Date: 04-Aug-09
Competition: Friendly
Scorers: Yusef Patel, Paul McDermott
Man of the Match: Robert Roy
Match Report:
Hamilton Harvest took on Blantyre Utd in their second pre-season friendly on Tuesday, with seven 1^st team players missing Harvest had to bring in some fringe players for this game. Harvest lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with Shug in goals, right to left in defence was Andy, Hammy, Neil & Hawky, right to left in midfield was Sully, John, Rab & Yos with William & Paul leading the attack. Both teams started brightly however it was Blantyre who dominated the early possession, they did pass the ball well and put a few dangerous crosses in to the box but the Harvest defence coped well. Blantyre took the lead midway through the first half when a through ball saw the Blantyre striker beat the off side trap and tuck the ball neatly in at the near post. Harvest then came back in to the game and had a few shots at the Blantyre goal which the keeper collected comfortably. Harvest had a great opportunity to equalize when Andy ran from right back and skipped by a few Blantyre defenders but when faced with a clear sight of goal he shot straight at the keeper. With very little in the way of goal mouth action the remainder of the half was played out and Harvest went in 1-0 down at the break.
Harvest started the second half on the front foot as they tried to get back in to the game and they got their reward in the 50^th minute, a corner from the left was played in to the box and Yos jumped highest to glance his header past the keeper in to the net to make it 1-1. Harvest were then presented with a glorious opportunity to take the lead when a neat through ball saw Paul go one on one with the keeper however the keeper came out on top getting his feet to Paul’s effort and turning it round the post. Blantyre then went up the park and scored a second goal, a cross from the Harvest left was only partially cleared and the Blantyre striker was on hand to fire a low shot in to the bottom corner from 14 yards out. Harvest were still in the game and were causing the Blantyre defence some problems but at time the final ball was not there and the danger was mopped up. With Harvest pushing men forward looking for an equalizer Blantyre were dangerous on the break and had an opportunity to increase their lead when the off side trap was broken again and the striker ran through one on one with Shug but Shug got down well to save the strikers shot with his feet. Blantyre were not to be denied a 3^rd goal and broke up the field once again and scored in the 75^th minute this time when one on one with Shug the striker tucked his shot in to the bottom corner. Harvest were still in the game and played some neat football and pulled a goal back in the 80^th minute when Paul picked the ball up on the left and drove in towards goal and placed his shot neatly in at the near post. With the game coming to a close and Harvest pressing for an equalizer there were a few gaps left at the back and when the Blantyre striker received the ball and made headway in to the box, he went down under the challenge of Hammy, there didn’t seem to much in it but the referee pointed to the spot and Blantyre completed the scoring when their striker sent Shug the wrong way to complete his hat-trick and make the final score 4-2.
Unlucky tonight guys with so many players missing I think we done well with a patched up team and certainly gave Blantyre a game. Well done to Paul & Yos who scored, let’s take the positives from this game in to Saturday’s game and the remainder of our pre-season.