Jordi1977

A case of "Job done" today. Comfortably through and the better side, with most of the play without really getting above 2nd gear for most of the match... you could see there were two divisions between the side. Happily into the next round and it was a good chance to rest a few and give a little extra game time to others. The real disappointment was that, again, we just could not keep a clean sheet. Absolutely delighted with the start we have made to the season, but that bad habit of conceding goals every game is gonna bite us eventually!

Got along to Tynecastle v Gala tonight... cracking game to take in. Tynecastle after missing a couple of decent chances, took the lead mid-way through the first half. Gala started to knock it around a bit after that, but it was 1-0 at the break. Gala started the 2nd half with a triple substitution... and gifting Tynecastle a 2nd goal in the first minute! Two more eary 2nd half subs... and you wonder if Gala thought they could get away with resting a few players, as after all the changes they suddenly looked much better! Got a goal back from distance, missed a penalty to equalise... and then threw everything at it leaving Tynecastle to try and hit on the break. A late equaliser came after a mazy solo run... and extra time. About halfway through extra time, Gala had a man sent off... I somehow missed the whole thing... assuming something was said that the ref didn't appreciate! Gala still looked better, but a man down gave Tynecastle more soace to try and hit on the break... and eventually they forced their own penalty which was well converted and saw the game out pretty well for the 3-2 win.

Didn’t actually realise at the time how late the 3rd goal was! They were the better side in the first half and should have gone ahead... but instead gave away a goal. Replay that match and no way it would finish 6-0. But on the day, Pollok took their chances... so deserved to win (probably not by quite as much as they did)

That was a tough one for Meadow last night! Went along thinking it could be a decent, competitive match... and it was for about first 30 mins... Meadow were probably better side, had more of the ball, Pollok keeper needed a couple of decentbsaves to keep you out, the home support were seriously grumbling... then gifted a goal to Pollok against the run of play. 2nd half and just collapsed... kept trying to huff and puff, but Pollok were flying with confidence, especially after the 2nd went in and were bombing down the wings - they really had too much pace and firepower... although most of the goals conceded, while great from a Pollok perspective, were quite defensively soft to lose. 6-0 was harsh... but Pollok looked like scoring every time they went forward.

I'm sure most have stumbled across this by now... but just in case here's a wee link. I fairly enjoyed it's wee 10 minute round up!

7 goals, a hatrick, players off injured, bookings for the bench, questionable refereeing decisions, coming from behind and then holding on for a win... cannae argue about value for money! Really pleased with the win. Couple of great goals and we looked good going forward... at the other end though, some poor, soft goals to concede which made the game hard work! 4 from 4 can only be seen as a good start... looks like we can score against anyone just now, which is promising.

Leith Athletic v Kinnoull last night... deserved win for Leith who, despite being down to 10 men, were far better... especially after the red card. Leith started stronger, but Kinnoull slowly forced their way into the game and took the lead. By half time, they were marginally better side. 2nd half it all erupted a bit. Leith went for the jugular, equalised early... then had a men sent off... straight red... for maybe in the eyes of the ref a kick out at defender while chasing the ball... don't think anyone was too sure. Ironically, this was just a few minutes after a Kinnoull player quite forcefully pushed a Leith player to the ground in front of ref... and not even a card. After going down a man, Leith were just excellent and repeatedly attacked down the sides with pace and got players up into the box to support. They left gaps, but Kinnoull didn't have enough about them to take advantage and Leith consistently out fought them in midfield to regain possession. Persistence paid off and a deserved last minute winning goal for the home team. This was first division v premier... if you didn't know which was which, you'd easily have picked Leith as the premier side. Took them a wee while to get going, but they were excellent in the 2nd half and worth their place in the next round.

They definitely seem to have the backing of the locals just now. Hopefully they all stick with them through the beatings while they find themselves and steady things off. New manager may explain why a lot of their players seemed to be out of position and not sure where to go. Early days, but clipboards have the answer. A few more training sessions should at least see them look more organised and make it more of a challenge for sides to break them down.

