Date: 31-Jul-10
Competition: Friendly
Scorers: William McKean, Anthony Healy (3), Alex Dick, John Barr, Matt Collins, William Gillespie, Callum
Man of the Match:
Match Report:

Hamilton Harvest continued their pre-season preparation with a comfortable win over EK Claremont Free Church on Saturday morning. Harvest started in a 5-3-2 formation with Hammy deputising for the injured Shug in goals, right wing back was Wullie Gillespie, the back three were Daryl, Hawky & Steph with Davy McKean at left wing back, Matt & David sat in the midfield with Des just in front of them and Callum & Wullie McKean started up front, Mark, Anthony (Ants), John Barr & Cush started on the bench.

Harvest started the game well and registered their first attack in the 3^rd minute when Davy McKean picked the ball up on the left, drove forward and slipped the ball in to the path of Des whose low drive from the edge of the box was saved by the keeper. Next it was EK’s turn to attack and a corner swung in from the right was met at the back post by the big defenders head but the header went by the far post. Harvest were up the field and on the attack again and a ball over the EK defence found it’s way to Callum’s feet but his volley was straight at the keeper who blocked well. The early Harvest pressure was to pay off when they took the lead in the 9^th minute, once again Davy McKean picked the ball up on the left and drove forward, he squared the ball to Des on the edge of the area and Des then chipped the ball over the EK defence to the feet of Wullie McKean who got across his defender to side foot the ball passed the keeper in to the bottom corner to make it 1-0. Immediately following the goal Wullie McKean had to be replaced after aggravating an injury picked up at training on Wednesday and he was replaced by Ants who came on to make his Harvest debut. Harvest were on the attack again and nearly increased their lead in the 10^th minute when a ball was knocked in field to Des he flicked the ball over the defenders head and turned to latch on to the loose ball but his volley flew inches over the crossbar. Harvest were now dominating the game and EK were finding it difficult to get out of their own half and this pressure lead to a second goal in the 16^th minute, the ball was picked up in midfield and knocked out wide to Davy McKean, he came inside and from the edge of the area fired in a low shot which the keeper parried and Ants was quick with the follow up and slid the ball under the keeper in to the bottom corner to mark his debut with a goal and make it 2-0. Harvest kept pressing forward and a neat reverse pass from Davy in to Ants and a first time pass to Callum saw him with an opportunity but once again he was denied by the keeper. Harvest made it 3-0 in the 20^th minute and it was 3^rd time lucky for Callum, Steph picked the ball up in the Harvest defence and played the ball down the line to Callum, Callum controlled the ball well and passed it inside to Des, Des quickly returned the ball to Callum who continued his run in to the box and his fierce shot flew passed the keeper in to the bottom corner. Harvest were playing some great football and increased their lead further in the 28^th minute, John Barr was now on and helping control things in the midfield and good work saw the ball played to Des who was allowed to advance forward unchallenged and hit a good shot from the edge of the box which beat the keeper came off the underside of the bar and in to the net to make it 4-0. Harvest were on the attack again Davy McKean drove down the left and passed the ball inside to Ants who quickly returned the pass to Davy and from the edge of the area Davy curled a shot just passed the far post, this was to be Davy’s last contribution of the game as he tweaked a hamstring and had to be replaced. In the 31^st minute Harvest made it 5-0, Wullie Gillespie played a short corner to Ants, Ants took the ball past a player and then from the edge of the box evaded another challenge and curled his shot in to the far corner of the net to notch up his 2^nd goal. Ants then completed his hat-trick in the 33^rd minute, JB picked up the ball in midfield and played it forward to Ants, Ants played a neat 1-2 with Matt and has the ball dropped to Ants in the box he lashed it high passed the keeper in to the roof of the net to complete his hat-trick and make it 6-0. The remainder of the half was played out with no further notable goal mouth action and at half time Harvest went in 6-0 up.

The second half started with EK on the attack as they looked to restore some pride and Hammy was called in to action when he had to get down low to save a shot from the edge of the area. EK came more in to the game at the start of the second half and did try to get the ball forward but the Harvest defence coped well and the Harvest goal was kept in tact. In the 60^th minute Harvest increased their lead further when JB picked the ball up in midfield played a neat through pass to Ants who as the keeper and defender closed him down managed to get his shot away which deflected up and towards goal and Matt was quick to follow up and tap the ball in to the net from close range to make it 7-0. In the 65^th minute it was 8-0, JB picked up the loose ball and played it forward to Matt, Matt quickly played the ball back in to the path of JB and from the angle he slotted the ball in to the bottom corner. EK were still trying to get forward and get a goal and in doing so left space at the back and Harvest exploited this and completed the scoring in the 80^th minute when Des collected the ball in midfield, drove forward and played a great through ball to Wullie Gillespie who fired the ball past the keeper in to the far corner to make it 9-0. The rest of the game was played out in good spirit and the referee brought the game to a close and with no further goals the Harvest ran out 9-0 winners.

Well done today guys a good work out, some great play and every goal was well worked, well done to Wullie McKean, Ants, Callum, Des, JB, Matt & Wullie Gillespie who all got their names on the score sheet, however 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.