Match Report:

The game started with Shorts making most of the early running, although they rarely threatened the visitor’s keeper, and the Whites back four handled the pressure without too much trouble. The Whites settled down after the initial fifteen minutes, and went ahead in the seventeenth minute, when good work by Johnston and Brannigan, set Bond up, and from 10 yards out he volleyed home a beauty which gave the keeper no chance. Then Shorts had a player sent off in the twenty-fifth minute, when he reacted to a rugged challenge and raised his hands, leaving the referee with little option but to dispatch him to the changing rooms. The Whites increased their lead after half an hour’s play when a free kick from Bond was deftly headed over the keeper and into the corner of the net, from six yards out by Black. Continued pressure from the visitors, saw them create chances, but unfortunately they could not finish these and went in at half time with a two-goal lead.

The visitors again dominated the opening period of the second half, and Brannigan hit a cracker from 20 yards out, but the ball dipped just over the cross bar, much to the relief of the home keeper. Then with twenty minutes left the home team scored, when the visiting defenders allowed a player to run at them, did not close him down, and conceded a careless goal. Now it was all one-way traffic, as the Whites sat back and allowed Shorts to take command, and in the end hung on grimly to their 2-1 lead, which saw them progress to the next round.

 

Managers Comments

This game should have been out of Short’s reach by half time, as the Whites were in total control after the first fifteen minutes, but again they failed to put the game beyond their opponents reach, and they suffered a torrid last twenty minutes when Shorts could have taken it to extra time. Thankfully the back four were up for the battle, and a cracking save from Magill kept the home team out, as they threatened to take us to extra time. Again we failed to kill off the opposition, and unless we get this out of our system, it will cost us dearly in future games. Nice to see Michael Ferguson back playing again after his long layoff, due to injury, and his hour long stint can only help his drive for match fitness, and a place where he belongs, in the first team. Our midfield were superb in the first half but again failed to deliver the same in the second half, could this be lack of fitness, as this is not the first time it has happened. Although we won, and are through to the next round, I was disappointed by our failure to sew up the game, especially against ten men for the last hour.

David Taylor