Got myself down to Linton Hotspur this evening for their match against Pumpherston. Such a nice wee setup they have down there. Picturesque setting (well, on a nice bright day), really cracking wee stand and an excellent wee club house with a little cafe area. Excellent pies and really nice people all around the club. The setup is excellent... unfortunately, their team are not. A very poor side comfortably beaten by Pumpherston 7-0... and it could have been more. Linton had an early chance to take the lead from a penalty, but it was a bit soft and the keeper saved really well. That might have changed the game... but instead it took about 2 minutes for Pumph to go up the other end and open the scoring and they never looked back. Far too many Linton players stop playing and stand still in disbelief that their under-hit/over-hit/poorly-hit pass went to a Pumph player and made no effort to get back into position or pressure to get ball back which just gave Pumpherston a lot of space to work with. It's a lovely setup, so I really hope that Linton Hotspur are in for the long run... I think on the field, this year may be a big learning curve for them.

Loch Ness game postponed on 12th Aug due to them playing in the Scottish Cup first prelim round As an unlicensed tier 6 winner they "qualify" for the big Scottish... so off to Perthshire to play Luncarty that day who also qualified thanks to winning the Unlicensed Teams cups!

Haha fair enough... I'm telt!!

Definitely not questioning the lads work rate or his getting stuck in... it just seemed that, forva striker, whenever the ball was in or near the box, he wasn't there to get on the end of a move, or to find space for a shot... didn't have the natural scorer look about him. Obviously, I'm not a Linlithgow supporter, so that's my first time seeing him... so may have just been one of those days.

My first trip to Alliance Park today... nice and convenient wee location, got a nice pre-match walk around the loch. Very basic wee cage, but I do quite like the 2 wee stands that have been put in. Dreadful pies! But really friendly bunch of guys connected to the club that we were speaking to. As for the game, Caley Braves are a strong, physical side... but today they were very much 2nd best against a very decent Linlithgow side. The number 8 in midfield looks a player and tried to drive his team on... but despite his efforts, they never tested the Linlithgow goalkeeper and struggled to keep the ball to build periods of possession.

Took the missus on a wee road trip (does 30 mins count?) to take in this one. Thought Linlithgow, after a little bit of a slow start, were far better than Caley Braves. Heaver was absolutely outstanding and every time he had the ball, drove forward and made something happen. Lithgae fans must enjoy watching him! Linlithgow attacked lots and probably should have won by more, but the wee lad up front looked like... a wee lad. It does seem a striker/extra firepower is needed (which I know sounds odd a week after they just hit 9...). It was a well worked and well taken goal when it game, but there should have been more.

Couldn't make it up for this one... so had to find something a bit closer to home! Great to get the win again... and good to hear plenty chances are still being created. Hopefully it continues, but 3 from 3 is a tremendous start for us.

Thought it would be the place to be yesterday! Do you ever NOT meet anyone at a game???

That's more than turned up to Broxburn in the Premier league... so fair play to all that went. Hope it was a good number of locals and they keep backing the club.

Totally agree with that. No doubt Glenrothes will cause issues for a lot of sides... hit woodwork twice against us and missed one sitter. They'll be disappointed to have lost that game, but reckon Broxburn just did enough and created more chances. It's gonna be a tight league this season.

Thought we started a wee bit slowly today... and we rode our luck a wee bit (they're two efforts against the bar) but we ended first half on top and probably could have scored another couple... at least 3 goal line clearances from Glenrothes and a couple of good saves from their keeper. Thought Glenrothes looked quite decent side, but Broxburn were just about worthy of the points. Thought we were excellent in the midfield today... pleasing start to the season!

Imagine that a lot of Groundhoppers found themselves at Linton Hotspur today. Was it a decent crowd to welcome them into the league? Hope to get down myself in the coming weeks.

Greentree Tavern... 5 mins from stadium Bowling club opposite the ground is decent And the actual bar in the ground itself (upstairs)is good for a wee chill out and pint And make sure you get a pie!

Still got the two big lads up front from last season who are a handful for any defence, but watching them tonight they struggled to make many chances and seemed to really be lacking in midfield. A lot of players moved on at the end of last season and it looks like it has weakened them. Be interesting to see how they pick up once their full squad are available.

Cumbernauld Colts looked very solid and capable in this one. Up front, the lad Mortimer looks like a cracking striker at this level... hatrick for him tonight; really good finish for first, strikers knack of being in right place for the 2nd, 3rd is one of the best and most confidently hit penalties I've seen for a while. I know it's hard to judge the Uni just now as they are maybe not quite at full strength yet, but Cumbernauld looked very solid, comfortable and I can see them pinching some points of some of the more fancied sides.

Come down hungry and make sure you get a steak and haggis pie before they sell out!! You can thank me on your first bite! Sausage rolls also recommended if you need a bit extra!

These babies literally keep her on side!