Mon the Pace

Netwongrange vrs Saints game being called off, probably doesn’t help either team, at this point in the season it’s points on the board that count. Wins for Camelon and Whitburn this weekend would really ramp up the pressure, any dropped points from here on in could prove fatal!

Pace promoted, a hard fought 1-2 victory at Oakley secured Premier League status for next season. Not a classic performance but 3 points secured which was the only aim of the day, a scrappy game with 2 Colley goals the highlight. Kirkcaldy at home and Nitten away 6 points that probably secure the title, games we can play without the pressure, and enjoy them. Will be great to watch the rest of the league play out to see what 2 from 4 go up, I always said Nitten on our last day will have something riding on it!! Mon the Pace

Hard fought win for Pace on Saturday, Heriot Watt unlucky to lose to a last min pen going down 2-1 in the end. Terrific result given Heriot Watt were on top for long spells in the game, deservedly taking the lead in the first half with a decent breakaway goal, Pace equalised almost immediately from the spot just before half time to go in at the break 1-1. Pace huffed and puffed without making much clear cut opportunities, Heriot Watt were playing better football and made the better chances of the half, hard to say how much part the wind played in the game, it wasn’t a classic, just as you thought the game was going to end a draw, France was caught inside the right hand side of the box, didn’t think the HW defender had to make the tackle, never caught the ball but made enough contact with France and the ref pointed to the spot. Turnbull dispatched the pen with the last kick of the ball, 3 points in the bag that probably seals promotion with 2 away ties against the bottom two to come we should (hopefully) be mathematically safely promoted before we play Kirkcaldy at our last home game of the season. Mon the Pace

Good listen this, like to see more of this content, keep it up lads

With 2 games (no disrespect) against VoL and Oakley, I would hope that’s 6 of those 9 points, HW on Saturday is huge, they were unlucky in the first game of the season, Pace stole the game 2-1, it’s going to be nervy! Our other two games are Kirkcaldy at home and finally Nitten away on the last day, some history against Kirkcaldy, there over exuberant celebrations when the won the game away will add spice to that fixture, and Nitten on the last day will surely have something riding on it. Agree with what has already been said, it’s a really competitive division, with some decent teams, we will be glad if we can get out of it, the step up might not be so daunting given the quality in the first division this year! Mon the Pace

Horrific run of form at the moment for Pace, 2 nil deserved win for Arniston on Saturday in the League Cup followed up with a weak performance at Blackburn, whilst I thought the game tonight could and should have been a draw, again Pace miss far too many gilt edge chances, and Blackburn score with their only two shots on target, means it really is a must win for Pace on Saturday against an in form Heriot Watt side. Failure to take 3 points really brings all teams into the mix for those promotion spots, some twists and turns to come. Newtongrange vrs Pace last game of the season is starting to cast a long shadow over the 4 other remaining games…. Resting players against Dunbar, Lochore and Arniston allied to injuries means the side has a slightly unsettled look to it, they need to snap out of this run rather quickly! Mon the Pace

I think if you read my match report, I say exactly that Dunbar were the better team and would have probably won the game, that one bad tackle was the two players clashing again after a bit of handbags, the game could quite easily have deteriorated into a kicking match, it didn’t.

Your not comparing apples with apples, Dunipace didn’t go onto to score against Whitburn when he went down injured in fact our winger played the ball out to stop the game if I recollect.

No blame on the player or the ref at all, but when the seriousness of the injury becomes apparent, for me the Dunbar bench should have stepped in. There’s no way the Dunbar player scores without the injury to Kane. in fairness the Dunbar captain and a few of their players wanted to let Pace score, their manager over ruled them, or at least that’s what it looked like from what I could hear and see. I wouldn’t have wanted my team to win a cup tie like that, also in my original post I think Dunbar would have probably won anyway the way the game was going. Just leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Mon the Pace

https://fb.watch/q-5NrPLJVT/? Danny smith interview and clip of the controversial Dunbar second goal

Dunbar came to Westfield this afternoon in what would turn out to be a controversial semi final tie. Pace took the lead in the first half with an excellent Kelly finish from just inside the box, he smashed a low shot across the keeper into the bottom corner to put Pace one up. the game settled and Dunbar took control of the game, probing a makeshift Pace defence, they threatened with every attack, and deservedly equalised with a stunning strike, their winger cut in from the right hand side past 3 Pace defenders before smashing a powerful shot high past Kane into the Pace goal 1-1. The first half ended with Dunbar the better team, controlling midfield and dictating a lot of the play, Pace were still dangerous on the break but Dunbar shaded the first half. Pace came out in the second half and started much more on the front foot, early pressure provided a gilt edged chance after good work from Kelly on the left side of the box squared for his strike partner Anderson to tap home from 6 yards, inexplicably the ball got stuck between his feet and a feeble shot was cleared off the line with the goal at his mercy, no doubt about he should have put Pace back into the lead. Pace also had a chance from header after good work on the wing, Galloway really should have hit the target with the goal at his mercy, it was another excellent scoring opportunity. The game turned on what was a sour note as Kane came out to collect a back pass, he crumpled as he pushed off the surface to clear the ball, it was clear that he had sustained a bad injury, the ball rolled passed him and a Dunbar striker rolled the ball into an empty net, the Pace goalie lying in agony on the park. The ref gave a goal and for 5 mins both benches were involved in a shouting match, Kane was clearly going to clear the ball, it was clear he was seriously injured and play should have been stopped, the Dunbar players looked like they wanted to allow Pace up the park to even up the score but were over ruled by the Dunbar manager, IMHO it was really poor to see and would not be the way I would want my team to progress to a final, all I can say is Dunbar must have been pretty desperate to win the game if that’s what was going to be acceptable to their management team, no sour grapes I suggest anyone interest watch the highlights on YouTube and you will see how bad it was. During the arguing a red card was shown to somebody on the Dunbar bench, no sure who, the rest of the game petered out with Dunbar adding another 2 goals to win 4-1, but it was clear that Pace heads had gone after the serious injury to the Goalie, in fact they did well not to let tempers fray and end up with needles cards. its a massive blow for Pace losing Kane, he has been a mainstay of this team this season and was a candidate for player of the year, he was taken to hospital during the game and it was confirmed post match he has snapped his Achilles tendon and his season is over, in fact it will be a long road to recovery for the Pace number one. Dunbar were probably favourites to win the game, shit goal apart, and we’re the better of the two sides which makes the decision not to allow Pace to equalise after the Kane injury and non goal even more surprising. With 6 games to go and 9 points required for promotion the next league game at Blackburn becomes a huge tie, but it’s Arniston in the cup back at Westfield on Saturday before that. Mon the Pace

