imagine any league agreeing to three down from ten!

Not against relegation - just want the destination to be somewhere better-run than the Lowland League currently is.

Hardly surprising in our case, given that Stranraer is pretty much 100 miles from the English border.

Think it’s pretty much whatever suits Premier Sports

And Darvel’s third was last minute or two

Looks like Premier Sports using our badge from 20 years ago. Mind, they’re still trying to find the groups that Rangers and Celtic are in to schedule their live choices…

Jinky Hilton, Dean Hawkshaw and Luke Scullion have signed for the new season.

James Hilton, Dean Hawkshaw and Luke Scullion have signed on again at Stranraer.

Does it not also increase the chances of a long trip for sides in the ‘North’ section?

Expected you guys to have a real go at Bonnyrigg today, but sadly still waiting. Commiserations on the outcome, your manager should pay the price for a costly season for people who have followed Cowden for decades.