warriors21

A terrible game of football hugely affected by the wind, but no-one of a maroon persuasion really cares

Today has been unbelievable. The play-off win against Cowden in 2009 was one thing, but to see this Club clinch a league trophy is remarkable. We get so much right off the park, but it’s something else getting it right on the park. As much as I’m loving things and the players and staff fully deserve every round of applause, song, and drink in the Wee Bar tonight, today is for those who’ve watched the Warriors for 30, 40, 50, 60+ years and never witnessed a league title come to Ochilview. I hope everyone involved with this magnificent Club has the best weekend imaginable.

One game closer to the title for the Warriors and one game closer to the League 2 Player of the Year Award for Nicky Jamieson - the man is a colossus! The game wasn’t great, the officials were atrocious, and the best bit of play was Peterhead working the ball out their own box with 5 or 6 one touch passes before popping it into the middle of the park.

A pretty drab game and one that won’t live long in the memory. Both teams with a couple decent chances, at least one strong penalty shout for each team, and another game closer to the title.

There’s bad days at the office then there’s that! Fair play to Clyde, they thoroughly deserved the win and if this result can galvanise them and set them off on a run of good results they should be fine come May. Some of our defending was calamitous and the goals conceded were preventable, and there was little to no conviction or belief in our attack which was really frustrating as I thought we’d actually started pretty good. Hopefully this result is a bit of a reality check - since the winning run came to an end we’ve not hit anywhere near the same levels of performance or consistency - and we can get back on track away to Bonnyrigg next week.

The first half today was a rotten spectacle and, until the double sub Naysmith made in bringing on Yates and Taylor for Rodden and Brown, I felt that Dumbarton were the better team and Ryan Blair was the best player on the park. It was a completely different game when Yates and Taylor came on - we were more direct, played faster and it got another 10% out of every Stenny player. I really can’t stress enough how much I love this team and group of players. The scenes at the end were just super. That sequence of results today has, for me anyway, as good as secured our first ever league title. We’re 13 ahead (by giving Spartans 6 points for their 2 games in hand) with 13 to play, and I cannot see any other team putting a run together where they gain on average more than 1 point per match extra than us over the remaining 13 games.

Far from a vintage performance and not much between the teams, but it’s another 3 points and we extend our lead at the top, although we didn’t come out of it unscathed. I hope Nicky Jamiesons injury isn’t bad, and Buchanan and Meechan both had some issues throughout. Nats red was silly and probably the wrong decision (it was clumsy and awkward more than dangerous or malicious) but he still gave the atrociously bad Chris Fordyce a decision to make. The three of them were possibly the worst team of officials I’ve seen - I think Stranraer were denied a stonewall penalty shortly after Lynch came on. Meechan was excellent and deserved his MOTM award, and there were 4 or 5 other very good performances. I also liked what Jacobs and Rodden brought when they came on. What happened with the situation when Orr went off but came back on? Did the officials prevent an ineligible player coming on?

Something special is happening down Ochilview way and one of the biggest compliments I can give the squad is that they get it and want it just as much as the fans. The celebrations after Yates’ goal yesterday were just *chefs kiss*.

Another game where I don’t think we really dominated at any point but I was never worried about getting the win. The back triangle of Jamieson, Jamieson and Buchanan were very good again today and it was only when Mutale came on at half time did they face any really challenge - I thought Mutale was a threat throughout in the second half and could be a really handy player if he can get some composure when under pressure. I can’t decide if Anderson and Nat were less effective than usual today or if it’s just because they’ve set such a high bar in recent weeks that they didn’t quite hit those heights today. Saying that, the bit of genius from Nat to pop the ball over his head and send the two Forfar boys down the tunnel was top class. Yates had a very good game today, as did O’Reilly but I felt Brown never got involved as much as he has done previously. Aitken put in a fantastic shift today but I thought he was getting more success in the first half when he seemed to be targeting and pinning Hutchison. In the second half it appeared, either through him changing to Munro or most of our play changing sides, he was up against Munro more often than not. The reinforcements in both Jacobs and Rodden are a welcome addition, and they both showed flashes of what they could do in the limited time they had on the pitch today. The players seem to love playing together and I’ve never seen a Warriors team as fit, confident, consistent or with as much belief as the one we’re watching right now - it’s a joy both going to and coming away from the football. Next week is a huge game with Spartans also flying and having two games in hand over us, however can we start quietly talking about that first league title possibly making its way to Ochilview Park yet?