Another victory chalked up for the Pace last night. An absolute blitz in the first 12 mins put the Pace 3 up that latterly killed the game, a peach of a strike pulled one back for Lochore and fair play to them they were in the game without threatening too much. 6 games to go and we are in an excellent position, it’s probably between us and St Andrews for the title, with one from 3 for the last promotion place. Pace’s last league game is away to Newtongrange, hopefully it’s put to bed before that game! Whitburns implosion and Camelon’s poor form of late probably give Nitten the edge for that last spot, Camelon sacking their manager at this point of the season makes no sense to me, shows a bit of panic setting in, they have spent a lot of money this season and it may be a last throw of the dice from them! Dunbar in a semi on Saturday should be a cracker win that and it could be a league and cup double this season!! Mon the Pace

Pace one down within seconds is not the best start to any game. Leith were first to most balls and harried all over the park they were very physical, both teams had chances throughout the first half but Leith went into half time deservedly one up and well worth it. Into the second half Pace definitely had more of the ball and subsequent pressure, Leiths attacks were mainly on the break but were always dangerous, Leiths number 9 had an excellent overall game, the game changed with about 20 to go as the ball was played through the middle it looked like it was going to run harmlessly through to the Leith keeper, inexplicably the centre half tried to flick it away for some reason straight into the path of a Pace player who was going in on goal, and was brought down, free kick and a red card. The game was becoming a bit more frantic as Pace kept pushing and Leith again were chasing and closing down well limiting the chances until the ball was crossed to the back post about 12 yards out where Colley controlled it on his chest and smashed a screamer into the top corner to equalise. Colley was put clean through 90 seconds later and smashed another low shot towards the left corner, but the Leith keeper produced a stunning save. Leith received another red card as France was put through and was taken out as he was approaching the box, nothing came from the free kick. Pace had another 2 gilt edged chances in injury time but couldn’t convert and the game ended 1-1, Leith well worth their point overall, a very strong physical performance from the Edinburgh side. Pace continue to miss too many chances you would expect to put away, hopefully with other results going the way we would have hoped today, not too much damage was done and in fact the lead at the top is now 4 points. Great result for St Andrews today, brings them right back into the mix, going to be some end to the season. Mon the Pace.

Another excellent win for the Pace yesterday, could have been more comfortable had we taken our chances, some poor finishing and an excellent performance from the Nitten keeper kept it at one. Pace started really well, made a number of good chances but couldn’t convert, Nitten took hold of the game for a 15/20 min spell in the first half and had two really good chances that they couldn’t take has the first half ended Kemp really should have scored from a header but half time came with no score. I thought the Pace played better in the second half pinning Nitten back, a penalty was awarded for a clumsy tackle in the box, looked a stonewall pen, and Kelly stepped up to take what turned out to be a poor strike that was well saved by the Nitten keeper. The attacks kept coming and eventually Kelly scored what was probably his hardest chance of the game cutting inside from the left and smashing a low shot from 20 yards passed the excellent Nitten keeper. Nitten made one clear chance in the second half where a long ball to the back post found the head of an attacker who probably should have at least hit the target, they huffed and puffed but the excellent young Pace defence held out for a clean sheet and a crucial one nil victory. Shout out for the ref who had an excellent game, no howls of derision from the hill or the shed were heard throughout the game which is something . Next 2 league games at home for the Pace where we are unbeaten could more or less wrap up a promotion spot depending on what happens else where, good to see some injured players returning yesterday just at the right time, squad has a bit of depth to it this season that has definitely helped the consistency of the team. Mon the Pace

Another top performance from the Pace at home this season, first half especially they were unplayable at times, Martin France and Liam Craig were excellent on the flanks and Connor Kelly was a real handful up front holding the ball up well. McAvoy had a decent home debut scoring the opener, but the second goal was probably pick of the bunch on the day, went in half time 3 up, an excellent header by Kelly rounding off the half. The second half display didn’t live up to the powerful performance of the first half but woodwork and some fine saves from the Preston keeper kept the goal tally at 4. Preston managed a consolation goal from a set piece but the result was never in doubt from the first minute. Pace remain unbeaten at home in the league and it’s another game ticked off in the promotion push, it’s the cup next away to Easthouse Lilly where I expect Danny will make a few changes before the big one against Newtongrange the following Saturday! Hoping for a bumper crowd for the Nitten game, it’s going to be crucial in respect of how the league placings pan out, can’t wait for it! Mon the Pace