“Backs to the wall near Bannockburn”

The vagaries of the east district scheduling system meant this would be the only time that Watsonians would meet Stirling this season and with Watsonian’s requiring to win all their games to be sure of promotion, it was not a day for complacency.
Watsonians were well aware that our opposition had ‘turned over’ Falkirk 4’s just the previous week so the team turned up with steely resolve and a youthful looking side. Some wily old campaigners were missing with Messrs Marchington (sicknote) ,Lobo (AWOL) Biffa (attending Church on Sundays) and Macormac (presumably drunk in charge of a sheep somewhere) all saving themselves for the champagne moments in the latter stages of the season, the boys turned up with grim faced determination.
With Ozzie missing from the fray for the first time this year, the team talk lacked a little something (negativity) and despite the lack of reminders of prior cock ups made by individuals and doomsday scenarios the team prepared itself for a tough encounter (even engaging in a coordinated warm up)
Fraser emphasised the need to build from the back and pointed out that the Stirling goalie looked like a ‘Big Girl’ so further heaping on the pressure on himself to get on put a few past the said ‘Big Girl’.
Nevertheless, straight away the back 4 were under pressure from a fast & physical Stirling striking line up. Needless to say, what the Watsonsians defensive line up lack in speed they make up for in anticipation and good looks and it wasn’t too long before we were working the ball into midfield moving the ball forward at pace, utilising Will at left back looking calm and assured beyond his years, and releasing Josh and Fraser to create our first chance of the game deftly working the channels .
The tempo was high and the midfield worked well with Sam fitting in nicely and working some angles with Andrew Beck on the left (Andy returning to the fray after an unexplained absence of some months). The ball was worked around the Stirling defence and only Mr Tilson will know how he wasn’t able to get on the end of a couple of crosses after having done the difficult part of leaving the Stirling defence for dead
Unperturbed, the boys cracked on launching goal-ward on several occasions, Will working the left back position nicely pressing up the pitch. Finally, after a sustained period of possession when Watsonians were able to pin Stirling back within their own 25, Fraser was able to break the deadlock after some stellar reactions in the final two yards of the pitch and a pinpoint assist from Josh, lifting the ball beyond the reach of the outstretched Stirling keeper
Stirling reacted instantly piling forward in numbers but a well organised midfield now marshalled by Jon Ellis and Rob Powell held firm but for a couple of moves where the defence were outfoxed resulting in the need for an alert Callum to kick for touch. More pressure followed and the ball ending up tangled in Mr Macdonald’s feet setting them up for short corner but the Mac quickly regained his composure quickly redeeming himself by clearing from the post.
Further waves of attacks followed. Recalling the spirit of Bannockburn not two miles away Ian Mac was able to take down an English flanker with ease although the Umpire had different ideas and shamelessly pointed for a penalty corner after knocking the ball away. However, the short corner was well dealt with by Dave Baring and Watsonians started to build again.
The half time whistle went and we huddled with the emphasis on ‘steadying the ship’ and talking about the need for cool heads and clear shouts for the ball
The second half commenced at the same furious pace that had marked the end of the first half and now Mr Ellis now came into his own dashing around like the Duracell bunny cutting out numerous balls before taking leave of his senses and committing one ill-advised tackle from behind. His timing escaped him and inadvertently gave away a Penalty flick after a pincer movement with Dave went horribly wrong
Callum ‘Grobelar’ Hogg duly made the necessary distractions forcing the Stirling flick taker to miss and Watsonians were off again. Our resolve only made stronger by the attacks we were facing. As if to demonstrate this, Jon once again showed his trademark move of heading the ball away from trouble on the edge of the ‘D’.
Now, having repelled several wanderers attacks, the game opened up and whilst applying ourselves using a route 1 approach down the left through Andy & Will released Fraser for a ‘one on one’ encounter with the Big Girl of a Stirling keeper. As too often is the case for Fraser, he was slightly fazed by the prospect of a big girl and could not summons the required skills to finish off the job… Not for the first time , Fraser had blown it in front of the ladies
Once again, Stirling came at Watsonians, only to find steely resolve and a brick wall in the middle of the park, the midfield steadfastly tracking back to help and some bone crunching tackles flying in. Coxy resolved to remove a wanderers stick from his hands only to fling it into another Wanderers player… the lesson was clear , you don’t muck about with the Watson’s defence
Seeking to finish the game off, Rob and Stuart found themselves working in tandem down the right finding space and getting round the back of the Stirling defence on more than one occasion, time and again the ball simply would not break for the final touch and it was only through some heroic defending from the Stirling Old guard that prevented the lead being doubled.
Relief as the final whistle blew and knowing that Eskvale had lost on Saturday, Watsonians have pulled level at the top of the table albeit 29 goals behind on goal difference.
Both teams gave it their all. It had been hard fought resilient stuff and a big shout to Sam and Will who got stuck into such a physical game.
A big thanks to Leigh for umpiring