Accies 2 East Stirlingshire 2: Saturday, 10 March 2001

Scottish League Divison 3, Firhill Stadium, Glasgow

Saturday, 10 March 2001

TEAM NEWS

With Jim Sherry suspended, Ally Dawson surprisingly plumped for Brian Vaugh in midfield. The three week layoff had allowed David McFarlane and Ian Macfarlane to recover from injury and they took their usual places in the starting lineup.

FIRST HALF

Accies got off to a bright start and had 'Shire pegged back in their own area for much of the opening 20-25 minutes. However, they were unable to create much in the way of chances and their 'keeper was rarely called into action. Accies did have a couple of close things, however, with Brian Vaugh unlucky not to score after a good run and Stuart Callaghan missing a good chance right in front of goal.

Accies took the lead with a scrambled effort. A good cross from the right was fumbled by the visiting goalkeeper and Stuart Callaghan was delighted to shoot home from close range. Accies threatened to increase this lead but never looked particularly in command.

East Stirlingshire had a couple of breakaway attacks in the first half but they tended to fall apart when they got within shooting distance.

SECOND HALF

'Shire equalised 6 minutes after half time with a disastrous goal. At first glance, it was a routine goal, with a fine header from a corner being saved by Ian Macfarlane but Gregor McKechnie scoring from the rebound. However, I would like to pick out Stuart Callaghan for a special mention in the part he played in the goal. An Accies attack had broken down and the ball was played out to the Accies left. A 'Shire player took possession of the ball, not very far from Callaghan and started a move down the wing. Quite why Callaghan decided not to chase after the player and put in a tackle I don't know, but all he did was jog along 5 yards behind him and eventually the ball was cleared for a corner by Michael Martin. The goal came from the corner, but it could easily have been avoided if Callaghan had shown a bit more enthusiasm about tackling back and getting stuck in.

At this stage, the Accies fans were beginning to wonder if this game would be a repeat of the Montrose fiasco. The Accies defence was all over the place, while for some bizarre reason our primary attacking tactic seemed to be along punt from Ian Macfarlane for the strikers to chase. If you have a team that can play decent football on the ground, why do this?

Accies created a few chances, but were unable to get anywhere with their poor tactics. So it wasn't exactly a surprise when the visitors took the lead halfway through the second half. This was real comic cuts stuff. Gregor McKechnie (again) was given acres of space to run onto a good pass through the heart of the Accies defence. He lobbed the outrushing Macfarlane and (just) beat two Accies players to knock the ball into the empty goal.

Naturally, this caused apoplexy amongst the Accies support and it was just as well that Accies equalised just 5 minutes later. This time it was a great cross from Michael Martin which was headed home by Michael Moore for his first goal since October 24th. (Coincidentally, my last words before it hit the net were "When did Michael Moore last score a goal?" Strange but true.)

Accies did have other chances, with Brian Vaugh and Martin Bonnar being the chief culprits. Allan Russell (theme song: "The Passenger" by Iggy Pop), screwed a shot out for a throw in from a good position outside the box.

Steven Hislop had a great chance to pinch all three points for 'Shire near the end but his low shot just missed the far post with Ian Macfarlane nowhere.

IN CONCLUSION...

Another bad day for Accies. I'm now having serious doubts about our prospects for getting out of this appalling league. If you can't defeat East Stirlingshire and Montrose at Firhill, then you can't expect to go up. There are now only three games remaining of Accies stressful tenancy at Firhill and it can't end quickly enough.

Accies now have no fewer than 9 away games before the end of the season. Time to get stuck in lads!

I'm sure I'm not the only one who doesn't want to spend another year in the expanded Highland League. I wish I knew exactly what the problem was.

Is it nerves at being at the top of the league?

Is it the manager's fault?

Are the players betting on our opponents at William Hill?

Whatever it is, they had better fix it and soon. I'm not about to desert them, but a couple of well known long term fans I spoke to today are seriously considering chucking it regardless of the return to the town and all the new stadium stuff.

If Accies fail to gain promotion, the chances of the club getting decent crowds in the third division next year will be negligible.

Accies : Macfarlane, Martin, Callaghan, Gaughan, Oliver, Kerr, Vaugh (Davidson), Russell, Moore, McFarlane (Lurinsky) and Bonnar.

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