Stranraer 0 Accies 0: Saturday, 12 April 2003

Scottish League Division 2, Stair Park, Stranraer

Saturday, 12 April 2003

Report by NDP Kid On The Block

This was probably a vital point, we certainly had to avoid defeat, but, once again, it was a tale of missed chances. We had the chances to win this one, Stranraer lost a man early on and they clearly settled for a draw from the 24th minute. The fact that in the second half they saw fit to withdraw Harty, Aitken and Moore, perhaps their 3 best players, confirmed that.

But for Accies it was a point, a clean sheet and another notch on what has been a relatively good away record this season, but we would all have preferred what would have been a deserved win.

There were an astonishing SIX changes from last week's starting line up. Out, for a variety of reasons, went Potter, McDonald, Hillcoat, McDermott, Armstrong and large Ally Graham. In came Macfarlane, Kerr, Cunnington, Elfallah, Russell and Callaghan. On the bench for the first time was Ross McGeachie from the 18s team.

We kicked off in glorious sunshine, shooting towards the uncovered end. But the peace and tranquility of summery Stair Park was broken by the day's incomers - a group of noisy lads up from Stoke for the day to add their (vocal, drunken) support to the blues. Ok, fair credit to them, but there is a massive difference between the lager loutishness of England supporters, and their own peculiar brand of sing songs, and what we are used to up here.

Faldo denied Harty early on, then McPhee, in the 10th minute, had a good header held low down by Willie McCulloch after Cal crossed in. Dobbins, with a header, tested McCulloch soon after. At the other end Dobbins headed away then smaller Ally cleared a Harty cross from the right. Mahdi had a long range effort for Accies, Jenkins, always dangerous, did well along the goal line for Stranraer but Harty clipped his shot just over faldo along the the line as well.

A lively enough start indeed, but in the 24th minute Ref George Clyde had no hesitation in reaching for a straight red card for Andy Scott who chopped Stuart Callaghan down about 15 yards into his own half on the small stand side. Cal was moving at pace but the midfielder made no attempt for the ball at all. Down to 10 men, the home team just tightened up and set out not to lose. Our defence was nearly caught napping when Harty nipped in, but Macfarlane saved. McPhee fired one across goal but Elfallah couldn't poke it home, his shot deflecting out for a corner from which Russell glanced a header just wide. Ten minutes before the break Dylan crashed a 25 yard free kick off the bar. On the whistle Mick Moore, subject of a fair few taunts from the Accies fans, badly fouled Mahdi, then almost immediately went tumbling in the box himself but Clyde waved away his bleating for a penalty.

The game was open, with chances at both ends. we had the more clear cut ones. In the second half we had the first attempt from Cunnington with a half hit shot then at the other end steady eddie was there to head Lee Sharp's cross clear. Bee had a half chance as we pressurised in the box, Bonnar and Russell also having attempts. In 53 we had a good chance when Bonnar did really well on the left, beat Farrell and crossed in to Russell who, 8 yards out, fired his low shot straight at McCulloch. That one should have been put away.

An inviting and pacy cross by Elfallah was missed by everyone before Moore had a half chance for them which was cleared by Cal. Stranraer were let down by their passing, frequently aimless, while we simply couldn't stick away some top quality chances, well created. Cunnington denied Wingate, the game became a wee bit towsy with a few undercurrents.

Paul McDonald came on for us in 83 (for Graham) and almost immediately crossed in from the left and McCulloch pushed his menacing cross over for a corner. When that came in, got cleared, and we attacked back, Russell blasted over the bar when running into the box at pace. Another good one gone. Dobbins then headed over from a Callaghan corner. But the home team fought back in the closing minutes. Sharp had a shot which came off Russell for a corner and then McPhee headed clear. Dobbins then blocked a drive by Finlayson after Lurinsky crossed in.

On full time Farrell skied a Callaghan cross over the bar for a corner, but after that was played out the whistle went. The frustration was there to see in our team as a win was there to be had... but a familiar tale as we didn't finish off a number of good chances created.

I wouldn't have said anyone was really outstanding for us, it was another hard, workmanlike display by all the team. Dobbins, Kerr, Bonnar, Callaghan perhaps the pick.

Macfarlane, Graham (McDonald 83), Cunnington, Dobbins, Kerr, Elfallah, Bonnar, Sherry, Russell, McPhee, Callaghan. Subs not used - Hillcoat, Arbuckle, McGeachie, Jellema

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