A glorious sunny day appeared again for my second trip to Adamslie to see Rob Roy this time taking on title chasing Arthurlie. Yet I still didnt heed the sunburn warnings of the last time and returned home with a red face and neck to boot. The heat from the sun was masked by an incredibly strong wind but I finally witnessed a win in the Juniors as The Rabs’ third league win in a row sent Arthurlie title hopes blowing in the wind.
On the way to the park my wife and I were stopped at lights. The driver in the car in front was talking to her passenger who had the biggest blonde 'fro cut you are likely to see. But we couldnt decide if it was an old biddy with a big hat or a young cool dudette with teenage rebellion in hair form. I thought it was Rod Stewart but as the driver turned once more to her passenger - this time stroking their face - the passenger turned and in profile we discovered it was a huge poodle. We were still at the lights ten minutes later unable to move for laughing.
The first taste of how strong the wind was came when I got out in the car park and nearly lost the door. As I gave over a tenner for entrance I jokingly told the guy to make sure he's got a good grip of my change when the young boy selling lucky draw numbers told me that earlier a guys fiver had blown away sending him careering after it. I dont know if he's still looking for it. Unfortunately this dialogue made it harder to not buy a strip of raffle tickets - £1 buys two strips - even after my in-law's troubles with the draw last time. Still I felt lucky anyway.
Arthurlie had brought a decent crowd with them to the game and again I found myself standing on the terracing surrounded mainly by away fans. Just like the Pollok fans from before they were in good spirits and friendly in their banter. I was also encouraged to see that the two freeloaders on the hill over looking the ground had been joined by two mates and a dog. Although later on in the game they seemed to get a bit too friendly with the mutt.
Both sides lined up with a traditional 4-4-2 formation, Rob Roy choosing to shoot with the wind in the first half after winning the coin toss. However it was Arthurlie who took the initiative attacking straight from kick off. They forced two free kicks and a corner kick all within the first few minutes to pile pressure on the Rabs’ defence.
However it was Kirkintilloch who had the first effort on goal after 5 minutes with a sweeping move which saw the ball crossed from the left wing finding the head of midfielder Sinclair who put it just past the right post with the ‘Lie’s goalie scrambling.
Taking heart from this chance The Rabs pushed on with their central midfielders, Sinclair and McQuilken, combining more with Zok up front to create problems for Arthurlie. On 7 minutes Zok found space near the bye-line on the left wing before drilling a low cross towards Feroz on the penalty spot. A dummy from the big No. 9 let the ball find McQuilken with space in the 18-yarder but his shot went over.
Four minutes later a long free kick from inside the Rabs’ own half looped into the box where it was met by the eyebrows of Sinclair – the deft touch not quite enough to divert the ball inside the right hand post with the goalie beaten.
The Rabs' domination at this stage was a contrast to the start of the game but Arthurlie were unable to get any passing moves together successfully. The very strong wind was making it very difficult for goalie, Parry, to get distance on his kicks. By contrast Zok was able to use the wind to his advantage when he cut in from the left wing again and fired a low shot from a narrow angle which swerved viciously towards goal – the keeper did well to block on this occasion.
Unfortunately the keeper was fully to blame two minutes later when Rob Roy took the lead through Zok. A long ball right from midfield ran through to the goalie at the very edge of his box. Zok chased the lost cause anyway and got his reward when Parry inexplicably fumbled the ball into his path. The Rabs No.10 did really well to stroke home into an empty net while falling backwards to give his team a 1-nil lead.
Arthurlie had brought a decent crowd with them to this game and they were rewarded with an equaliser on 29 minutes from their No.6 Keenan. A mis-control from left back Sheridan gave possession to Arthurlie’s right winger, McEwan. He drove forward before cutting it back to Blair on the edge of the box. He delayed the move and gave Rob Roy defenders the chance to get back and cover. Just as it looked like the chance had been lost, Blair’s through ball took a ricochet off a Rabs defender then back off the Lie’s midfielder to put Keenan clean through on McNeil in goal. His volleyed finish gave the goalie no chance.
A quick note on the scorer details here. It was Arthurlie's No. 6 who scored which on the team sheets said Keenan with Blair marked as No.8. However speaking with the Lie fans beside me they said it was Blair who scored with Keenan playing it through. I've went with official team sheets as the players looked quite similar from where I was standing. Apologies to Mr Blair if I've done him out of a goal bonus.
