by Afro Wed Aug 17, 2016 11:15 pm
Quite an entertaining game tonight at Hermand Park; 4-2 win over West Calder United. Mixture of youth players and first team fringe players, Hopkin and Martindale were there but in truth I doubt many of the youngsters (and first teamers) will have put themselves into the first team picture based on the display. Looked like a 4-2-3-1 similar to the first team, of the players I recognised, Quinn in goals for the full 90, Neill got a good 65/70 mins, Sinclair played the entire game, as did Currie, and Orr played an hour or so. Liam Watt came on with around 20 to go, and was easily the best player on the park by several levels.
First half was a pretty even affair possession wise, we seemed to struggle to break their defence down by and large, tactics up front seemed to have Orr playing off the shoulder of the last centre half. Worked a few times when Sinclair and Darren Smith (maybe?) released him to beat the offside trap; after missing two routine-ish chances, finally netted about half an hour in after rounding the keeper - 1-0.
Can't quite remember who was changed around at half-time, but I'm sure it was one of the youth players. Started off same as the first, before a stereotypical punt caught Morgyn Neill (worryingly) out of position, misjudged the bounce, and let their man away to chip over Quinn as he came out - 1-1. Then, almost surreally, Neill picked the ball up about 25 yards out from a corner, shifted it past their boy and pinged it in the top corner - 2-1. At this point, Neill and Orr were off, young laddie Levi (never heard of him) was on and Watt on not long after. Corner for West Calder eventually went in after a stramash - seems poor defending isn't confined to our first team; 2-2.
Not entirely sure if Levi was playing RB or RM, but he looked far more potent than the RB in the first half; made some good runs and was eager to receive the ball. Managed to cut inside with a great run, got a bit lucky with a ricochet but slotted it past the keeper - 3-2. Watt then wrapped it up as West Calder started to tire, picked the ball up in midfield and jinked past two or three defenders, then the keeper before wrong footing the defender on the line to net. Good goal, and summed up the ease at which he played for most of his cameo.
In terms of the players who are in the FT/on the fringes:
- Thought the keeper could've done better perhaps with their second goal, so considering at the moment his only opposition to a first team place should Kelly be injured is a Junior keeper with no experience, it doesn't fill me with confidence.
- The manner in which Neill conceded their first is a definite worry, he should absolutely not be making mistakes like that in any game, some Defending 101 stuff there.
- Sinclair looked tidy when distributing the play quickly, asking him to take his time and pick out a pass made him look distinctly average.
- Currie would probably be better served with a loan spell away tbh - I think he's stuck between being too good for an U20 league but not good enough for first team football with us. A fairly anonymous display but I've seen enough of him already to say with confidence that there's a player there, and a useful one at that.
- Orr looked like he could be a decent poacher. Overall ball control was lacking a bit, I don't he'd be the kind of striker to drop deep to create much effectively. Took his goal well but as I said, should've had more. Not sure if he'll develop quick enough to become any use to the first team.
- Watt was a game changer for us and I'd be mighty surprised if he's not a starter soon. Great creativity and he has a certain tenacity about him which I think we have, and still do miss at first team level.
Out of the "youths" who played, I'm sure I heard someone note they were all 17/18; as expected, not really on the same level physically as a squad of Junior players, but played some nice stuff overall and deserved the win. Was impressed to a degree with Reid (?) at centre-half, looked promising but still some way off the first team I reckon. Somerville was #7 I think, and seemed to be in the 3 behind the striker for the majority of the game. Never really got through to create a chance for himself but done a power of running and I'm certain it was him who played through Orr for the first goal. Best youth player on the night is between Ogilvie and Levi (?), both looked promising with good awareness of what was going on and some decent skill and pace between them. Can definitely see why Ogilvie was in and about the first team, I doubt Levi will be far away if he continues like this.
Overall, defence was a bit of a worry, but I'll definitely try to head down to a few of their league games to make a proper judgement when they're facing their peers rather than a more mature team.