That first half was ridiculously good and we should have been well out of sight. Two fantastic goals through O’Reillys endeavour and another direct free kick from Yates. I thought the referee was doing well to let things play at times, but at others he was missing clear bookings - the main one that comes to mind was Shepherds horrible lunge. As good as we were in the first half, credit has to go to East Fife in the second. Healy coming on at half time gave Eden Lynch a tough test and he couldn’t cope with him at all. We did still have a couple of very good chances to wrap things up but Aitken should’ve done better after O’Reilly battered the post, and so should Brown late on but his weak effort didn’t trouble Fleming. Darren Jamieson’s point blank save at the end was unbelievable, although I’m not sure how much he knew about it. We have a strong first 11 and a couple solid options on the bench, but apart from that we are very light and weak. Thankfully we didn’t drop points in the end today, but could easily have done so. I’m yet to see anything that tells me Berry, Ferrie, McKay or Sweeney-Rowe have something to offer to this team or at this level - they have had limited game time, granted, but all seem weak, hesitant and unable to compete. Anyway, onwards to two more winnable matches over the festive period.

Can only echo OFS’ comments - the team were magnificent tonight - but I think it’s also worth mentioning Kinlay Bilham as I thought he was brilliant tonight too. His desire to win his 50/50s started the moves that led to both our goals and he won the majority of the diagonal balls that Peterhead continually put in his direction.

What a thoroughly enjoyable day, and there’s not much more to add to what’s already been mentioned. Each of our outfielders were very good today and thoroughly deserve all praise that goes their way, however it would be remiss to not mention Darren Jamieson. Whilst he wasn’t necessarily troubled today, he plucked a couple of crosses out the air, dealt with the long shots with ease and breeds a confidence across our back line that I’ve not seen in 4-5 years. Innovative ways of fan engagement, a larger crowd, and the most dominant of displays. I cannot wait for next Saturdays top of the table clash against Bonnyrigg.

For a 0-0 that was quite an exciting game. I thought we were played some good stuff throughout and were the better of the two teams but didn’t really trouble McCallum in the Forfar goal. We hit the post twice and had a couple of shots fizz past the post, and Forfar had two very good chances, the second of which brought a fantastic save from Jamieson - it’s so refreshing to have a keeper that can be trusted playing for us. He set the tone early on coming for a cross and plucking it out the air and he didn’t put a foot (or glove) wrong all game. Mikey Anderson was class in the middle of the park and the centre half pairing of Jamieson and Buchanan were solid. I felt that we lacked consistency in our passing when countering during the second half but if we can get that right then we could be quite devastating. I’d have taken a point before kick off but given the way the game went I’m quite disappointed to not come away with all 3, but I guess it’s not a bad way to start the league campaign against a team I fancy to compete at the top of the league. The post wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Greg Soutar, who put in one of the most incompetent performances from a referee as I can remember seeing. He didn’t have a clue most of the time with some baffling and inconsistent decisions for both teams, and he certainly didn’t have control of the game. These referees are getting poorer as the years go on, and he might be the very worst I’ve seen.

It looks like we’re signing Ross Meechan going from the teaser tweet this morning. It’s been a really interesting close season so far and I’m glad we’re doing business early. A top keeper, a few signings who I’m intrigued by and now a solid and proven right back. Still some way to go but I’m please with what we’ve done so far.

What a way to win a game, what a feeling. It’s been a while since I’ve had as much enjoyment and exhilaration at the football. That game was an excellent showing of what Scottish football has to offer - goals, excitement, and some brilliant individual performances. Annan can likely feel hard done by and probably, over the piece, deserved something from the game but what a strike from Ross Forbes to seal it at the end. We’ve replaced many a manager/managerial team but I cannot remember us changing and having such an immediate positive impact. The job Naysmith and Ferguson have done in such a short space of time is quite remarkable. We’ve accumulated 18 points in 9 league games which, this season anyway, is title challenging form. Fair fucks to them!