Stirling Wanderers M2s vs Watsonians Colts

Stirling Wanderers M2s vs Watsonian Colts

After a successful first campaign for the Colts, Saturdays match would have us travel down the M9 to take on Stirling Wanderers second eleven. It was our first game in East district 3, but with two wins from two in our pre-season buildup, had the team playing well. We traveled with limited squad, missing some key players, like McGillivary, Shearer and Gibb, but with new players slotting into the side, we were confident pre-match.

With the driving rain in our faces, and the Wallace monument at our backs, we would start with the ball. The Colts started the brighter team, trying to work the ball down the flanks. Stirling were making a good job of closing our side down, using numbers to box players in. We were equally as resolute in defence, having Dave Baring barking orders at his fellow defenders.

The first half saw no goals. The Colts forwards would come the closest on a handful of occasions. Stirling were limited to a couple of breakaways, but with no decent efforts on goal.

The half time team talk had us thinking about playing the ball into the spaces up the wings, and a bit of motivation about how we get stronger, quicker and better as the game progresses on.

Stirling came out with fresh vigor in the second half. Again the Colts defence were holding strong. The first short corner was for the Sonians, but a fluffed injection from Rich Waugh, left the home team able to break down the field with numbers, only to be thwarted by the onrushing Colts keeper to save at the top of his D.

Again the attack down the right was making some headway into the Stirling half. Ricky Tandon beat his man round the right baseline and played the ball across the D to Murray Cannon, who slapped the ball past the onrushing keeper.

1-0 to the good.

Stirling tried to force the equalizer, while the Colts looked for the goal that would give them some safety. Woody was controlling the play in the center of the park, dancing his way past players and riding challenges that would take down a man twice his size.

With the thought of grown men getting taken out, Dave ‘the sailors mouth’ Baring was shown a yellow card, for colourful language after being smashed to the ground by an attacker.

The Colts were able to hold strong in his absence, keeping out prolonged pressure from the Stirling attack. The final play of the game would be a penalty corner for Stirling. With the full time whistle blown it would be 5 against 10 for the final play. But with a double movement from the injector, Waugh broke the line and was sent to halfway. 10 vs 4 and the inevitable happened, a saved first strike fell kindly and the ball was pushed home.

1-1 and devastation.

A bit of a tough result for the young team to take, but plenty of positives from our first game in East 3. As yet undefeated.

DOD was claimed by Dave Baring, for obvious reasons.

Man of the match, went Woody for tireless work in the center of midfield.