Glenrothes 3-2 Haddington Athletic

Glenrothes 3-2 Haddington Athletic
Saturday 1st February
1st Division Inter Conference
Match Report by Willie Drew

Glens made one change from last week’s winning team L. Schiavone replacing Russell.

First half
The game kicked off on a very heavy pitch. Glens created the first chance of the game when Cunningham made an excellent tackle to prevent L. Schiavone having a shot on goal. On five minutes a long ball from Macaulay had Cornet racing from his goal to kick clear. McGarry overhit the ball when in a good position, Wortley had to look lively to save an effort from McNeil. Andrew broke clear but again Cornet raced off his line to stop the danger, an excellent through ball from McLeod-Kay was well defended. on fifteen minutes a mistake in the Glens defence allowed Hutchison a run in on goal only to see his effort strike the bottom of the post. A long range shot from Simpson hit the top of the crossbar, Jack then broke clear but his effort was cleared off the goal line. The away side were putting on a lot of pressure but the Glens defence were standing firm. On thirty-two minutes an effort from McLeod-Kay was cleared for a corner kick, from the kick Smart headed home at the far post. A minute later Glens scored a second when an excellent run and cross from Kinnes found Andrew who shot into the net. The game had now burst into life and a shot from Hamill was well defended by the home defence, at the other end Andrew broke clear only to see his effort go over the crossbar. Glens were now hungry for a third goal and a shot from Watt was pushed clear by Cornet, Denton then tried his luck from twenty-two yards which Cornet spilled but there was no one on hand to seize onto the loose ball. The last chance of the half fell to Andrew but his effort was saved. a very exciting first half with not much between the teams but Glens took their chances and came to lead at the interval.

Second half
The away side made a change at the start of the half Johnstone replacing Ross King. In the first minute Hutchison found himself in a good position but had just strayed offside. a long-range effort from Andrew looked goal bound but cornet made a fine save. An effort from Denton was cleared off the line. On fifty-three minutes Wortley made two fine saves within a matter of twenty seconds. Two minutes later Glens increased their lead when another corner kick found the head of Smart who headed into the corner of the net. Kinnes got himself injured in a fifty-fifty tackle but was able to resume after treatment. On the hour mark C. Schiavone replaced Denton, a superb tackle from Smart saved what could have been a dangerous situation. Kinnes had to leave the park limping to be replaced by Grierson. on sixty-two minutes the away side got a lifeline when a corner kick found the head of Cunningham, this appeared to uplift the away side and they were pressing hard for another goal. That goal came on seventy-three minutes when a defensive mistake allowed substitute Congalton to score. S. McDonald then replaced Grierson. Glens conceded a foul on the eighteen-yard line which Hutchison curled round the post. Glens were conceding a lot of petty fouls in dangerous areas but none of them came to nothing, a minute McLeod-Kay was shown a second yellow card. The away side had a great chance to equalise in injury time when Hamill hit the side netting from four yards. In the end an excellent result against a very good Haddington side.

Glenrothes FC: Wortley Kinnes Macaulay Smart A. McDonald Denton Schiavone Watt Andrew McLeod-Kay King
Subs: Grierson McDonald Hynd Calderwood Schiavone Russell Trialist

Haddington: Cornet Simpson McGarry Hamill Cunningham Russell Jack McNeil Hutchison Auriemma Ross King
Subs: Johnston Congalton Harris Robbie King Surgeon GK Muir

Man of the Match: Blair Smart

Managers Report
It took us a good ten to fifteen minutes to get started yesterday and it was a bit frustrating with Ross also making some good saves to keep it 0-0. We started to get on top of the game and got ourselves in front with a great header from Blair who was magnificent for us today. We got a second right at the back of that from Owen and that took the stuffing out Haddington a bit. At the start of the second half Myself and Paul were saying to each other that third goal would probably kill the game, we managed to get that with another great header from Blair. How wrong were we football can change so quickly and we had to make changes with Callum getting injured for Lewis Grierson to come on and get injured too, That made us lose our shape and momentum and Haddington then pulled two goals back. Fionn then gets sent off for a second Yellow and that put us under more pressure but again like last week credit to the boys who showed great heart and togetherness to stick together and see the game out.

Onto next week where we take a very decent support with us on our away trip to Peebles.

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