With the game tied at 1-1 it looked like it was staying that way at half-time as neither team were really pushing for a second. However 5 minutes before half-time the Rabs broke down the left hand side where Gow and Zok had looked dangerous all game. This time the cross into the box found Sinclair on the penalty spot with a defender right beside him. A deft flick over the Lie man’s head found centre forward Feroz in space 10 yards out. His volley gave Parry no chance and Rob Roy were 2-1 up.
Half Time: Kirkintilloch 2 – 1 Arthurlie
At half time the wind had gotten much colder I had to put a jumper on but it seems that it was just me that was affected because making their way behind the goals were a couple of 'Lie fans who'd got the "Taps Aff" shout. I must have missed it. I presumed they were council workies following their official dress code whenever even the tiniest bit of sun pokes through.
Another nod to the pies at Adamslie - delicious for a quid. Nice filling; soft, think pastry; not too greasy. Nice work Rob Roy Catering.
Into the second half and Arthurlie must have hoped the wind would aid their chances of getting an equaliser for the second time on the game.
It was the ‘Lie who had the first chance 8 minutes into the second half when No.9 Bradford put a header over the Rob Roy goal after some good work down the left hand side.
Three minutes later and it was Rob Roy’s turn to put the pressure on. After some ping-pong football outside the Arthurlie box the ball broke to Feroz who’s low strike was well blocked with a diving tackle but the ball broke to the feet of Zok on the left side of the six-yarder clear of the defence. However he was only able to put it into the front post side-netting under pressure from the goalie and right back Lundie.
The game seemed to dip a bit with very little chances for either team other than a solid free kick on 62 minutes from Arthurlie’s McLay which was parried by the keeper and cleared by right back Dunlop.
Arthurlie made a few substitutions to try and force something from the game bringing on Adam, McParland and McLaughlin. McParland found himself straight into the action getting a talking to from the Referee after a tussle with Rob Roy centre half, Carter after 73 minutes.
Frustration seemed to be setting in for the Arthurlie players who could maybe sense this tie slipping away from them. This was exemplified by Keenan who after chasing a ball through only for Rabs centre half McGregor to shepherd it out for a bye-kick, battered the ball high over the walls of the ground and into the car park. Followed closely with a chorus of "Hey, watch ma motor!". He wasnt booked by the referee but only because Gow had kicked the ball away a minute earlier but not as spectacularly.
It was another substitute, McLaughlin, who brought the game to life again on the 82 minutes when his dipping shot from 30 yards caused McNeil a few anxious moments in the Rob Roy goal.
After 25 minutes without chances the last five minutes brought plenty of action for both teams.
On 84 minutes a long ball put Lie striker Boyle through on goal with left back Sheridan in pursuit. As both players tussled to catch the bouncing ball, the Arthurlie No.10 went down in the box but the Referee was right to wave play on and deny the away team the penalty.
Two minutes later however Boyle burst into the box on the left hand side this time in control of the ball at his feet. A lunging tackle from a Rabs defender seemed to catch the man rather than the ball but again the Referee waved on the claims for a penalty. It looked like a let off for Rob Roy.
As Arthurlie were pushing hard for an equaliser Rob Roy counter attacked down the left hand side with winger Gow showing incredible stamina to be able to power into the box at this late stage in the game. His cross took Parry out of the game but Feroz couldn’t stretch his leg the extra inch he needed and was only able to jab the ball over from 6 yards out.
That missed chance didn’t matter though as the referee blew for full time to condemn Arthurlie to a second league defeat in a row and effectively end their title hopes. Kirkintilloch however can put the fears of relegation of a few weeks ago firmly behind them and eye-up a top half finish if they continue in this form.
Full Time: Kirkintilloch 2 – 1 Arthurlie
As I headed out the ground - only too aware that I'd wasted money on the lucky draw that hadnt been announced again - I noticed that approaching the hundreds of fans squeezing out the one turnstile was a man with a dog on an extendable lead. The dog was about 20 foot in front of its owner and as it got closer to the turnstile I waited for the owner to do the considerate thing and wind his dog in before passing through the exit in turn with everyone else. Obviously this fan was not a considerate man as he let his dog weave between us all creating a human wicker basket. As we all unweaved ourselves on the other side of the exit he wandered off through the car park without a care in the world with the dog still 20 foot ahead. I urged the missus to run it over in the car but she refused. Probably for the best.
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