Date: 06-Mar-10
Competition: Umbro Fraser Trophy QF
Scorers: William McKean (2), Yusef Patel (2), James McKean, David McKean
Man of the Match: William McKean
Match Report:

Hamilton Harvest advanced to the semi-final of the Umbro Fraser Trophy on Saturday with a victory against Avendale at the Bent Parks. Harvest lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with Shug in goals, right to left in defence was Yos, Steph, Hawky & Omar, right to left in midfield was Davy, Rab, Alex & James, with Paul & William leading the attack. Hammy, Wullie & Derek started on the bench.

Harvest were quickly in to their stride and nearly took the lead when good work found Paul just inside the area but his shot went narrowly past the post. Avendale were next to have a pop at goal but a low shot from outside the box was gathered comfortably by Shug. Harvest then took the lead in the 20^th minute, a long ball out of defence by David was running through to the Avendale keeper but William chased the ball down, the keeper advanced from his goal to clear the ball but hit the ball against William and the Avendale defender and it broke kindly for William and he was able to slot the ball in to an empty net to make it 1-0. Harvest were encouraged by the breakthrough and started dominating the play and increased their lead in the 29^th minute, some good footwork on the edge of the Avendale box by Davy saw him slip a neat ball through to James whose first touch took it round the keeper and he slammed the ball in to the net from a tight angle to make it 2-0. At 2-0 Harvest were comfortable and should have seen out the rest of the half but Avendale were gifted a way back in to the match when Hawky dwelled on the ball just inside the Harvest area, the Avendale winger nicked it from him and squared the ball to the striker who put the ball beyond Shug’s despairing dive to make it 2-1. Avendale were now buoyed by their goal and started to attack a bit more looking for the equalizer, at times Harvest struggled to pick up the runners and a few crosses in to the Harvest box were dangerous, the first was punched away from the on rushing Avendale midfielders head by Shug and another was headed clear by Hawky. The Avendale forward line were starting to cause Harvest problems and they were presented with another opportunity when the ball was knocked through straight to the wingers feet, however his first touch to get the ball out his feet was a bit heavy, this allowed Shug to race from his goal and deflect the shot and as the ball broke Omar was on hand to clear it for a corner. Avendale were now on top and had a great opportunity to get an equalizer just before half time when good work on the edge of the area saw the ball laid back to the Avendale winger and his curling shot from the edge of the area was heading in to the far corner but Shug dived full length to get a hand to the ball and deflect it past the post. The half ended with Harvest pushing forward and attempting to snatch a third goal but a fierce shot by Alex was held by the Avendale keeper. The referee then blew the half time whistle and Harvest went in 2-1 up.

The second half started with Avendale pushing forward looking for the equalizer but some strong defending prevented them really penetrating the Harvest defence. Harvest increased their lead in the 53^rd minute, James picked up the ball on the left and went for a mazy run, he beat 3 Avendale players before laying the ball in to William’s path on the angle and William rifled his shot high and right through the hands of the Avendale keeper to make it 3-1. The game remained competitive especially in the midfield but Harvest were now starting to dominate and scored a 4^th goal in the 64^th minute when David picked up the ball and played it in to Paul’s feet, Paul took a touch and squared the ball back inside to David who then laid it off to Yos on the edge of the area and Yos cracked his shot off the underside of the crossbar and in to the net to make it 4-1. After this Harvest seemed to take the foot of the pedal and this allowed Avendale to get a goal back, the Avendale striker picked the ball up on the Harvest left and flighted a deep ball in to the box and the Avendale player got across the front of Yos to side foot the ball high in to the net to make the score 4-2. Harvest then stepped it up and finally put the game to bed in the 77^th minute when David flighted a corner right in to the middle of the Avendale box and Yos rose unmarked to bullet his header in to the net to make it 5-2. Avendale were still dangerous going forward and they broke at speed on Harvest and Shug had to be on his toes when a long ball dropped over the top of the defence straight to the feet of the Avendale striker who advanced on goal at the angle, with no support he was forced to go alone and rifled a fierce shot that Shug done well to palm away. Harvest then completed the scoring in the 84^th minute with a well worked goal, Yos collected the ball on his own bye line on the Harvest left, played the ball to Wullie who had earlier replaced Omar, Wullie knocked the ball inside to Hawky who played the ball forward to Hammy, Hammy was given time to turn and picked Davy out on the right with a sublime through ball, Davy collected the ball on the run and then dinked the ball over the advancing keeper in to the net to make it 6-2. There was 1 more chance at each end before the full time whistle, Derek who replaced James, was clean through on goal but screwed his shot wide and then Avendale went up the park and were firing shots in on the Harvest goal, but the defence threw their bodies in front of every shot and eventually Shug blocked a shot with his legs on the goal line and Alex cleared the danger. That goal mouth scramble was the last of the action and the referee blew the final whistle with Harvest running out deserved winners.

Well done today lads a great victory against a decent Avendale side and although we panicked a wee bit after they got their first goal all in all it was a solid display and well deserved win. Well done to William & Yos who both claimed 2 goals, James and David for adding the others, William also picked up the man of the match award for his display although everyone takes great credit for a great win. Let’s hope this win provides us with the platform to go on and pick up more league points. Well done, have a good week and God Bless.