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Match Report v Harvester

May. 7, 2012

Well here is the long awaited match report from yesterday .

Prior to the Saturday I knew I was going to be missing Kevin Mainsy Porky Lee and Scott C .By the time Sunday arrived ,Broonyand Calzo had been added to the list

When I announced the team I had 13 players but fortunately Lee and Scott got in touch to say that they were on the way back from Falkirk and would be available for the bench .

For several weeks I have been convinced that our best formation is to play 3 central defenders with wing backs ,3 in central midfield and 2 strikers so that is the formation that we laid out .

 Thought we started brightly enough and bothRiki and Blair drew fine stops from the Harvy keeper .

We went behind from a direct free kick but even as half time arrived with us 1-0 down I was confident that we could score . 

Into the second half and we had some decent attacks but the ball was simply not falling for us in the box .Thought we should have had a penalty when young Scott was bundled in the back when only a few yards from goal .

Got a deserved equaliser which both Riki and Basher are claiming - I could not see clearly who scored - and wasnt caring anyway .

I thought we would go on and win it from there but it was Harvy who went ahead with 8 minutes to go .

We responded well and equalised again through Riki .

So to penalties and I asked for volunteers - credit to the troops cos I got 7 offers .Only Lee Bingo and Basher kept their hands by their sides lol .Bla and Scott C were left out of the shoot out .

On hindsight not one of our guys looked like missing - Blair Riki Chris Spade all scored to make it 4-4 . The last Harvy boy skied his and Paul stepped up to slot the decisive spot kick .

Individual assessment .

Asbo - handling was very good and he had no chance at the second goal .Nearly kept out the first 2 Harvy penalties but am I being harsh in saying that he would have expected to keep the free kick out?

Spade - Excellent display from Spade - lost very little in the air or on the ground . Not seen in any attacking sense but just an excellent auld fashioned centre half display . Superb !! Best display in a Harthill jersey perhaps ????

Chris - Back to nearer his best form after a wee bit below par against Harvy the last time .Lost nothing in the air , made some exxcellent interceptions and generally marshalled the back line from sweeper very well . Could perhaps have done more to make it hard for the Harvy striker at the second goal but if at fault made up for it with a superb free kick off bar/post which ended up with Riki notching the second equaliser .

Bla - the enigma that is Fr Dougal lol . Strong as an ox - pacy - decent in the air - all attributes of Bla and yesterday he used his strengths to their maximum effect .Had a very tough job against a top striker who has excellent movement . Only one slip when he lost the guy at the second goal but can be happy with a very very good overall performance .Oh aye - only one other flaw is that he appears to be DEAF when being asked to get back ha ha .

Scott W - I said a few weeks back that this guy could be anything and he continues to show that I am no a bad judge in that respect .Not only did he keep tabs on a very very good Harvy winger but also got himself forward to great effect . Again a performance that is arguably his best in a Harthill jersey .Noticeable we lost the second goal from his area when young Scott had come off ????

Bingo - What a performance from Billy - up against a fleeing machine who slipped him once or twice but over the piece forced the guy to go inside which suited us fine . Like Spade in that he is a no fucking about type of defender - what you see is what you get fae Bingo .Shat himself when one on one wi the keeper and miskicked lol . Bolted as well when I asked for volunteer penalty takers lol 

Basher - I keep saying the same things about Basher but that should not be seen as a negative .Very much the Stuart McCall of our side - brilliant engine and loves a tackle - almost broke the line a couple of times in the second half only for the flag to deny him - and waiting for the scoring panel to rule on who scored - him or Riki ? Best compliment I can give him is that if he is available he plays - Simples !

Paul - The enigma that is McNee - talent in abundance and just a little less madness ha ha . We are a different team with an on form Paul in the team . I find it difficult to assess Paul because I know how good the guy is and other people often tell me he was brilliant when I thought he was having an ordinary game . On Sunday he worked very hard and certainly gave Harvester plenty to think about .Almost grabbed the winner in the last minute with a header that went narrowly over but had the last laugh when he coolly slotted the winner .

Blair - started in a free role before pushing all the way up top beside Riki - well 40 yards apart is about as close as Blair and Riki ever play lol . Wherever he was he terrorised the Harvy defenders including his wee m8 at left back .Brilliant feet and a match winner in waiting . First Class .

Seb - pitched in at the deep end and didnt quite get to grips with the role he was given - got an elbow in the head and a lump like an egg as a result .Replaced after 30 minutes but there will be other chances for Seb .

Riki - Once again showed how valuable he is to the team with 2 goals (subject to a ruling on his dispute with Basher) lol . Well known in the league so naturally Harvester set there stall out to keep the big man quiet however early doors only an amazing save from the keeper kept out his downward header . Had a great aerial battle with Div but on the deck was where Riki had most success .Really fired into life after his equaliser and always a threat .Will be a big miss in the semi final this weekend against Tower but more importantly will return for the Final the following week . 40+ goals in a season is an amazing return .What a signing !!

Lee - went into central midfield as a stopper more than anything else and did very well . Has been an excellent addition to our squad and I love his attitude . Great team player .

Scott C - Went on late on and didnt have much time to make an impact but has already shown that he can grab a goal so another very welcome signing in the second half of the season . Shown in the past that he can be the man for the big occasion .Wont be this week though - he is cuptied wi Livi Utd !

Buntsy - had planned to use Buntsy later in thre game and certainly before penalty shoot out but made an arse of it on both counts . Sorry Buntsy .

Billy J - the quiet man of the group who never misses a game but chose the semi final to turn up like a half shut knife after a night on the swally . Still got a job to do this season I suspect