Clayhole Blue

Don’t think there are too many ‘iconic’ ones, although there’s a really traditional one in the dusty old main stand at Starks which I kinda like. Also loved the old ‘canteen’ at Stranraer, but that disappeared 30 years ago. It had a lovely smell of pies and Bovril. Shame it’s been replaced by a van.

Game now switched to Starks Park with 6pm KO according to Scottish Cup Twitter feed

Anybody out there? Looking forward to seeing this on Saturday as it’s always good to come up against somebody different. We’re on a very good run of form but also very much aware that this will be a tough test given Kelty’s form and league position.

Apparently Sonkur was kicked off the ball. Agree with Cairn Terrier - totally scrappy fare first half with far too many long balls. Got to grips better after the break and always felt confident after Tam Orr’s opener.

Remarkably quiet on here - starting a thread for any post-match chat.

Errrr...

The process was that anybody who wanted to could apply. The juniors ignored it collectively for about 3 years, which is why they now find themselves a league below some smaller clubs who took the precaution of bothering to apply. There wasn’t really all that much ‘luck’ about it.

Players did well to battle against wind and underfoot conditions. Tbh at half time I couldn’t have forecast a 4-0 win, but we got a goal within 2 minutes of the restart and there was only going to be one winner after that. The Rovers defence which had kept us out so effectively in the first half was breached and they had to come out further in the search for goals to get back into the game. Our forwards look as if they might score in any attack and I enjoyed the fact that - for the second time this season - it was 4 goals from 4 different forward players. Lovely to see Cammy Elliott score just minutes after his playing return from injury started. And young Yates was denied a goal by some good last-ditch defending. Penalty save from Greg and we were well-organised from back to front. Keep it going...

Now you’ve said that we may use it in our publicity [emoji38] [emoji38] ps - appreciate all the feedback on here. Last few weeks have highlighted how easy it is to say something on commentary which makes you look like an absolute pratt when you see it replayed the following day! But we are so lucky to have the Franks as our camera/technical experts [emoji122][emoji122]

Think that was us HJ - we had a Christmas Day replay at St. Cuthbert’s in the early 70s

If BBC bother...

The Cup is bringing real opportunity for teams to play new opponents now. Standby for Annan or Albion Rovers in the draw for us.

Why?

https://stranraerfc.org/stirling-match-is-live/

Late putting up a match thread for this one, but looking forward to it considering the form of both teams. First clash since 2015 and I’m wondering if Faz sticks with our starting eleven from the Edinburgh City and Brechin matches, or if he will be tempted to change now that some of the others are back available to him. Looks like it’ll be a cold and wet weekend....just looking for more of what we showed for 90 at Ainslie Park and in the second half last week.

This week’s It’s no easy...

Trips to Motherwell and Derry beckon...

Probably the BBC haven’t noticed yet that the tournament is under way...

Is there a reason why the Brechin team is absolutely full of 20 year olds - money?

Thoroughly enjoyed that yesterday. Job done. Four goals from four different forwards and some excellent teamwork to create the opportunities. Fantastic running by Tam Orr to create the third goal and great anticipation by Darryl Duffy to be right on the spot when required! First half was untidy. We did go ahead thanks to great finish by Ruari Paton and thanks to the home defence allowing him all the time he needed. But then we switched off, conceded an equaliser, and lived a bit dangerously. Didn’t really get going again until Orr headed home our second after the break. This time we did what we had failed to do after Ruari’s opener and pushed on with Duffy grabbing that third. Pleasing to see Jinky coming off the bench and icing the cake with a fourth. Credit for Brechin’s equaliser - pinpoint corner and an unstoppable header. One of those games where it was hard to pick a man of the match - probably Orr for his hugely impressive shift, with assist and goal on-top!

See the overwhelming favourites smashed it [emoji38] Sorry HJ, couldn’t resist it. Close to an upset by Saints!

Back on the road tomorrow with a trip to face Brechin. More of the same from our game at Edinburgh City would be nice. Andy Stirling, Jamie Hamill and Sean Burns all missed that game and if any of them are back tomorrow it will give Faz a nice headache. Does he change a winning team to bring any of them back in? It’s also nice to have a stronger bench - something we didn’t manage last season. Haven’t seen Brechin in a year or so and I know they’ve been through a lot - just not sure what to expect from them, but think we need to get on top early if we’re to win again.

Thought we thoroughly deserved the points today. We might have added to our lead but, to be fair, Antell pulled off some really decent saves. Hugely disciplined display and we kept our shape from start to finish. City are a side that love to pass the ball about but we pressed them high up the park and they struggled to make inroads. The referee was a strange one - contrived to book nine players - 7 from City - in a match with scarcely a bad tackle. Probably the only correct one was for Henderson’s simulation! Will take that display and result all day long.

And my dad’s still raging!