Date: 07-Aug-10
Competition: Friendly
Scorers: Anthony Healy (3)
Man of the Match: Anthony Healy
Match Report:

Hamilton Harvest continued their pre-season preparations with a win over Auchenfoyle on Saturday morning. Harvest started in a 5-3-2 formation with Shug in goals, right wing back was Mark, the back three were Iain, Hawky & Craig with Andy at left wing back, JB & David sat in the midfield with Des just in front of them and William Anderson & Ants started up front, Matt, Wullie McKean, Wullie McKenna, Wullie Gillespie, Davy McKean & Gossy started on the bench, but with rolling subs everyone would get a decent run out.

Harvest started well and had a couple of early chances to take the lead but after good build up play William Anderson’s shot was weak and the keeper collected and Des flashed a shot inches past the right hand post. It was Auchenfoyle who took the lead with their first effort on goal, a long ball from the keeper caused some confusion on the Harvest right hand side and as the ball broke and sat up for the striker he struck it on the angle from about 30 yards and the ball soared over the head of Shug and in to the net to make it 1-0. Despite this early setback Harvest continued to push forward and were rewarded with an equalizer in the 11^th minute, some neat footwork in the midfield by JB saw him play the ball forward to William Anderson who laid the ball in to the path of Ants just inside the Auchenfoyle area and he side footed the ball past the keeper in to the bottom corner to level the scores. Harvest kept pushing forward and took the lead in the 19^th minute, Harvest won a throw in on the Auchenfoyle right, Des was quick with the throw in and threw it over the heads of the 2 defender straight to the feet of Ants and as the keeper advanced Ants lifted it over him and in to the net to make it 2-1. The game was now well balanced and both teams were getting forward and creating chances. Harvest then started to dominate the game and created some good chances, Wullie McKean who came on to replace William Anderson had a couple of opportunities but on both occasions his shots looped over the keeper and over the bar. Harvest’s domination paid off and they increased the lead further in the 28^th minute Andy Toner picked the ball up near the touch line, evaded a couple of challenges and crashed a shot by the keeper but it rebounded of the post and fell to Ants who took a touch and then fired in to the net to complete his hat-trick. Auchenfoyle kept pushing forward looking for a way back in to the game and they were awarded a penalty in the 33^rd minute when Hawky was judged to have nudged the striker of the ball inside the box, the striker lifted himself up and took the penalty which Shug got down well to save but the striker capitalised on the rebound and despite Shug’s efforts the ball was bundled in to the bottom corner to make it 3-2. Auchenfoyle were lifted by this and had a great opportunity to equalize just before half time, the ball was slipped through and the striker ran on to the ball and fired in a shot from the edge of the 6 yard box but the ball deflected of the outstretched leg of Shug and away from danger. The referee brought the half to a close and Harvest went in 3-2 up at the break.

The second half was an evenly contested game with Harvest looking to increase their lead and Auchenfoyle trying to get an equalizer. Auchenfoyle did have a great chance to make it 3-3 when a deep ball was played to the back post, the ball was knocked back inside and with Shug out of his goal it looked as though the striker would level the score but he took his time to steady himself for the shot and when he did get it away from 5 yards out Hawky was on the line to clear the ball for a corner. Again Auchenfoyle had a chance when a mix up between Hawky and Smillie presented the striker with a run at goal but Shug was out quick at his feet to block the shot and the danger was cleared. Harvest’s had a couple of decent chances to increase the lead as well, but Matt’s shot was cleared of the line, then William Gillespie put a great ball on a plate for Smillie at the back post but his header went wide. A good second half was played out with no further goals and the game ended with Harvest running out 3-2 winners.

Well done today guys a good work out, some great play and every goal was well worked, well done to Ants who scored his second hat-trick in only his second game, that’s 6 goals for the season already and for that performance Ants was also awarded the man of the match award. Although Ants got the goals it was a real team effort and every player that took part contributed to what was a good game and great result. Well done once again, have a good week. God Bless.