A late change of plan meant I managed to make tonight's game although I missed the first 10 minutes and I'll miss next Tuesday's game too. Can't have everything I suppose!
That was a massive 3 points tonight and thoroughly merited. We totally dominated the first half and although we sat on our lead somewhat in the second half we were by far the better side. Having said all of that Brechin were absolutely murder. As poor a side as you will see at this level. They are bottom of the league, and bottom on merit based on tonight's performance. It'll be a long journey home for the 2 or 3 diehards they brought with them tonight. I really take my hat off to them for travelling all that way on a freezing February night.
I'd hardly taken my seat when we had a goal chopped off for offside. A decent move down the left resulted in a bit of a scramble in the box and the ball ended up in the back of the net. Couldn't see who got the final touch - maybe Barrowman, maybe McBride but the linesman on the stand side had his flag up. I have no doubt the linesman got it wrong because he got virtually everything else wrong decision-wise all night. And what little he got right was over ruled by an equally incompetent referee.
But we weren't to be denied for long. We were stringing together a few moves and Reidy had plenty space down the right hand side. The guy sitting in front of me had just called Ferry a "doughball" which I had found hysterical for some reason. Anyhoo, Ferry played a great ball out wide to Reidy who went rampaging down the right. He put in a great cross which Scott McBride headed well beyond the Brechin defence and in at the far post. It was a cracking finish from a great move and saw us at our attacking best.
Five minutes later and it was 2-0. We had been giving Brechin the runaround and not really letting them settle on the ball. We played a long, hopeful ball forward which the Brechin defender should have dealt with easily. However he dithered at the edge of the box and seemed to want the keeper to come for it. Barrowman did really well chasing back and harassing the defender and fair play to the big guy, he wasn't chasing this sort of lost cause a few months ago. Anyway, the defender seemed to leave it to the keeper and the keeper was never going to get there. Barrowman made up their minds for them and pounced to finish well with his left foot from about 15 yards. It was a cool finish and at that point we were cruising.
Brechin seemed keen to try and get a goal back before half time and began to push forward. As a result we caught them with a great counter attacking third goal before half time. Brechin had been on the attack and had committed men forward. When the move broke down we strung a few passes together which released McBride just inside the Brechin half. He burst forward and unselfishly played in Ally who was galloping down the left. He hardly broke stride before rifling a shot past the keeper for 3-0 ........... before half time! It was a great team goal and to be fair 3-0 at half time was a fair enough score line on the balance of play.
So cue the half time whistle and at half time we had 6 subs going through their paces under the watchful eye of one of the coaches. So no aimless blasting shots in all directions roughly around the goal area. Instead a proper structured, if slightly complicated passing routine which to be fair they looked as if they needed a bit more time to perfect. I actually was quite impressed but at the same time I missed the aimless shooting which does mildly entertain me.
On to the second half and we kind of went through the motions a bit I thought. Within a couple of minutes of the restart we should have gone 4 in front. Some decent play saw Ferry break forward with the Brechin defence nowhere and Ally once again breaking forward on the left. Inexplicably, Ferry seemed caught in two minds as the keeper came out. He couldn't decide whether to go round the keeper or square it and in the end tried going round the keeper but ran the ball out of play. It was quite comical to watch but frustrating in equal measure.
We sat back as we are inclined to do and let Brechin come on to us. This is a bit harsh maybe on a night when we won so convincingly but some of our defending is poor at times. We seem to struggle to clear our lines and because we sit so deep we invite pressure onto ourselves. I don't understand how when long balls are played forward Mick wins everything in the air with ease, yet when balls are played into the box we can't seem to get anywhere near them! Brechin right enough looked like they could have played all day without scoring but against better opposition we would have been in trouble. If I was an opposition manager I would tell my team to simply put high balls into the box all day and watch us 'deal with them'. Harsh maybe but if you were at the game you'll know what I am talking about.
At this point Barrowman was obviously knackered and as he'd got his goal, I'm surprised Darren didn't replace him with Archibald to give the young lad some game time against a tiring defence. Maybe he had to finish his homework or had told his mum he'd be back home by 9pm or something; who knows, but he didn't appear.
And then Brechin got their goal. We'd been riding our luck defensively a wee bit and then when a ball got played into the box, Ross Dunlop found himself on the wrong side of the attacker and he went down, quite easily from where I was sitting but it was a penalty all day long. Keeper Ross tried some amateur psychology on the penalty taker but the guy hit it well and although Ross went the right way and got a hand on the ball, it finished in the back of the net. He then got booked for kicking the ball away which was really harsh.
The game then descended into a series of substitutions and lost its way a bit so Brechin never looked like scoring more. We ran the clock down a bit and then in the final minute won a throw in down the left hand side. Kyle took it and found Ally on the edge of the box. He showed some great skill and then flicked the ball over the defender's head to Ross Davidson inside the box. The defender clattered into Ross and he went down quite easily, but nevertheless convincingly enough to win a penalty. Ally stepped up and with virtually the last kick of the game fairly hammered it past the keeper.
So, a massive 3 points and we are back up to 4th place and in the play offs. Honestly I need to pinch myself sometimes to see if I am dreaming! Yeah there are some things we could do better and yeah Brechin were dire. But a 4-1 win at this stage of the season is brilliant. We took our goals really well and converted the chances convincingly. 4-1 was a true reflection of our superiority and we were worthy winners. Another good day at the office for Darren and the boys, well done.
210 brave souls tonight and at least half stayed right to the death to applaud the guys off at the end. It'll take more than a few posters (well intentioned though that is) to generate some interest in fortress Cliftonhill. Fish won man of the match and he hardly put a foot wrong the whole night. I might have given it to McBride but no complaints. Plus I like Fish. He is a tough competitor and would be my first name on the team sheet every week.
The much maligned pitch looked rutted I would say and heavy although in decent enough shape. The ball didn't bounce much on it but it wasn't visibly wet and given the rain we have had recently (and snow, frost etc) it could have been a lot worse.
All in all then a great night. With Forfar also winning 4-1 it's all set up nicely for the weekend. Altogether now: "we are staying up, I said we are staying up!!!!!"