Date: 04-Apr-09
Competition: League
Scorers: Graham Shanks (2), Davy McKean, Alex Dick
Man of the Match: Graham Shanks
Match Report:
Hamilton Harvest took on Greenbank BB this morning and were looking to build on their good midweek performance by picking up another 3 points. There was only one change from Tuesday’s team and this was due to Rob picking up an injury in that game so Hammy came in to midfield to take Robert’s place. Once again Harvest lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with Shug in goals, right to left in defence was Omar, Daryl, Hawky and Aiky, right to left in midfield was Gareth, Alex, Hammy & Davy with Shanksy and Paul leading the attack.
The first half started with Greenbank taking the game to Harvest as they looked for an early goal, and it took a while for Harvest to get to grips with the game. Despite Greenbank’s early domination of possession they didn’t really bother Shug’s goal and in fact it was Harvest who had the better of the early chances with Paul and Shanksy coming close with shots from the edge of the area. Greenbank almost scored with what was their first real attack at goal, a corner was flighted in from the Harvest left, Shug came out and got a hand to the corner to take it away from the Greenbank strikers head, and as the ball hung up at the back post it looked as if another Greenbank player would have the easy task of heading the ball in to the net but Shug got back to get another hand to the ball and push it on to the crossbar and eventually the danger was cleared. Greenbank did take the lead their possession probably deserved midway through the first half, a long clearance form the keeper dropped over the heads of the Harvest defence straight in to the path of the Greenbank winger and as Shug advanced from his goal the Greenbank player toe poked the ball past him and the ball bobbled agonisingly in to the bottom corner. Harvest were a bit disappointed they conceded a cheap goal but continued to dig in and press forward and they got their reward when Shanksy drew Harvest level 10 minutes before half time. Harvest won a free kick out on the right hand touchline about 30 yards from goal, Shanksy with his mean left foot stepped up and whipped in a fierce free kick which was allowed to go all the way through without any player touching it and nestle in the back of the net to make the score 1-1. As the first half drew to a close it was Greenbank who had an opportunity to take the lead, another corner was played deep to the back post and as the header was knocked down in to the path of Greenbank player he struck his shot toward goal but Shug was down quickly on his goal line to smother the shot. With no further first half action both teams went in level at the break. Harvest were forced in to change at half time, Paul had picked up slight knock so he was replaced by Gizzy who came on to play on the left side of midfield and Davy went up front with Shanksy.
The second half started with both teams sharing possession but with no clear cut chances at either end, Greenbank were dangerous from corners and long throw-ins but the Harvest defence coped well and the few time that headers were directed at goal Shug was well positioned to collect the ball. Greenbank then regained the lead, again a corner caused some confusion in the Harvest penalty area and as the ball bobbled about with neither team able to get their foot on it, the ball broke straight to a Greenbank player at the back post and despite Shug’s and the Harvest defenders best efforts the ball was slotted in to the net from a tight angle to make the score 2-1 to Greenbank. Harvest kept digging in and were creating chances but with little reward for their efforts as the Greenbank defence were coping with the attacks. Greenbank then had a great opportunity to increase their lead further, with the wind behind them the Greenbank keeper punted a long ball forward, as Hawky and the Greenbank striker chased the ball and Shug came out of his goal, the ball bounced of the Greenbank strikers head on the 18 yard line which took it past Shug, but Shug was quick to turn and as the ball looped towards the goal it was a chase between Shug and the striker to see who would get there first and just as the ball was about to drop over the goal line Shug made it back to hook the ball of the line despite the intentions of the Greenbank striker. This was a turning point in the game for Harvest as they pushed forward looking for the equalizer and it came courtesy of Shanksy’s left foot, Harvest won a free kick in the centre of the park about 30 – 35 yards from goal and Shanksy stepped up and fired the free kick straight over the keepers head in to the net to make it 2-2. Two great free kicks from Shanksy who had been terrorising the Greenbank defence all game but I’m sure the Greenbank keeper would have been a bit disappointed as he could have done better for both of Shanksy’s free kicks, but lets not take anything away from Shanksy, he tried his luck and it paid off. Harvest were now in the ascendancy and took the lead for the first time in the match when Shanksy picked the ball up in the midfield, advanced forward unchallenged and knocked the ball in to Davy’s feet, Davy turned smartly on the 18 yard line found some space and fired his shot low past the keeper to give Harvest the lead. No sooner had Harvest taken the lead when Greenbank equalized from the penalty spot, the ball was played forward by Greenbank and as the ball broke in the penalty area both Hawky and the Greenbank striker went for what was a 50-50 ball with Hawky getting there first and as Shug collected the loose ball the Greenbank players appealed for a penalty as the Greenbank player fell to the ground and the referee bought it and pointed to the spot. This was typical of how the game was being refereed as the referee made one bad decision after another. Despite the Harvest protest the penalty was eventually taken and slotted in to the bottom corner to make it 3-3. Harvest were clearly aggrieved at this and Davy McKean Snr. on the touchline wasn’t long in telling the referee what he really thought of him. Greenbank were then reduced to 10 men, Davy collected the ball and his quick feet took him away from a Greenbank player who blatantly pulled Davy down and as the player was already booked earlier in the match for another blatant challenge on Davy the referee had no choice and showed him a second yellow card and then a red. As the game drew to a close it was Harvest (who so many times were the victims of late goals) who scored what turned out to be the winning goal, the ball was played across the midfield by Greenbank, a Greenbank player who looked as if he would collect the ball fell under no challenge and the ball was collected by Alex who strode forward and rifled in an unstoppable shot which fizzed past the keeper in to the net to make it 4-3. Harvest then run the clock down in the last few minutes and the referee brought the game to a close and Harvest picked up 3 well deserved points.
Well done lads once again we played as a team and despite conceding 3 goals which we couldn’t really have done much about we were solid from back to front, we took our chances and our strikers were lethal. We managed to build on what was a good midweek result by picking up 3 points against another good team. Well done to Alex & Davy who scored the 3^rd & 4^th goals and well done to Shanksy who scored the first 2 goals and was awarded the man of the match award for his performance. Once again everyone dug in and although it felt as if the referee was on their side at times we never gave up and worked hard for our victory.