Clayhole Blue
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Posts posted by Clayhole Blue
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9 hours ago, Francesc Fabregas said:
I'm not quite sure what to make of today's game. On one hand, I'm pleased Stenhousemuir collected their third win of the season, finally defeated Stranraer and moved into the top four; on the other, they turned in another anxious, disjoined display and made things a lot more complicated than they needed to be. In his post-match interview, Stephen Swift was delighted with what he saw but this seems to be a very generous interpretation of the match. It reminded me a lot of our encounter with Albion Rovers on the opening day where an inferior opponent had us pegged back for long spells and could have snatched something had they been a little more assured in front of goal. Stranraer were all over us in the second half without having a real cutting edge.
It was a brutal, dismal game of football, a terrible advert for the lower leagues. Balls leathered long, big headers, poor touches, no control. There were a handful of nice moments, particularly Stenhousemuir's first goal and a flurry of passes that ended with an Adam Brown shot hitting the top of the bar but other than that, it was am ugly fare.
I thought the match was over and done with in the first half, with Stenny taking a three-goal lead into the interview. The first saw Will Sewell prodding home Callum Yeats' low centre, and the second and third came courtesy of Nicky Jamieson and Sean Crighton respectively, both from corners. The scoreline perhaps flattered the home side because there wasn't all that much between the teams but the Warriors' ruthlessness from set-pieces was made to count. Swift mentioned Stranraer's lack of height and he had the players who could take full advantage.
An injury to Dan Higgins just before the interval forced us to change things - Adam Corbett was expected to replace him but he fell injured again while warming up, meaning we had to reconfigure the whole team, starting the second half with a back four. The change in shape did not work and Stranraer looked threatening any time they got on the ball, tearing through the midfield time and again. I thought Dylan Forrest and Matty Grant played well for Stranraer, Grant especially, and he gave Yeats a difficult afternoon before his dismissal. Their goal came shortly after the restart when Stenny failed to clear their lines and James Hilton smashed the ball home from 12 yards. All of a sudden, Stranraer were dominating the match but just couldn't find a breakthrough. Stenhousemuir brought on Euan O'Reilly, who went past Scott McLean a couple of times, but fluffed a great opportunity to set up Tam Orr when he melted in a cross instead of slipping it across the deck. But make no mistake, this was a terrible game of football overall.
Jamieson was probably the best player on the park and Matty Yates did his best to get Stenny going but that's about it. Two consecutive wins should quieten any dissenters for the time being but I don't think it's unfair to be expecting better from this group of players. Three points gratefully accepted and we move on to next week.
Can’t argue with any of that - good summary of a forgettable afternoon!
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47 minutes ago, Francesc Fabregas said:
Stenhousemuir's record against Stranraer is dreadful. I didn't realise how bad it was until I checked - their last win over the Blues was in 2017. Based on last season's meetings - three abject embarrassments - I'd leave this one well alone!
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!
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A lot of enthusiasm for this one!
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On 29/07/2022 at 11:07, Jan Vojáček said:
Hadn't noticed that, cheers!
I know things were getting desperate striker wise at Stair Park. But a 35-year-old who scored twice in 12 games for St Roch's last season looks a bit like desperation. He was always a player I wanted Sons to sign about a decade or so ago mind you. One of the very few we didn't poach from Stranraer!
Two goals in two games though - desperate stuff!
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17 hours ago, gordon9736 said:
Definitely going to miss them, however I think we'll win by a goal. We've had two away draws so the team are showing some fight, whereas Stranraer have lost their last two.
Lost our last two what?
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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.
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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?
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On 08/08/2022 at 15:58, nofixedability said:
That is two against us so far, neither close to being a penalty.
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!
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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.
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And Matty Grant at Stranraer
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1 hour ago, annan4eva said:
Interesting why you say that ? Annan fans have never boasted about anything.
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?
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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?
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On 23/07/2022 at 19:20, Cairn Terrier said:
Was it a bit “ towsy “?
Any word on the familiar trialist……Craig Malcolm?Now signed
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You can add Sean Burns as an ‘out’ for Stranraer. Think he has now joined Pollok.
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10 hours ago, Footballfirst said:
The Scottish Junior FA attempting to be relevant again.
Successful Scottish Junior Football Association AGM today.Biggest thing to go through was the opening of the Scottish Junior Cup to any team tier 5 and below who wish to enter.It’s about small steps and I don’t expect a major influx from teams straight away but my plan includes an up to £80,000 prize pot with payouts to last 16 possibly 32.There is no denying that the association has struggled to move forward but hopefully this is the first step moving on.We’ve said it continuously that we are more than willing to work with other associations at our level if they are.Another that was in my report to our members is the proposal put forward to the pyramid working group of the SFA, we have proposed a new set up at tier 5 sitting alongside the highland league and lowland league.We feel the timing is right for such a move and again would be happy working with the others roundabout us.We aim to fill a 16 team league with licensed clubs from the midlands league, the West of Scotland Football League and the East of Scotland league.At the top end of it all depends on SPFL clubs changing there format, at the bottom end if the three leagues are in the winners if licensed automatically go up and the bottom three down, the fourth bottom of central league will play in a playoff with all three leagues second placed teams if licensed for the fourth promotion/relegation place.A proper way for promotion and relegation.Congratulations also go to Norman McKay, Bobby McNamara, Gordon Ronney and Felix McKenna on gaining life membership of the association, your service to the Scottish Junior FA is greatly appreciated.Felix McKenna also received an honorary Vice President certificate.Alex McDowallChief Operating OfficerScottish Junior FASounds like insanity. Can’t imagine any league agreeing to three down from ten!
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On 27/05/2022 at 20:16, craigkillie said:
Shocked to see a supporter of side on its way to start circling the drain is all against relegation.Not against relegation - just want the destination to be somewhere better-run than the Lowland League currently is.
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On 26/05/2022 at 21:01, Thom & Gerry said:
I don’t see a lot of players from England clamouring to play for you, Berwick, QOS or Stranraer. Perhaps they prefer the Northern leagues in England.
Hardly surprising in our case, given that Stranraer is pretty much 100 miles from the English border.
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2 hours ago, Cowdenleith said:
Anyone know the criteria for deciding which 2 you play at home and away?
Think it’s pretty much whatever suits Premier Sports
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23 minutes ago, EdinburghBlue said:
St Cuthbert Wanderers 1 Darvel 3
And Darvel’s third was last minute or two
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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…
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Jinky Hilton, Dean Hawkshaw and Luke Scullion have signed for the new season.
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James Hilton, Dean Hawkshaw and Luke Scullion have signed on again at Stranraer.
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On 06/05/2022 at 07:30, Paco said:
It does increase the chances of a long trip for the sides in the ‘South’ section, certainly, but off the top of my head Raith have played Buckie, Ross County, Inverness and Peterhead midweek since the ‘regionalisation’ came in. Dunfermline, a mere 15 minutes away, have been in the other side of the draw for the most part.
It never really made any sense anyway.Does it not also increase the chances of a long trip for sides in the ‘North’ section?
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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.
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Stranraer vs Dumbarton
in Scottish League 2 General Chatter
Posted
Based on yesterday’s fiasco at Stenny - no!