Date: 25-Apr-09
Competition: League
Scorers: Robert Roy, Paul McDermott, Davy McKean, Ally Gray
Man of the Match: Robert Roy
Match Report:
Hamilton Harvest took on Clarkston at the Ballerup pitches on Saturday looking to continue their good recent form. Harvest lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with Shug in goals, right to left at the back was Davy, Jaffa, Hammy & Aiky, right to left in midfield was Gizzy, Alex, Rab & Gareth with Shanksy & Paul leading the attack. Ally & Andy started on the bench. The game got underway and most of the play for the early part of the game was confined to the midfield, from early on Clarkston had realized that they could get behind the Harvest defence by playing long balls over the top of the Harvest defence, however on most occasions the ball was cleared by Shug or the Clarkston strikers were off-side. Davy was doing well at right back and was linking up well with Gizzy and both were causing Clarkston problems down the right hand side of the field and on a few occasions dangerous balls were played in to the box but the Harvest strikers just couldn’t get that vital touch that would result in a goal. As Harvest pushed up looking for the opening goal Clarkston were dangerous on the break but Hammy & Jaffa done well to mop up any danger and all Clarkston had offered up until this point was a long range effort which Shug got down to smother. Despite Harvest’s early dominance it was Clarkston who took the lead with their first meaningful attack on goal, a throw in on the Harvest right was met at the edge of the 6 yard box by a Clarkston striker, the ball seemed to deflect off his head rather than him directing the header and it fell fortunately for a team mate about 10 yards out who lashed the ball high in to the net. Harvest were a wee bit unfortunate to be 1 goal down but didn’t let their heads go down and drove forward in search for an equalizer, Robert’s vision and Alex’s trickery in the midfield were causing Clarkston problems and it was that combination that brought the equalizer, Alex picked the ball up in midfield and split the defence with an great pass and Rob latched on to the through ball and prodded it past the keeper in to the bottom corner. Harvest then had a great opportunity to take the lead when once again Alex picked the ball up in midfield and after beating a few Clarkston players curled in a great shot which beat the keeper but came of the base of the post and Clarkston cleared the danger. Harvest were now dominating the game and created plenty of chances but just couldn’t get that second goal and in fact it was Clarkston who stole the lead 10 minutes before half time, another long hopeful ball forward found it’s way over the Harvest defence, on the right hand side, Shug was quick from his goal but had to come at least 30 yards to clear the danger but his clearance fell to a Clarkston player on the half way line and with Shug way out of his goal he took a touch and launched the ball goal wards, and despite Shug’s desperate attempts to get back to his goal the ball flew in to the net. With no further notable action the half time whistle blew and Harvest were somewhat unfortunate to find themselves 2-1 down at the break.
Harvest were by no means out of the game and as the second half started they pushed forward looking for an equalizer, with Harvest pressing forward Clarkston were hitting them on the break and were dangerous going forward and with the Clarkston striker bearing down on goal after latching on to a high ball Jaffa came across and took the player down and received a yellow card for the challenge. From the resulting free kick the Clarkston defender curled the ball over the wall and off the crossbar and as the ball dropped on to the head of his team mate he couldn’t direct his header and the ball went bye the post. Harvest then had a free kick of their own just outside the Clarkston penalty box after Davy was brought down, Shanksy stepped up and fired a great shot in at goal which the Clarkston keeper done well to parry to safety. Harvest did get the equalizer their dominance deserved in the 60^th minute, Shanksy picked the ball up on the left and drove forward beating the Clarkston right back easily, when close to the bye line he whipped in a low cross and Paul lost his marker to make it to the front post and he side footed the ball past the keeper to make it 2-2. Harvest then made their first change of the game with Ally coming on to replace Gareth, with that substitution, Shanksy moved to left midfield and Ally went up front to partner Paul. Harvest were now in control of the game and continued to press forward looking for more goals and they eventually got their reward when Davy picked the ball up on the right about 30 yards from goal and jinked his way passed about 6 Clarkston players on his way in to the box before slotting the ball under the keeper in to the net to make it 3-2. Clarkston were dangerous on the break and passed up a great opportunity to equalize, the Clarkston winger picked up the ball on the Harvest left and advanced to the bye line, as he cut the ball back Shug got a hand to it but could only direct it in to the path of a waiting Clarkston player and as he fired the ball goal wards Hammy was on the line to clear the ball and keep Harvest’s lead in tact. Clarkston were now pressing forward looking for a way back in to the game and they had another chance to equalize, again the ball was played forward down the Harvest left, the ball was slipped through to the Clarkston striker who took a touch to get the ball out of his feet which presented him with a clear shot at goal but Shug dived full stretch to his right to palm the ball away for a corner. Harvest then put the game beyond Clarkston in the 85^th minute when the scored their 4^th goal, Aiky picked the ball up just inside his own half on the left hand side, played the ball forward to Shanksy who held the ball up and then knocked it forward to Ally, with the Clarkston defence standing static as the claimed for offside, Ally raced on the ball and knocked it past the keeper in to the bottom corner to make it 4-2. Clarkston were aggrieved that the goal was allowed to stand and in the protest that followed a couple of the Clarkston players were booked for dissent. With the game effectively over has a contest Harvest made their second substitution of the game with Andy coming on to replace Robert and the remainder of the match was played out and Harvest picked up another 3 points as they look to climb the table.
Well done today guys a great battling performance especially in the 2^nd half and in all truthfulness we should never had been 2-1 down at half time. Well done to Robert, Paul, Davy & Ally who scored the goals and to Robert for getting the man of the match award, there were great performances from everyone today and everybody had a part to play in getting this 3 points. Well done lads.